What to do with Kosciuszko National Park's wild horses is a divisive topic, but a Snowy Mountains resident believes establishing a 'brumby reserve' could be the solution.
Batlow orchardist Barney Hyams believes the reserve would be a way to appease both sides of the discussion.
Mr Hyams chairs the Riverina Local Land Services board as well as the National Party's Riverina Electorate Council, but is making the proposal as a private citizen.
He has suggested the New South Wales government, which is responsible for brumby management, purchase a 20,000 to 30,000-hectare property in the mountains, fence it and then relocate horses there.
"[It would] be job-generating," Mr Hyams said.
"I think there's a real opportunity there in tourism. You would find people, especially horse riders, who want to go and see the brumbies."
This month footage was revealed of brumby activists pulling apart traps in the national park, which Mr Hyams feared could lead to a serious injury.
"I think there is a middle ground government should look at; I don't think it's black and white," he said.
'Devil in the detail'
Charles Sturt University ecology professor David Watson agrees a middle ground is needed.
"We need to think outside the box. But I think with so many things, the devil is in the detail," he said.
He applauded the idea, but said more research on the reserve's location and funding was needed.
"If people want to have a place where they can have their moment with wild horses in the High Country, fine let's keep on talking. But please don't talk about this being some last-ditch effort to save a rare heritage breed," Professor Watson said.
"The genetic work has been done, they are not a rare heritage breed.
The Australian Brumby Alliance, which supports the protection and humane management of wild horses, also believes the proposal is a good idea.
But president Jill Pickering said the ethos behind the reserve would need to be carefully considered.
She said what made the brumby unique was the fact it was a wild horse.
"They learn to grow up in families, they pass on their social skills and that is not something that can be replicated off the land. They will gradually become more reliant on humans," Ms Pickering said.
Last year, the NSW government released its long-awaited Wild Horse Management Plan for Kosciuszko National Park's brumby population.
It outlined a plan to reduce horse numbers from 14,000 to 3,000 by 2027 and restrict them to just 30 per cent of the national park.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service has declined to comment on the proposal but in a statement said, in accordance with the Wild Horse Management Plan, that it would prioritise passive trapping and rehoming of brumbies where it led to the highest animal welfare outcomes.
Minister calls for scrutiny
Professor Watson urged the state government to move quickly to reduce horse numbers.
Federal Environment Minister, Sussan Ley, has not commented on the proposal saying brumbies were the responsibility of the state, but she too has called for the plan to be enacted quickly.
"I hope it goes far enough," she said.
