KIMBERLEY Pilbara Cattlemen's Association (KPCA) members and stakeholders met in Broome last month to discuss improving road safety in the Top End.
This comes after 672 cattle were hit by vehicles in the Pilbara and 48 hit in the Kimberley this year.
Last year there were 107 strikes in the Kimberley and 562 in the Pilbara.
This meeting was the first to identify ways to decrease the number of cattle on the roads in the Kimberley and Pilbara region.
The cattle are a significant danger to drivers and impose substantial costs to pastoralists, tourists, transport and insurance companies and locals.
Representatives from Main Roads Kimberley and Pilbara regions, Kalyeeda station, Gogo station, Yougawalla station, Lamboo station, Road Trains of Australia, Road Wise, The Road Safety Commission, Broome Shire Council and the Broome police participated in the meeting.
KPCA chief executive officer Catherine Marriott said it aimed to find the cause of the problem and brainstorm solutions.
"We had regulators, funders and stakeholders in the room," she said.
"There was an acknowledgement of our cumulative desire to keep people and cattle safe on our roads.
"There is an understanding that there are quite complex reasons that surround the issue."
Ms Marriott said a lack of fence maintenaince was the underlying problem.
"Ultimately, we are all working towards the same thing, no-one wants to see people or cattle hurt," she said.
"It is important to start the conversation and remove the perceived stalemate where no-one knew who was responsible for what."
Ms Mariott said large tracts of road in the Pilbara were completely unfenced and Main Roads Pilbara had funding available for pastoralists to buy materials to construct fences.
"The main issues with fence integrity seem to be gates being left open, fences being washed out in floods, fences being cut, falling trees or the fact that there is no fence there at all," she said.
"The KPCA is seeking partners to commission a report determining where the fence integrity is lacking, why it is lacking - whether it be cut, opened gates, washed out or fallen over - and from there, to determine ways to prevent cattle getting on the roads."
Depending on why the cattle are getting out, suggested solutions include installing cameras on gates to record vehicle number plates and fine offenders, establishing grids, fencing waterways up to bridges so they aren't washed out and developing stronger messages for the community.
These techniques will be researched over the next couple of years in different spots to determine which methods are the most effective at keeping people and cattle safe, Ms Marriot said.