Farmers help department on state barrier fence
Media release : 16th April 2009
Farmers have joined with the Department of Agriculture and Food to replace two sections of the State Barrier Fence in the State’s eastern wheatbelt.
The department will provide the materials for the new fence sections, which together totals 31 kilometres, while local farmers will remove the old fence and erect the new fence.
Although the fence is used to keep emus from entering the agriculture region, it has proved useful in protecting sheep from wild dogs.
However, to continue to serve that purpose some improvements are required.
The department has provided materials to replace two sections of the fence at Hyden at Ravensthorpe, while farmers have provided the labour.
Department Regional Biosecurity manager Barry Davies says the collaboration would complement the department’s ongoing maintenance program of the State Barrier Fence.
“The department is continually upgrading the 108 year old 1170 kilometre State Barrier Fence, which runs from north of Kalbarri around the perimeter of the agricultural district south to Jerdacuttup,” Mr Davies said.
“The department’s priority is to ensure the fence prevents emus from migrating to the agricultural region and damaging crops. However, there is recognition the fence assists with the control of wild dogs, and this assistance from farmers to upgrade the fence to prevent wild dogs from threatening sheep is most welcome.”
The work on a 23 kilometre section of the fence at Hyden has already commenced, while 8km will be replaced at Ravensthorpe. Both projects are expected to be completed after seeding.
Ravensthorpe farmer Bevan Tuckett has lost about 150 sheep per year in recent times and was keen to get involved in the project.
“Replacing the fence is to everybody’s benefit and hopefully we’ll have a good section of the fence that is completely vermin proof,” Mr Tuckett said.
“A lot of farmers are getting involved, even those away from the fence as they consider us to be the front line and if the front line suffers, they know they’re next.”
Hyden farmer Cherie Walton, who has lost 400 sheep in the past four years to wild dogs, was also happy to be involved in the project.
“As soon as the materials were delivered we got to work replacing the fence with the help of other local farmers and a department officer, who showed us how to erect the fence to departmental standards,” she said.
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Media Contacts
| Barry Davies, Manager Regional Biosecurity | 9780 6271 or 0404 819 569 |
| Bevan Tuckett, Ravensthorpe farmer | 9838 0695 |
| Cherie Walton, Hyden farmer | 9880 7004 |
| Katrina Bowers/Lisa Bertram, media liaison | 9368 3937/9368 3325 |
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