TODAY marks a significant milestone in the SA sheep industry's continued fight against wild dogs, with the long-awaited rebuild and repair of the SA dog fence beginning in earnest.
The rebuild will begin with an 11-kilometre section north-east of Hawker and the entire project is expected to continue for several years.
With $25 million of funding across five years, the project will repair and rebuild 1600km of SA's 2150km-long section of the Dog Fence.
More than two-thirds of the fence in SA is more than 100 years old and sections have been steadily worn by weather, animals and sand erosion.
Earthworks started on Tuesday and fencing begins today.
SA Dog Fence Board chair and Orroroo grazier Geoff Power said the livestock industry had made great recent strides in its efforts to reduce the southward incursion of wild dogs into SA.
"We've got some pretty good systems in place now," he said.
"We've got a trapping program, we have aerial and ground baiting programs and, with the new fence going up, we're going to create a more substantial barrier.
"Having said that, we've still got a lot of work to do to get rid of the dogs inside the fence."
The federal and state governments are contributing $10m each to the renewal, with the additional $5m to be raised through industry funds.
SA Primary Industries Minister Tim Whetstone said the state government looked forward to working with the federal government and industry to finalise arrangements in order to renew the fence.
"It is the longest continuous fence in the world and crucial to supporting and protecting the SA sheep industry," he said.
"This will be a mighty boon for our farmers, who will save millions in pest animal management costs and be able to safely restock properties with sheep.
"It will put more money into their hip pockets and into local economies through jobs created."
Mr Whetstone said the project would support pastoralists with the ongoing threat of wild dogs by ensuring the fence's continued effectiveness.
Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud described the Dog Fence rebuild and repair as a "game-changer for SA agriculture", saying these types of projects would help kickstart the nation post-COVID-19.
"It is estimated the rebuild will reduce the number of sheep losses in pastoral areas and increase income from sheep sales by up to $69.7m over a 20-year period," he said.
"Farmers, land managers and pastoralists will save up to $97m in wild dog management costs over 20 years."
SA Dog Fence Timeline
January 2020: Dog fence rebuild on track
November 2019: Dog Fence levy increase approved
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