Tenders are open to rebuild the $25 million South Australian Dog Fence, which spans 2150 kilometres and will require 71,000 timber posts, 127,500 steel droppers and more than 7000 kilometres of wire.
Suppliers are being sought to help source the materials required for the rebuild along with a panel of fencing contractors to rebuild the fence, including earthworks.
The fence aims to limit the impact of dogs on the state’s $4.3 billion livestock industry and provide additional employment opportunities. The fence has become damaged over time from kangaroos, emus, feral camels and wild dogs, exacerbated by drought.
The project is expected to create up to 63 full time jobs by the third year of the project.
SA Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister Tim Whetstone said rebuilding the ageing asset was a mammoth task that requires almost all-year-round work for several years.
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“Today we open invitations to tender which is the next stage of the rebuild and I’m encouraging South Australian suppliers and the local construction industry to put their hand up to be involved,” he said.
“Independent analyses commissioned by the State Government and Livestock SA earlier in the year showed the positive impact on Gross State Product from the rebuild is expected to be $1.8 million in the first year, $8.1 million in the third year and $5.3 million in the twentieth year.
“The rebuild of the Dog Fence will be tailored to suit the problems pastoralists are having in localised areas, and we’ll be working closely with the Dog Fence Rebuild Committee, four Local Dog Fence boards and a private fence owner on the most effective design and the priority areas, which need to be rebuilt first.
Whetstone said a new dog fence will reduce wild dog management costs for pastoralists by up to $97 million, with sheep enterprise sales income is expected to increase by up to $69.7 million.
The tender will be open for 30 days on the SA Tenders and Contracts website, with construction works expected to take up to five years.