Work to close the 170km Yilgarn gap has begun, marking a significant milestone in upgrading the State’s historic barrier fence.
Agriculture and Food Minister Ken Baston this week witnessed the beginning of construction.
About $3.5million is being spent to complete the section of fence, which runs through the Shire of Yilgarn, east of Southern Cross.
The landmark project for the Department of Agriculture and Food will help protect productive farmland in the wheatbelt from wild dogs and migrating emus.
Closing the half-century-old gap in the State Barrier Fence will cost $3.5 million and complement other measures to protect sheep from wild dogs, through targeted dogging and regional ground and aerial baiting in partnership with landholders.
This latest construction project follows recent upgrades to 820 kilometres of the existing fence, including the installation of lapwire, bringing it up to wild dog-proof standards.
The five-year State Barrier Fence project has received $10.17million in funding from the State Government’s Royalties for Regions program.
Once the Yilgarn Gap is closed, the State Barrier Fence will be 1206km long and will stretch from the Zuytdorp Cliffs north of Kalbarri to east of Ravensthorpe.