Hon Tim Whetstone MP

Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development

Businesses are being sought to participate in the $25 million rebuild of the South Australian Dog Fence with tender documents revealing the extent of the project, requiring up to 71,000 timber posts, 127,500 steel droppers and more than 7,000 kilometres of wire.

Tenders open today for the once-in-a-generation rebuild of 1,600 kilometres of the fence, which is expected to create up to 63 full-time jobs by the third year of the project.

Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Tim Whetstone emphasised the scope of the task ahead in rebuilding an ageing asset. 

“This jointly funded project between the Marshall Liberal Government, Morrison Coalition Government and industry is a mammoth task that requires almost all-year-round work for several years,” said Minister Whetstone.

“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.

“With our pastoral areas facing the challenges of drought, this project will not only limit the impact of wild dogs on our $4.3 billion livestock industry but also provide extra employment opportunities.

“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.

“Our Government recognises the Fence remains the most important asset protecting the South Australian sheep industry and has been significantly damaged over time by kangaroos, emus, feral camels and wild dogs, exacerbated by drought.

“A new Dog Fence will reduce wild dog management costs for pastoralists by up to $97 million and sheep enterprise sales income is expected to increase by up to $69.7 million. This is a huge win for agriculture in South Australia.”

Tender applications are sought from suppliers and contractors for two elements of the work:

• supply of materials required to rebuild the Dog Fence (including delivery to depots)
• a panel of fencing contractors to rebuild the Dog Fence (including earthworks).

The tender will remain open for 30 days on the SA Tenders and Contracts website, and construction work to complete the project is expected to take up to five years.

For more information visit pir.sa.gov.au/dogfence