Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4 Western Australia, Series 4
Volume 6
Number 2 1965 Article 3
1-1-1965
The new Yilgarn vermin fence The new Yilgarn vermin fence
Department of Agriculture, Western Australia
Follow this and additional works at: https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4 Part of the Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Animal Sciences Commons, and the Construction Engineering and Management Commons
Recommended Citation Recommended Citation
Department of Agriculture, Western Australia (1965) "The new Yilgarn vermin fence," Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4: Vol. 6: No. 2, Article 3.
Available at: https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4/vol6/iss2/3
This article is brought to you for free and open access by the Agriculture at Digital Library. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4 by an authorized administrator of Digital Library. For more information, please contact [email protected].
THE NEW YILGARN VERMIN FENCE
T H E State's v e r m i n fence system, f o r m i n g a barrier between the outer edges of the agricultural areas and the pastoral areas, has been extended 162 miles w i t h the c o m - p l e t i o n of the Y i l g a r n V e r m i n Fence this year.
This new fence, which cost £106,000, was built by the Agriculture Protection Board in conjunction with the Yilgarn and Westonia Shire Councils to protect the farm land and potential farm land of both shires from seasonal, south- westerly emu movements.
Previously the emus, often in mobs of thousands, moved south after meeting the existing fence and so entered the Yilgarn area.
Special patrols will man the fence to prevent travelling or hunting along it.
These are prohibited because of damage done to the fence by hunters and the problem of track maintenance.
The new fence is a spur starting from the Number 1 Fence about 65 miles north of Burracoppin and extending eastward and southerly to cross the Great Eastern Highway at Koorarawalyee, 40 miles east of Southern Cross. From there it con- tinues for 52 miles due south
The original survey and clearing is in- cluded in the cost of £106,000 of which
£32,500 is to be met by the Yilgarn and Westonia Shire Councils.
As part of the construction of the fence it was necesesary to build a 21 ft. wide causeway across Lake Seabrook and to have two rail crossings and nine motor traffic passes with gates alongside, includ- ing two double passes on the Great Eastern Highway and the Koolyanobbing Road. There are 24 other gates and 10 water catchments to provide for the needs of patrol and maintenance staff.
The fence itself consists of 42-inch rabbit netting six inches underground and with two barbed wires above to a total height of four feet. Wooden posts 15 feet apart have been used in the northern section and steel posts, 12 feet apart, combined with wooden posts, in the southern part.
In addition to excluding emus, the fence is designed to bar a flow of wild dogs from eastern and northern directions.
It was first planned that the new fence should not extend so far east and should reconnect with the No. 1 Fence about 65 miles south of Burracoppin. Following a subsequent decision to include more potential agricultural land east of South- ern Cross, it was decided to use the same length of fence in the form of a spur. It is considered unlikely that many emus, if any at all, from the migratory mobs will cross the barrier formed by the Great Eastern Highway, the railway line and the Gold- fields pipe line even if they reach as far as this without having been diverted by the lake systems further north. Because of this it is felt there is little danger of any large number coming round the un- connected end and entering the newly protected section.
A close check is being maintained to ascertain how much of the original fence which is now partially enclosed should be retained longer than the period—possibly three years—required to deal with any emus trapped inside the new fence.
Certainly the length north of Burracop- pin to where the new fence starts seems unnecessary, but only experience can show how much of the southern section can be dispensed with.
The State vermin fence barrier system of 2,023 miles was completed early in the century, and, starting in 1948, has been gradually reduced to the present total of 883 miles, including the new Yilgarn Fence. The reductions were necessary because of maintenance problems and decreased usefulness of sections because of development and changes in the vermin situation. While the first fences were to exclude rabbits, the present system is to protect the main agricultural areas from migrating emus, wild dogs and kangaroos.
In this way the fences are a most im- portant aid to this State's agricultural industry.
73
Journal of Agriculture, Vol 6 No 2 1965
N o r t h w a r d s to 90 mile Beach. 524 miles dhandnned since 1948.
Ajana Fmil fence Constructed 1959.
Length 12 mile*.
From J u n c t i o n t o G u m Creek*
206 mile?-, not maintained since 1961. In proees:
df being transferred to Landholder*
1962-3.
Settlers completed
themselves.
J
N o . 3 \ ermin Fence Constructed 1907.
Length 162 niilt*>.
J u n c t i o n .
N o r t h a m p t o n ' ]
Geraldton 1 • MnHpwa '
Dongara I
127 asitcs .>t' No. 2 beins maintained.
Lake Moore fcniu Fei Constructed 1957-59.
Length 120 mile-.
Coorow •
Dalwallinu i
From Lake Moore J u n c t i o n - south to Nvabing -old to farmers 1957-62.
Beacon I XX ialki
Burracoppin
Mi
80 mile.
j f C n m Creek
' From 80 mile to Gum Creek.
j4o miles n o t maintained
>ince 1961-62.
KEY
E m u ,ifleeted areas jm edge of arable agriculture (Based on investigations and Field Officer-" Reports) Fence system a t present maintained. (716 miles) P a r t s of original Fence Systran not m a i n t a i n e d . (1,673 miles).
Fence u n d e r construction.
**% I Yilgarn V
\ }* CcirpTet
> Boodarockin \
\
• s o u t h e r n Cross
eimin Fence eted 1964-65
THE STATES VERMIN FENCE SYSTEM AND EMI AFFECTED
AREAS.
No. 2 Vermin Fence Constructed 1904-5.
Length 724 mile*.
295 miles N o . 1 Fence '
being m a i n t a i n e d . ?*o. 1 \ ermin Fence C o n t r a c t e d 1901-7.
Length 1,142 miles.
Nvabing
hrorn Nyabing to roast * ^ a b a n d o n e d 1960-61.
Being sold to farmers 1960-63.
Ra\enstborpe
79
Journal of Agriculture, Vol 6 No 2 1965
