A 25-kilometre fence to support predator control in the Marna Banggara project area was erected throughout 2019 and 2020.
The 1.8m high chain link fence snakes across the Peninsula from north to south; Flaherty Beach to Sturt Bay. As the Peninsula looks similar to a foot, the fence is approximately situated at the point of the ‘ankle’.
Fast Fence Facts
- Has 30 gates for farming and landholder access
- It’s designed to be ‘leaky’: the fence is open at all major roads and thoroughfares
- ‘Wings’ installed at major roadways will steer animals like kangaroos away from vehicle traffic
- Its ‘floppy top’ prevents feral cats climbing over
- A ground-level wire mesh skirt deters animals, like foxes, from digging underneath
Fence design
While the fence might appear unfinished with its ‘floppy top’, it was designed this way to prevent feral cats from climbing over. The fence also has a 30cm wire mesh skirt secured at the base to deter foxes or other animals from digging underneath. The fence design is similar to other wildlife management project fences in Australia, including Arid Recovery, a 123km2 wildlife reserve in SA’s arid north. Marna Banggara’s fence has gaps at major roadways, as the project area is part of working landscape that’s home to farming country, businesses and a thriving community.
Who paid for the fence?
This project is jointly funded through the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program, the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board, the South Australian Department for Environment and Water and WWF-Australia. The fence aims to prevent foxes from moving down the peninsula into the project area, reducing fox control costs over the long term.