Construction has kicked off on the Kalgoorlie Pastoral Alliance (KPA) Cell fence to protect livestock and rangeland businesses in the Kalgoorlie-Goldfields from wild dog impacts.
The McGowan Government has invested $2 million in the KPA Cell, which will encompass 11 pastoral leases covering approximately 2,439,400 hectares, with the fence to stretch about 950km when complete.
Construction of the fence will be co-ordinated by the KPA. It will be built to wild dog standard, about 140cm high with a lapwire, along existing pastoral station fence lines and access tracks.
Contractor Weaver Fencing has been engaged to construct the first stretch of exclusion fence, starting about 6km out of Kalgoorlie at an intersection of Mt Monger Station and Lakeside Timber Reserve, following roll-up of pre-existing wire by Land Management Rangers from the Goldfields Land and Sea Council.
Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines Pty Ltd and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions are also contributing $10,000 each towards the cell.
KPA will report to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development on building and maintaining the fence, stock numbers and wild dog control.
The KPA Cell complements two demonstration cells in the Murchison and one in the West Gascoyne as part of the Rangelands Cell Fencing Program, co-funded by the State and Federal governments.
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
“The start of Kalgoorlie Pastoral Alliance Cell construction marks an important milestone in combating wild dogs in the Goldfields and in rebuilding a sheep industry in the region.
“Sheep meat and wool prices have skyrocketed, and we want to see sheep returned to the southern rangelands as an income source for local pastoralists.
“Restoring small stock to the Goldfields will drive diversification across the region, creating new opportunities for shearers, livestock transporters and local contractors.
“The KPA Cell project demonstrates the benefits to industry and regional communities that result from strong collaboration with industry, State and Federal governments and other stakeholders.”
As stated by Mining and Pastoral Region MLC Kyle McGinn:
“The McGowan Government continues to get on with the job and deliver in the regions, while the Kalgoorlie Cell fence was left high and dry during the previous Liberal National Government.
“Since coming to Government, Minister MacTiernan has been delivering cell fences right across the regions.
“We need to continue to build new and support existing industries such as sheep farming in the Goldfields to boost employment opportunities.
“Getting started on the Kalgoorlie cell fence is critical in giving pastoralists the confidence to return the southern rangelands to the mighty sheep producing area it once was.”
