The NSW Wild Dog Fence Extension is continuing in a slow but steady fashion, with $30 million procured for the construction of the 742 kilometre length. 

Ongoing challenges have led to significant delays on the fence’s extension since it began in 2019. 

A Local Land Services spokesperson said that work is continuing, as the project undergoes assessments for biodiversity and Aboriginal cultural heritage.

“COVID-19 restrictions, flooding and general wet weather are continuing to cause serious challenges,” the spokesperson said. 

Despite the obstacles, 2021 saw modest progress, including the manufacture and supply of fence materials that will cover the 742 kilometre extension. 

The Hungerford to Mungindi stretch (420 kilometres) of fence continues to undergo approvals that will continue into 2022, largely navigating around biodiversity and cultural heritage items in the area, in order to avoid harm to either. 

As construction of the extra barrier creeps along, former Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall says the fence is crucial to combating what has become one of the biggest challenges facing western farmers. 

“Wild dogs are the biggest problem that farmers face in Western NSW; bigger than drought, bigger than other pest species, it is wild dogs,” Mr Marshall said. 

“At the moment, every wild dog that we bait, we trap, we shoot, two more come in from Queensland into NSW,” he said. 

In the Hungerford stretch, part of the project involves replacing old exclusion fencing to maintain its effectiveness.

“When completed, the total border fence will be nearly 1400 kilometres in length. That is the world’s largest wild dog exclusion fence, right here in NSW,” Mr Marshall said. 

A 15 kilometre priority pilot site has been constructed in Hungerford during 2020, which was deemed a success, and it is hoped the new fencing will halt the financial losses - estimated at $22 million each year - that wild dogs cost NSW in lost productivity. 

“This fence will end that overnight,” said Mr Marshall. 

The existing fence is approximately 583 km in length and runs along parts of the NSW/Queensland border and NSW/South Australian border.

The new 742 kilometres was due to be finished in 2022, although there is no clear timeframe set to allow for the delays of 2021.