NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro and NSW Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall turned the first sod on the project on September 14, which is designed to keep wild dogs off farming properties.
“The wild dog fence runs along the NSW and Queensland/South Australian borders and is critically important to landholders and local communities in western NSW and around the state,” Mr Barilaro said.
“Once the extension is complete the NSW border wild dog fence will have more than doubled in length to 1325 km, which will be the longest in the world and a titanic tool in the fight against pests and predators.”
Mr Marshall said the fence played a vital role in mitigating the impacts of wild dogs.
“Wild dogs are a plague on primary producers and their local communities, causing more than $22 million in damages and lost production in NSW every year,” Mr Marshall said.
NSW Farmers’ Western Division Council chair Greg Rogers said the fence's extension would bring critical jobs to western NSW, which has a long road to economic recovery after years of drought and now COVID-19.
“It is pleasing to see the $37.5 million investment made in the extension project,” he said.
“It will benefit local job markets, initially through a surge in design, planning and construction jobs, and then through ongoing roles tied to infrastructure maintenance — which is needed in the harsh conditions of western NSW.”
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