The State Barrier Fence south of Yalgoo in 2021. Photo: Calistemon
Five years after the WA Government agreed to extend the State Barrier Fence to a point east of Esperance, a gap remains across Ngadju Native Title lands near Salmon Gums allowing wild dogs into farmland.
Section 18 approval is required for the works under the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 1972, as well as an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA).
Liberal MLC Steve Thomas said he planned bring the matter up in Parliament next week.
“As far as I understand the negotiations have fallen over which adds cost, adds complication, and causes delays,” he said.
“What value is a fence with a ruddy great gap?”
Esperance Biosecurity Group chair Scott Pickering said WA Agriculture minister Jackie Jarvis instructed Department staff to start negotiating with farmers to re-route the fence around the Native title lands, in the event that Ngadju would not consent to the preferred route.
“We met the farmers on the 2nd of October and our committee met the Minister and the preferred option would be to meet the Ngaju people and do an ILUA and put it through their land,” he said.
Ngadju staff were unavailable for comment in the two days before this article went to press.
“We understand they have not even had a meeting with them, that’s 11 months ago,” Mr Pickering said.
“But for the fallback position, we understood she told staff they would approach the farmers to put the fence on their land.
“The logic behind what was agreed was simply that time is of the essence and a fall-back position should be ‘shovel ready’ in the event that negotiations with the Ngadju Native Title Aboriginal Corporation either fail or have no prospect of being completed within a reasonable timeframe.”
A WA Government spokesperson said they appreciated landowners’ frustrations and were working hard to complete this important $10 million project to protect livestock businesses.
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“The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is working to advance construction of the vermin proof barrier fence as soon as possible,” she said.
“A number of factors have impacted the initial project timeframe, including fence alignment surveying, and tender and procurement processes.
“Weather and environmental conditions have also limited site access.”
The spokesperson said in the past 11 months, preparatory works had been underway to start the section east of Salmon Gums to the Beaumont area, including clearing 122km for construction.
“176 kilometres of the extension has been completed and we assure landholders we are working hard to secure the appropriate environmental and heritage approvals required to complete the remaining sections,” she said.
Originally known as the rabbit proof fence, the barrier has been extended several times since 1902 and upgraded to act as a barrier to emus and then wild dogs.
Meanwhile, Condingup farmer Richard Fowler said three years ago his family started erecting their own fence as they were not prepared to wait for contractors to build the far eastern part.
The property sits at the end of Fisheries Road and borders Cape Arid National Park.
“We knew if we wanted it we would have to do it ourselves, right round our northern and eastern boundary,” he said.
“The main reason we wanted to do it was to protect against unwanted fauna, mainly dogs.
“We did spend a lot of money but it was worth it.”
