Parts of the SA Dog Fence urgently need rebuilding.

THE first section of the once-in-a-generation $25 million rebuild of the South Australian Dog Fence has been completed.

It is estimated the complete rebuild will reduce the number of sheep losses in pastoral areas and increase income from sheep sales by up to $69.7 million over a 20-year period, saving farmers, land managers and pastoralists up to $97 million in wild dog management costs over 20 years.

South Australia’s component of the 5400km dog fence across Australia – the longest continuous fence in the world — is about 2150km, with about 1600km being more than 100 years old.

The project will reduce the number of sheep being killed by wild dogs in the pastoral areas of South Australia and will have economic benefits of up to $113 million over 20 years.

Federal Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud  last week joined Premier Steven Marshall, South Australian Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Tim Whetstone and Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey to mark the milestone on the vital infrastructure project. It is being jointly funded by the Federal Government ($10 million), the State Government ($10 million) and industry ($5 million).

Mr Littleproud said commercial sheep production cannot co-exist with wild dogs.

“Agriculture will be a critical industry to help the Australian economy bounce back after COVID-19 and this game-changing project shows we are backing our farmers to lead the recovery,” he said.

Premier Steven Marshall said the $25 million Dog Fence rebuild will help support regional South Australia.