Legislative Council Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3) 51 3 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Answers to Questions DEH Fencing DEH FENCING The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK Legislative Council DEH FENCING In reply to the Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (29 July 2008) (Second Session). The Hon. G.E. GAGO Legislative Council Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy DEH FENCING The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy): The Minister for Environment and Conservation has provided the following information: 1.	The Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH) reviewed the Departmental Fencing Policy in 2006. The Fences Act 1975 does not require the Government to pay for fences along the boundary of land parcels more than one hectare in size. Responsibility for fencing, if required by the adjoining landowner, such as to prevent stock straying onto reserves, is the responsibility of that landowner. Whilst in general there is no legal obligation for DEH to contribute to the cost of fencing adjoining land, the Fencing Policy states that where a boundary fence is required for a specific reserve management purpose, the Government, through DEH, will contribute to the cost of boundary fences. Reserve management purposes include preventing unauthorised vehicle access from neighbouring land and protection for threatened species. Further, where DEH requires a fence of a standard greater than that required by the adjoining landowner, the Department will contribute to boundary fencing on a negotiated basis. 2.	I am advised that the majority of fences adjacent to parks north of Port Lincoln is the cyclone type fencing which the Honourable Member made mention of in her question. It was not clear in the question if the land is adjacent to a Reserve or if the replacement fencing related to a Heritage Agreement. A standardised plain wire fence is used for Heritage Agreement type fencing in order to allow for a set payment per kilometre. Either way, the Honourable Member should encourage her constituent make contact with the Port Lincoln office of the Department for Environment and Heritage to better explore what options are available that will lead to a mutually acceptable outcome.