When finished, the wild dog fence will be an ambitious 32-kilometre electricified barrier through rugged and remote terrain which graziers and government authorities can use to control and reduce dog attacks.

Financial hardship caused to local producers by savage dog attacks has resulted in a big shift from wool and prime lamb production in the valley, particularly on properties sharing boundaries with densely timbered public land.

Wodonga community engagement officer with the Victoria Department of Primary Industries (DPI), Andy Wernert, said the country was well suited to sheep, but dogs had made sheep production increasingly difficult to pursue.

To combat the problem an old disused fenceline has been resurrected, re-routed and fitted with modern technology to give producers the protection they need.

Many parts of the old fence stretched over steep and rough terrain that were only accessible by foot, so the new path follows a compromise route which has left sections of some properties outside the protected zone.

The modern fence is also of much better quality than the barrier built 20 years ago, using steel posts and long-lasting porcelain insulators (instead of plastic), and a solar energiser power supply to be continuously monitored by the local Towong Shire telemetry system.

The fence’s construction – called the North East Wild Dog Management Group fence project – is a collaborative effort by landholders, the Victorian DPI, Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment, Parks Victoria and Towong Shire Council.

The driving force has been the commitment of the affected landholders.