Fence design - rabbit
The barrier fence is designed to keep rabbits out of Queensland. The design specifications for the fence are below:
| Design element | Dimension |
|---|---|
| Height of fence from ground level (top barb wire) | 1220 mm |
| Height of second barb wire from ground level | 1060 mm |
| Height to top of rabbit netting from ground | 960 mm |
| Height of middle plain wire from ground level | 590 mm |
| Height of bottom plain wire from ground level | 150 mm |
| Distance between strainers | 100 m |
| Distance between posts | 4 m |
| Posts | Four steel to one wooden |
| Rabbit netting | 90 x 4 x 1.4 |
| Foot netting | 30 x 4 x 1.4 |
| Barb wire | 2.5 heavy duty |
| Plain wire | 4 mm |
| Wooden fence posts | 600 mm in ground |
| Strainers | 900 mm in ground |
| Foot netting | min.150 mm in ground |
The grids are composed of spaced metal bars, which need to be at least 2.7 m in width in accordance with the Department of Transport and Main Roads' specifications. The bars are at 220 mm centres, and the depth for the grid is 900 mm.
Grid complexes
Grid complexes are used instead of grids when the volume of traffic on major highways becomes too great to maintain a grid at a reasonable cost. A rabbit-proof safety fence is erected on both sides of the road, as close to the road as possible, and the length of the fencing complex needs to be a minimum of 100 m, with a 2.7 m-wide painted grid across either end of the complex.
Where possible, a tunnel under the road, on the dirty side of the rabbit-proof fence, is installed to allow rabbits and other small animals to cross under the roadway.
For a rabbit to pass through the narrow opening on the road, with such a high volume of traffic, is considered a minimal risk. The likelihood of the rabbit surviving the passing traffic is very low.