Crossing Creeks and Ditches

​​​Creeks and ditches are a common failure point for wallaby fences. Avoid difficult crossings if possible

Effectiv​​e

a fence built across a creek with large pipes below to allow flooding and water to pass through

If flaps are fitted to this pipe wallabies will not be able to pass through. The gate is top swung to open incase of a big flood. This crossing provides access along the fence.


picture of a fence post next to a creek. The mesh spanning the creek has been loosly fixed to the post so that if the creek floods only the portion of mesh spanning the creek will be damaged and can easily be repaired

A separate section of mesh across a creek has been loosely stapled to a wooden post. This allows that section of fence to break away if debris builds up in a flood.


picture of shade cloth spanning a creek. The creek is flowing under the cloth and the cloth is attached to the fence on either side of the creek

Shade Cloth can be an effective option where the creek flows out of the protected area. It then flows under the apron of the cloth. The cloth must be much wider than the gap in the fence to give enough coverage.


picture of a creek in flood with the shade cloth above letting the water through

Make sure you cut the shade cloth so that you can maintain a wide footer/apron. When the creek is low hold down the footer/apron with wood. Wood and cloth floats when the creek floods. Where the water flows out of the protected area wallabies outside the fence stand on the apron. Motion sensing cameras have shown wallabies not being able to find their way through shadecloth from the other side.


Picture of specially designed hooks attaching mesh to fence posts in a creek

When the water pressure is high enough this wire hook lets go. This allows the weld-mesh stapled to the log to lay flat while the fence mesh lifts. Water and debris can then pass through.


picture of a farmer showing his creek fencing design. The is mesh stapled to a big log embedded in the creek bed. The mesh spans the creek horizontally

This design survived lots of debris during the floods of 2016. The narrow strip of mesh stapled to the log in the creek bed prevents gaps and allows low water flows to pass through.


picture of a wallaby fence spanning a creek that has a section of tin attached which acts as a flap to let flood water and debris through

Cable attached to the top of the fence posts allows the posts to be wide apart reducing​ the risk of damage from floating logs. The tin attached to the mesh causes the mesh to lift to the top of the water reducing risk of wood being hooked in the mesh.


picture of a fence spanning a creek

Best design yet using Layflat mesh attached to the ground with free standing steel posts to allow progressive collapse. The upper mesh is the main fence which is out of flood reach.


good example of a wallaby fence spanning a creek

The lower, sacrifice mesh, is attached to ground & free at top to collapse under water flow if blocked by debris. It is easy to replace this short section of mesh if it gets damaged or washed away.


good example of a wallaby fence spanning a creek

Lower mesh attached only to steel posts and the ground. The main mesh/fence could also stop either side of the waterway.

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Inn​effective

picture of a fence built across a creek bed with mesh reinforced with steel pegs

Fixed mesh like this across creeks waterways means that over 50 metres of fenceline will be severely damaged if the mesh becomes blocked with debris during a flood.


the fence pictured has a wooden swinging base across the creek to allow flood water and debris to flow underneath

Elaborate structures don’t guarantee a sealed wallaby fence. The fence pictured was jammed open by a piece of debris.


image of a wooden fence attached to a wallaby fence spanning a creek

Building structures in creeks may result in turbulence and erosion around the structure. This causes gaps which wallabies can pass through.​


picture of swining pallet flaps attached to chains spanning a creek

Flood gates like this are for sheep. Wallabies go through much smaller gaps than sheep.

photo of a pipe/culvert running under a wallaby fence. The photo shows animal tracks leading into the pipe

Animals are going through this pipe to the other side of a wallaby fence. Pipes need a flap over the bottom end. If the pipes over-fill the fence is still at risk in a big flood.