Fence cutting a risky crime
Trespassers on Woolibar Station are putting the lives of innocent motorists and passengers at risk, according to the station owners.
Station co-owner Matt James said the fence along the Goldfields Highway between Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Kambalda, which prevents cattle wandering onto the road, has been cut 17 times in the past two months.
The latest breach occurred only a few days ago with what appears to be from a four-wheel-drive going straight through the fence and then back out again.
Mr James said the trespassers, particularly motorbike and quadbike riders, were risking the lives of others.
"I'd like to see someone caught with cutting a fence to be charged with attempted murder," he said.
"They are allowing dangerous sized animals out onto a road, there's a bus on that road every day taking kids to school."
Woolibar Station invested $240,000 in building the fence to separate road users and cattle.
However, Mr James said gaps were cut into the fence multiple times a week.
"A lot of my dams, you could easily mistake them for scramble tracks," he said.
The pastoralist said while he respected the work police did immensely, they had proved ineffective at countering trespassers.
Mr James recalled one incident where he called police to an incident but when they arrived they were ill-equipped. "I've asked them to come out to a situation where I've been verbally assaulted at one my gates where I've tried to stop people from entering," he said.
"And (the police) come out in a squad car, we're in the outback, how are you going to find these people in a squad car?"
Responding to questions from the _Kalgoorlie Miner _, Kalgoorlie police Senior Sergeant Danny Vincent said while he was unaware of the incident, it had likely been a matter of priorities.
"Perhaps the four-wheel-drive vehicles were tied up with other matters and rather than wait, the shift supervisor makes a determination to get someone there now," he said.
"I accept it may not be the most suitable car to send but if it's in the area and can attend quickly, that's the decision made."
Sen. Sgt Vincent said he understood the frustration of pastoralists and urged people to consider the consequences of a car hitting a cow.
"The least outcome is that the car can be extensively damaged but we know drivers can be injured," he said.
"If there is a fence there it's there for a reason, don't feel you can go onto to someone else's property and certainly don't damage a fence to get access."
The senior sergeant encouraged pastoralists to contact police regarding fence cutting and trespassing, stating all it took was a phone call and people did not have to report in person.
