The next step was very important and
had to be completed before we could
continue with the fence. An excavating
contractor was employed to sculpt the
terrain inside the enclosure. Working
from the outside, and using a large
machine (but a soft touch), he dug a
moat of irregular width (1-2.5m) by
scraping the soil away from the concrete
base of the fence. I wanted to leave
about 200mm of the base in the ground,
which meant that about 700mm of the
concrete would be exposed inside the
enclosure. Some of the excavated soil
was used to build up the ground in the
centre of the enclosure, and the rest was
carted away. Soon the horizontal metal
rails were welded to the posts, and the
fence panels could be screwed on.
1.
I was well aware that the moat would fill up
with water and even overflow during the
wet season. The small gap between the
metal panels and the concrete base would
allow the water to flow out right around the
perimeter. The gap is not big enough for
Cane Toads to enter – a nightmarish
scenario I don’t even want to think about.
When the rain stops the moat dries out
within a few weeks.
There was some established vegetation in
this first enclosure, and we only added a
few carefully selected hollow logs. There
was no gate, and access was via a
specially-made ladder, which was light
and portable. This enclosure was used
to house a group of Bell’s phase Lace
Monitors, consisting of a large male
(1.65m) and three females (around
1.3m).
2.
3.
After this first enclosure had been in
use for a couple of years, we decided
to build another one for Perenties. The
concept and size was to be the same,
with only minor changes. The metal
panels were amended to 1000mm in
height, making the fence slightly lower,
and a gate was added to the design,
since my wife thought I was getting too
old to climb over the top!
The excavator built up the middle
ground a little higher and compacted
1. The bobcat digs a post hole.
the added soil and clay with its wheels. Before dig-
ging out the last bridging section between the centre 2. The concrete has been poured and the posts are in
and the outside, some of the heavy objects like
place.
granite boulders and a big hollow log were brought
in. On completion of the earthworks, I could take my 3. Excavating the interior against the concrete foundation of
the fence. Images reproduced from original printed copy by
time to work on some important details. It would
take years for the trees inside the enclosure to grow Andy Round.