Fence Repair After Flood Damage Done (Almost).

After a couple of weeks delay due to ongoing extreme wet weather, a friend came down to help with the flood damaged fence repair.

And even then we had a day housebound when the heavens opened up once again.

Rain total for July and August in our area was just under 600mm (24 inches).

The average rainfall for those two months is 150mm (6 inches).

Record rainfalls have been noted all over of the state.

The lower end of the western boundary fence needed a new strainer and stay and wires restrained.

The western creek bank fence also needed a strainer/stay plus interrow steel pickets redriven and wires strained.

Before:

After:

We decided not to make the western boundary/creek bank fence one continuous unit to potentially reduce any collateral damage to the former during the next inevitable flood.

Five days later, after four days of gale force winds, a large tree fell on the creek bank fence.

Another repair job pending.

The western end of the southern boundary fence needed a new strainer/stay and wires restrained.

Before:

After:

All went without incident apart from marauding leeches enabled by the super wet conditions.

A good spray of Aerogard on exposed limbs and clothing seemed to deal with them.

We also began removing flood debris from the collapsed part our northern boundary fence.

The conditions for work in the area were not good.

Water was still lying there and a heavy matrix a sodden grass, logs, branches and other unidentifiable stuff was ‘woven’ into the fence wires.

We only got about two thirds done before calling it quits.

It’ll have to dry out more before another attempt.
The area has been electrified off the prevent cattle escapes.

And to finish off, we cut down dead trees that were leaning over the eastern section of our southern boundary fence. They were supported by their crowns so had not done any fence damage to date.

But if left they would eventually fall and take the fence with them.

That all went without incident. Chainsawing up trees with their trunks and branches under pressure always needs care.

So it was a 5 days of hard but rewarding work. 

But our 79 and 80 year old bodies were grateful for it to be finished.