KIMBERLEY SHOP FORTIFIES AGAINST CRIME

This Halls Creek hardware store’s new owner plans to erect a 2.4 metre chain link fence at the front to deter burglars. Picture Google Street View.

In the East Kimberley, continuous high crime has prompted the local shire to allow a 2.4 metre chain link fence outside a local hardware store, contrary to the Shire’s own planning guidelines.

However Shire president Malcolm Edwards said a precedent had already been set by the Shell Service Station, which had erected a chain link fence with razor wire on top.

“Our local laws only refer to boundary fences,” Mr Edwards said. “And seeing that Shell was putting it around the building which is not the boundary of their land we didn’t have any by-laws to cover it.

“So the argument I suppose was ‘we don’t want to see a fence with razor wire on it really’. So we thought that if we allow this to go ahead at 2.4 metres with no razor wire over the top, that’s better than having 2.1 with razor wire.”

In his advice to Council, compliance director Musa Mono said most  adjoining lots have garrison fencing with an average height of 1.8m.

“A 2.4m high fence will stand out and detract from the character of the area,” he wrote in his report.