Kosciuszko National Park fence protects endangered alpine wetlands

An electrified exclusion fence costing about $187,000 was erected across Wild Horse Plain, north of Kiandra, in Kosciuszko National Park. The fence, built by contractors JD Keys and MJ Keys under a NSW Government contract running from 1 Feb to 30 Mar 2026, encloses roughly 108 ha of alpine sphagnum bogs and associated fens.

The barrier is intended to stop feral wild horses from damaging these endangered peatlands, which provide habitat for threatened species such as the broad‑toothed rat, northern corroboree frog and stocky galaxias. Studies show that horse‑impacted sites emit about 91 % more carbon and have poorer soil and water conditions than horse‑free areas, highlighting the ecological importance of the protection measure.