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This Act may be cited as the Fences Act 1968 and shall come into operation on a day to be fixed by proclamation of the Governor in Council published in the Government Gazette.
S. 2 repealed by No. 30/2014 s. 4.
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S. 3 amended by Nos 9019 s. 2(1)(Sch. item 67), 16/1986 s. 30, 12/1989 s. 4(1)(Sch. 2 item 43.1), 57/1989 s. 3(Sch. item 70.1), 92/1990 s. 128(Sch. 1 item 10), 63/2006 s. 61(Sch. item 14), substituted by No. 30/2014 s. 5.
In this Act—
adjoining land in relation to an area of land, means land that shares a common boundary with the area of land;
agricultural land means land used primarily for agricultural or pastoral purposes, regardless of whether the land is also used for commercial or residential purposes;
authorised fencing works means fencing works and any subsidiary works carried out as provided for in section 12(1)(a), (b), (c) or (d);
boundary survey notice means a notice of intention to have a common boundary defined given under section 28;
commercial land means land used primarily for commercial purposes, regardless of whether the land is also used for agricultural or residential purposes;
common property has the same meaning as in the Owners Corporations Act 2006;
corporation means any body corporate whether formed within or out of Victoria;
dividing fence means a fence that—
is located on the common boundary of adjoining lands (whether or not it is continuous or extends along the entire length of the adjoining lands); or
is not located on the common boundary of adjoining lands, but the purpose of which is to separate adjoining lands (whether or not it is continuous or extends along the entire length of the adjoining lands);
fence means a structure, ditch or embankment, or hedge or similar vegetative barrier, that encloses or bounds land, and—
includes the following—
any gate, cattle grid or apparatus necessary for the operation of the fence;
any foundation or support built solely for the support and maintenance of the fence;
does not include the following—
any retaining wall;
any wall that is part of a house, garage or other building;
fencing notice means a notice of proposed fencing works given in accordance with section 13;
fencing notice agreement means an agreement between owners of adjoining lands, or owners of adjoining lands and long-term tenants (as the case requires), about proposed fencing works and any subsidiary works to be undertaken, that is reached after a fencing notice has been given to one of the owners;
fencing works means any one or more of the following—
the construction, replacement, repair, demolition, removal or maintenance of the whole or part of a dividing fence;
the planting, replanting, repair or maintenance of a hedge or similar vegetative barrier that is the whole or part of a dividing fence;
the cleaning, deepening, enlargement, repair or alteration of a ditch or embankment that is the whole or part of a dividing fence;
incorporated association has the same meaning as in the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012;
licensed surveyor has the same meaning as in the Surveying Act 2004;
long-term tenant means a tenant under a lease with an unexpired term referred to in section 10(2)(a) or (b);
lot affected by an owners corporation has the same meaning as in the Owners Corporations Act 2006;
S. 3 def. of municipal council amended by No. 9/2020 s. 390(Sch. 1 item 37).
municipal council has the same meaning as Council has in the Local Government Act 2020;
owner has the meaning given in section 4;
owners corporation has the same meaning as in the Owners Corporations Act 2006;
reasonable inquiries has the meaning given in section 5;
Registrar has the same meaning as in the Transfer of Land Act 1958;
residential land means land that is used primarily for residential purposes, regardless of whether the land is also used for agricultural or commercial purposes;
subsidiary works means any one or more of the following—
the design of a dividing fence;
the preparation or clearing of land for the purpose of fencing works;
the surveying and marking of the common boundary of adjoining lands or other proposed line of fence for the purpose of fencing works;
obtaining an approval required for the purpose of fencing works;
using temporary barriers as a dividing fence until the completion of fencing works or work as described in paragraph (b);
traditional owner group entity has the same meaning as in the Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010;
urgent fencing notice means a notice given under section 24.
New s. 4 inserted by No. 30/2014 s. 5.
For the purposes of this Act, owner means the following—
for land under the Transfer of Land Act 1958 (other than land in an identified folio under that Act), the registered proprietor of the fee simple in the land, or a person who is empowered by or under an Act to execute a transfer of the land;
for land in an identified folio under the Transfer of Land Act 1958 or land not under the Transfer of Land Act 1958 but in respect of which the grant of an estate in fee simple has been made, a person who has an estate in fee simple in the land (except a mortgagee), or who is empowered by or under an Act to convey an estate in fee simple in the land;
the holder of a right to occupy a residence area in respect of land under the Land Act 1958 whether or not covered by a mining licence under the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990;
for land to which paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) and subsection (3) do not apply that is alienated from the Crown by grant of a lease or licence, the holder of that lease or licence.
Despite subsection (1), owner does not include any of the following—
a person in the occupation of or entitled to occupy land under a licence under the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990;
a person in the occupation of land held by yearly licence under any Act relating to the sale and occupation of Crown lands;
a municipal council, trustee or other person or body in respect of land owned by or vested in, or under the care, control or management of, the municipal council, trustee, person or body for the purposes of a public park or public reserve;
a traditional owner group entity to whom the Governor in Council has granted an estate in fee simple in land under section 19 of the Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010 in relation to that land.
Note
In section 16, the term owner includes the persons referred to in paragraph (c).
Despite subsection (1), if an area of land is common property for which an owners corporation is responsible, the owners corporation is taken to be the owner of the area of land for the purposes of this Act.
Note
Subsection (3) does not apply to an area of land which is a lot affected by an owners corporation. In this case, the owner of the lot is the owner of the area for the purposes of this Act.
New s. 5 inserted by No. 30/2014 s. 5.
For the purposes of this Act, reasonable inquiries may include (but are not limited to) the following actions—
making inquiries of any persons who occupy the adjoining land or land near the adjoining land about the whereabouts of the owner of the adjoining land;
making inquiries of the municipal council in which the adjoining land is located about the whereabouts of the owner of the adjoining land.
New s. 6 inserted by No. 30/2014 s. 5.
For the purposes of this Act, in determining whether a dividing fence is a sufficient dividing fence regard must be had to the following—
the existing dividing fence (if any);
the purposes for which the owners of the adjoining lands use or intend the lands to be used;
the reasonable privacy concerns of the owners of the adjoining lands;
the types of dividing fences used in the locality;
any policy or code relating to dividing fences adopted by the municipal council of the area in which the adjoining lands are situated;
any relevant planning instruments relating to the adjoining lands or to the locality in which the lands are situated;
any relevant building laws relating to the adjoining lands and the carrying out of fencing works and any subsidiary works;
the existence of any agreements or covenants that are relevant to the adjoining lands;
the duties (if any) of an owner of land under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 to control pest animals;
the need for a dividing fence, having regard to any existing waterway or obstruction (whether natural or manmade) that is on, or forms, the common boundary between adjoining lands.
Despite subsection (1), if different standards of dividing fence are required for different purposes, a sufficient dividing fence for those lands is the lesser standard of fence.
Despite this section, if agricultural land shares a common boundary with residential land, a sufficient dividing fence for those lands is a dividing fence that would be a sufficient dividing fence for agricultural lands.
Note
Section 7 provides for the liability of owners in respect of sufficient dividing fences
Pt 1 (Heading and ss 4–13) amended by No. 7876 s. 2(3), S.R. No. 154/1974 reg. 2(a), Nos 9019 s. 2(1)(Sch. item 68), 16/1986 s. 30, 12/1989 s. 4(1)(Sch. 2 items 43.2–43.7), 57/1989 s. 3(Sch. items 70.2–70.9), 81/1989 s. 3(Sch. item 15.1), substituted as Pt 2 (Heading and ss 7–10) by No. 30/2014 s. 6.
Part 2—Contributing to fences
S. 7 substituted by No. 30/2014 s. 6.
If there is no dividing fence between adjoining lands, the owners of the adjoining lands are liable to contribute in equal proportions to fencing works and any subsidiary works for the construction of a sufficient dividing fence for the adjoining lands.
If there is a dividing fence between adjoining lands for which fencing works and any subsidiary works are required so that the dividing fence would be a sufficient dividing fence, the owners of the adjoining lands are liable to contribute in equal proportions to the fencing works and any subsidiary works for a sufficient dividing fence.
Nothing in this section prevents owners agreeing to contribute in other proportions to the fencing works and any subsidiary works for a sufficient dividing fence.
S. 8 substituted by No. 30/2014 s. 6.
If fencing works and any subsidiary works are required for a dividing fence between adjoining lands (including the construction of the fence) and an owner of one of the adjoining lands requires a fence that is greater than the standard for a sufficient dividing fence, that owner is liable for the entire cost of the fencing works and any subsidiary works so far as they exceed the standard for a sufficient dividing fence.
If fencing works and any subsidiary works are required for a dividing fence between adjoining lands and there is a dividing fence between the adjoining lands that was constructed to a standard that is greater than that for a sufficient dividing fence, the owner of the land for which the greater standard of dividing fence was required is liable for the entire cost of the fencing works and any subsidiary works so far as they exceed the standard for a sufficient dividing fence.
Nothing in this section prevents owners agreeing to contribute in other proportions to the fencing works and any subsidiary works for a dividing fence that is of a standard greater than the standard for a sufficient dividing fence.
S. 9 substituted by No. 30/2014 s. 6.
An owner of land is liable for the entire cost of fencing works and any subsidiary works to repair or replace a dividing fence that separates the land and the adjoining land if the dividing fence is damaged or destroyed by a negligent or deliberate act by—
the owner; or
a person who has entered the land with the express or implied consent of the owner.
Note
Causes of damage or destruction of dividing fences may include creepers, the piling of soil against fences or the attachment of objects such as clotheslines to dividing fences.
Subsection (1) does not apply to the damage or destruction caused in the course of authorised fencing works.
To avoid doubt, the damage or destruction of a fence by a negligent or deliberate act includes the damage or destruction of a dividing fence that occurs in the course of developing land.
To avoid doubt, subsection (1) does not affect any rights of an owner of land who is liable under that subsection against the person who caused the damage or destruction of the dividing fence.
S. 10 substituted by No. 30/2014 s. 6.
Despite section 7 and subject to subsection (3), a tenant of land is liable to the owner of land the tenant leases to contribute to fencing works and any subsidiary works for a sufficient dividing fence for the land as set out in subsection (2).
If the owner gives or receives a fencing notice in respect of the land the tenant leases and, if on the day the owner gives or receives the fencing notice—
the tenant's lease has an unexpired term of 5 years or more, but not more than 10 years—the tenant is liable for 50% of the amount that the owner of the land the tenant leases is liable to contribute to the fencing works and any subsidiary works; or
the tenant's lease has an unexpired term of more than 10 years—the tenant is liable for the entire amount that the owner of the land the tenant leases is liable to contribute to the fencing works and any subsidiary works.
A tenant is not liable to contribute to fencing works and any subsidiary works unless—
the tenant is notified under section 15; and
the owner who gives a fencing notice is seeking a contribution from the owner of the adjoining land.
This section does not apply to any of the following—
S. 10(4)(a) amended by No. 45/2018 s. 372.
a renter under a residential rental agreement to which the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 applies;
a tenant under a retail premises lease to which the Retail Leases Act 2003 applies;
a tenant under a lease agreement that provides for contributions to fencing works and any subsidiary works (whether or not the tenant is liable to contribute under the lease).
Pt 2 (Heading and ss 14–16) amended by Nos 7876 s. 2(3), 9019 s. 2(1)(Sch. item 68), 57/1989 s. 3(Sch. items 70.10–70.12), substituted as Pt 3 (Headings and ss 11–30B) by No. 30/2014 s. 6.
Part 3—Procedures
Division 1—Procedure for fencing works
New s. 11 inserted by No. 30/2014 s. 6.
In this Division—
adjoining owner means the owner of the adjoining land to the land of the notifying owner, being the adjoining land for which the fencing notice is given;
notifying owner means an owner of land who gives a fencing notice to the owner of the adjoining land under section 13.
New s. 12 inserted by No. 30/2014 s. 6.
An owner of land must not undertake fencing works or any subsidiary works unless the works are carried out—
in accordance with a fencing notice agreement; or
Note
Section 3 defines a fencing notice agreement as an agreement between owners of adjoining lands, or owners of adjoining lands and long-term tenants, about proposed fencing works and any subsidiary works to be undertaken, that is reached after a fencing notice has been given to one of the owners.
in accordance with an order of the Magistrates' Court; or
otherwise in accordance with this Act; or
in accordance with another agreement between the owners of adjoining lands.
If an owner of land carries out fencing works and any subsidiary works that are not works carried out as provided for in subsection (1)(a), (b), (c) or (d), the owner of the adjoining land may file a complaint in the Magistrates' Court seeking an order under section 30C.
New s. 13 inserted by No. 30/2014 s. 6.
If an owner of land proposes to undertake fencing works and any subsidiary works for a dividing fence for the land and any adjoining land, the owner may give a notice under this section to the owner of the adjoining land seeking the agreement of the owner of the adjoining land to the proposal to carry out the fencing works and any subsidiary works.
Note
Section 14 makes provision for locating an owner of adjoining land. Sections 19 and 21 make provision for when an owner of adjoining land cannot be located.
In a notice given under subsection (1), the notifying owner may require the adjoining owner to contribute, under this Act, to the fencing works and any subsidiary works.
A notice given under subsection (1) must be in writing and contain the following information—
the date of the notice;
the name and contact details of the notifying owner;
a statement that the notice is a notice under section 13 of this Act;
the boundary line on which the fencing works and any subsidiary works are proposed to be carried out or, if it is impracticable to carry out the works on the common boundary because a waterway or other obstruction (whether natural or manmade) is on, or forms, the common boundary, the line on which it is proposed to carry out the works;
if a dividing fence is not required for part of the common boundary because a waterway or other obstruction (whether natural or manmade) is on, or forms, the common boundary, a statement to that effect;
the type of fencing works and any subsidiary works proposed to be carried out, including the type of fence to be constructed or the nature of the repairs or maintenance;
the name and contact details of any person who may be engaged to undertake the fencing works and any subsidiary works proposed to be carried out;
if the notifying owner requires the adjoining owner to contribute under this Act—
an estimate of the cost of the fencing works and any subsidiary works proposed to be carried out and an explanation of the basis of that estimate; and
the proportion of the estimated cost that each owner is proposed to contribute; and
the estimated amount that the adjoining owner will be required to contribute;
a statement that either owner may seek assistance from the Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria to resolve any disputes about the proposed fencing works and any subsidiary works.
Failure to include the information referred to in subsection (3)(a), (b), (g) or (i) in a notice given under subsection (1) does not invalidate the notice.
A notice under this section may be in the prescribed form.
For the avoidance of doubt, this section applies whether or not an adjoining owner is in occupation of the land.
Notes
1 Any form in or to the like effect of the prescribed form is sufficient in law: see section 53 of the Interpretation of Legislation Act 1984.
2 The giving of a fencing notice to an owner does not apply to another person who subsequently acquires the land. A new fencing notice will need to be given.
S. 14 substituted by No. 30/2014 s. 6.