Appendix 3 - Perimeter Materials
Natural Topographic
Open Space
Advantages
Limited cost
Disadvantages
No demarcation
No barriers
Risk acceptance
Lack of control
Reduced protection
River/lake
Advantages
Can be difficult to cross, especially with a vehicle.
Low cost
Aesthetically pleasing
Creates stand-off
Disadvantages
Limited control
Climate change
Maintenance still required
Potential for flooding
Potential for drying up.
Cliff/ escarpment
Advantages
Difficult to scale
Limited vehicle access
Possibly low maintenance
Low design cost
Creates stand-off
Disadvantages
Prone to climate change
No control
May require underpinning
Perimeter using natural materials
Bund
Advantages
Potentially cheaper than fences
Easy to maintain
Aesthetically pleasing
Disadvantages
Prone to climate change
Maintenance still required
Might not be recognised as a boundary /perimeter
Easily by-passed with basic equipment
Water feature
Advantages
Creates stand-off
Can be difficult to cross, especially with a vehicle.
Low cost
Aesthetically pleasing
More controlled than natural waterways
Disadvantages
The cost of designing and implementing might be more expensive than adding a fence.
Maintenance still required
Hedges
Advantages
Environmentally friendly
Aesthetically pleasing
Low profile
Possible cost saving
Provides a demarcation line between public and private spaces.
Disadvantages
Quite easy to breach
Maintenance costs
Potentially provides areas of concealment and cover from view.
Takes time to grow.
Manufactured Perimeter Fences
Timber fence panels
Advantages
Easy to install
Cheaper than other fences
Provide cover from view
An effort is required to scale them
Disadvantages
Easy to scale
Easy to destroy
Cover from view
Requires maintenance
Longer-term costs and efforts may not be value for money.
Chain link fence
Advantages
Relatively easy to install
Clear delineation
Cheaper than other security fences
Requires scaling and presents a barrier for an undetermined attacker.
Disadvantages
Questionable cost-effectiveness.
Easily cut
Easily scaled
Not aesthetically pleasing.
Some maintenance requirements
Steel palisade fence
Advantages
Effective delineation
Moderately robust security fence
Deterrence effect on most casual criminals/trespassers
Disadvantages
More expensive than chain link.
Not aesthetically pleasing.
Security grade fencing
Advantages
Effective delineation
Robust security fencing
Difficult to scale or cut.
Disadvantages
Expensive compared to other fence types.
Not conducive to a cultural setting.
Brick wall
Advantages
Relatively easy to install
Cheaper than some fences
Provide cover from view
An effort is required to scale them
Disadvantages
Easy to scale if not high enough.
Cover from view not an aid to natural surveillance
Costs and installation time could be higher than other fabricated fences.