In order for portable fencing to be commercially practicable from a cost and installation perspective, it should not only form an effective barrier but it also must be such that it can quickly be erected and quickly dismantled; it must be sufficiently robust to withstand repeated usage; and it must be readily transportable.

Also, the portable fencing should preferably not cause any damage to the ground or surface on which it is erected.

One form of fencing which goes some way to achieving these goals is the subject of Australian Patent No. 640807. This patent discloses fencing comprising a plurality of panels having a pair of vertical stiles interconnected by top and bottom rails and closed by infill material. The panels are supported by weighted rectangular concrete blocks having paired holes into which the stiles of adjacent panels are inserted.

There are a number of disadvantages with this type of fencing. Firstly, because the paired holes are arranged side-by-side transversely of the rectangular concrete block, the holes are relatively close to the edge of the block. This, in practice results in the blocks chipping and splitting in the region between the holes and the edges due to the lateral forces exerted by the stiles on the blocks, and the fencing is thereby destabilised and may collapse.

A second problem with such fencing is that in order to support typical portable fence panels of 1.2m or 1.8m in height, the concrete blocks are required to be from 20 to 30 kilograms in weight in order to provide the necessary ballast. Such bulky and heavy blocks makes them difficult to transport and place.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved support means which obviates or at least minimises the aforementioned disadvantages of portable fencing of the type described in Australian Patent No. 640807.

Accordingly, in its broadest aspect, the present invention provides a support pad for portable fencing panels having vertical stiles, said support pad comprising an enclosed fluid (as herein defined) container formed from extruded or moulded plastics material and having two recesses in which the stiles of adjacent fencing panels can be inserted so as to vertically support the stiles when fluid is present in the container, said container having an elongate configuration when viewed in plan wherein the recesses are aligned on a short diagonal of the container, and a fluid inlet/outlet.

The term "fluid" used throughout the specification and claims is intended to cover liquids and materials such as particulates, e.g. sand, which can be poured like a liquid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The container is preferably formed from high density polyethylene or polypropylene plastics material.

It can be formed in a range of sizes and shapes depending upon the nature of the fencing to be erected. For building construction sites where fencing panels are typically 1.8m in height, the container will usually be designed to contain up to about 30kg of water. In its empty state, the container will typically weigh about 3kg.

It is thus apparent that its transportation and placement can be readily and effectively undertaken when it is empty.

The container can be designed with a substantially flat lower surface so that it can rest on a flat support surface, however prominences or the like may be formed in the lower surface to give a degree of purchase with the ground or other support surface if

required in particular circumstances.

Preferably, however, the lower surface has a recess so that together with configured sloping walls formed by the container, it can be stacked with a like container to facilitate space saving when stored or during transportation.

The inlet through which fluid, suitably and most usually water, can be admitted to the container is preferably located on the upper surface of the container A flat upper surface is desirable as it facilitates the stacking of the containers for transportation and placement.

The fluid inlet will normally have an associated plug to prevent evaporation of the fluid from the container. Alternatively it can be fitted with a hose connection or the like to enable filling by a hose. To this end a small air hole may also be provided in the upper surface of the container to enable the contained air to be displaced as the container is filled.

The fluid outlet can be by way of the fluid inlet. However if the fluid outlet is separate from the fluid inlet, it will preferably be located in the bottom of a side wall of the container. This will include a removable plug.

The recesses in the container may extend only part-way therein or, most preferably, extend right through the container from the upper surface to the lower surface.

The recesses will generally be dimensioned to suit the size and configuration of the stiles to be inserted therein. Typically the stiles will be of cylindrical tube construction and the recesses will likewise be cylindrical and be closely spaced from one another.

The location of the recesses in the container is such as to minimise the tendency of the container to tip upwardly on edge when the fence panel stiles are inserted.

The recesses are arranged so that their centre points (when viewed from above) are aligned with the smallest diagonal of the upper surface of the container.

Handle indents can be formed in opposing end walls of the support pad to facilitate handling. Such handle indents can also incorporate a sheethed cavity through to the base of the support pad to enable a securing pin to be inserted therein in such a manner that it does not protrude beyond the handle indents.

A particularly preferred support pad comprises a container having an elongated hexagonal plan configuration with two closely spaced cylindrical recesses extending right through the container and aligned with the short axis of the hexagonal upper surface.

Such a support pad meets the aforementioned object of the invention.

The fencing panel for use with the support pad will generally comprise stiles formed from a single continuous member having an inverted U-shaped configuration and including a single rail extending between its ends, with an infill of chain wire or sheet material.

Preferably, the single continuous member is formed from galvanised pipe which is bent into the U- shaped configuration and has a straight rail welded thereto.

The fencing panel can be connected to an adjacent panel by means of a top bracket comprising a pair of configured plates which clamp together around the upper regions of the stiles.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a top cross-sectional view of a support pad according to one aspect of the present invention; Figure 2 is a top isometric view of the support pad illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of the support pad of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an end view of the support pad of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a plan view of a fence panel for use

with a support pad according to the invention; Figure 6 is an isometric view of a fencing incorporating the pad and panel of the invention; and Figure 7 is a side-on view of two stackable support pads according to another aspect of the invention.

In all of the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like parts.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 4, the support pad comprises an elongated hexagonal container 10 fabricated from high density polyethylene and weighing approximately 3Kg. The container is about 600mm in length, 300mm in width at its widest point, and 150mm in depth.

The container 10 has inwardly converging side walls 11, a flat lower wall 12 and a flat upper wall 13.

Two recesses 14, 15 extend through the container from the upper wall 13 to the lower wall 12.

Water is admitted into, and drained from, the container by way of a screwed security seal 16. When filled, the weight of the pad increases to some 30Kg. An outlet 17 for the water is provided in an end wall of the container to enable the water to drain when the fence is dismantled and made ready for transportation.

Handle indents 24, 25 are formed in opposing end walls of the support pad to facilitate handling. Such handle indents incorporate sheethed cavities 26, 27, which extend right through the base of the support pad and provide means by which securing pins (not illustrated) can be inserted to anchor the support pad to the ground.

Referring to Figure 5, the fence panel 20 comprises a single inverted U-shaped stile 21 having a rail 22 extending between its ends, and an infill panel of wire mesh 23.

Figure 6 illustrates the fence panels 20 supported by the container pads 10.

Figure 7 illustrates a further embodiment of a support pad 28 in which the lower surface incorporates a recess 29 to enable stacking with a like configured

support pad 30 by nesting in the direction indicated by the arrow.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the invention, many modifications and variation may be made thereto by persons skilled in the art without departing from the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth.