Hundreds of teddy bears set to be removed from a South Australia highway fence could secure a reprieve after an intervention by South Australia's Premier, but local councils are concerned they pose a risk to drivers.

Key points: The teddy bear fence features about 2,000 soft toys along the Copper Coast Highway

The teddy bear fence features about 2,000 soft toys along the Copper Coast Highway It was created two years ago by commercial radio host Andrew 'Cosi' Costello

It was created two years ago by commercial radio host Andrew 'Cosi' Costello Two local councils have raised safety concerns, but SA's Premier wants to find a solution

The teddy bear fence on the Copper Coast Highway, at the top of the state's Yorke Peninsula, was started two years ago by commercial radio host Andrew 'Cosi' Costello, who was inspired by a similar one at Truro.

It has since emerged as a popular pit stop for drivers and is now claimed to be the longest fence of its kind anywhere in the world, featuring as many as 2,000 teddy bears and other soft toys over more than a kilometre.

However, two local councils have raised concerns about the potential distraction of having the fence — which is signposted on Google Maps — along such a busy and narrow stretch of road with a speed limit of 100 kilometres per hour.

"I can appreciate people enjoy looking at the fence, and that we have this longest [teddy bear] fence in the world, but I have real concerns about the safety," Copper Coast Council Mayor Roslyn Talbot told the ABC.

"People pull over to look at it, people pull over to put teddy bears on the fence, and they are small children often.

"You only need one to dash across the road — it is a tragedy waiting to happen.

"I'm also aware that it's an area of road that is notorious for wombats and kangaroos, so you have to be watching the road, but you find your eyes being drawn to the teddy bear fence."

The fence's future has become uncertain after those concerns were raised, with several deaths occurring on the highway in recent years.

Mayor Roslyn Talbot is concerned the fence could become a fatal distraction. ( Facebook: Copper Coast Council )

The teddy fence is outside Kadina in the Barunga West Council area but falls under the responsibility of the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI).

Costello has described those who want the bears removed as "whingers" and "red tape warriors".

"I do understand that part of the road is a high-speed area … [but] nowadays people find a reason to complain about everything," he said on his radio show.

However, Barunga West Council CEO Andrew Cole rejected suggestions the council was acting like "the big bad wolf".

"The potential is that someone could be seriously injured or killed," he said.

"If a car pulled over onto the side of the road where the bears are, there really isn't enough room."

The bear fence has also been described as an eyesore, and toys are routinely removed because they have become too weather-beaten.

"One week I would drive past and there was this big orange giraffe and now it's this white bedraggled looking giraffe, so they do fade and don't look as attractive," Ms Talbot said.

"The polystyrene filling is getting into that native animal corridor, but then also into the paddocks which are used for broadacre cropping, whether it's barley or wheat," Mr Cole said.

'Victim of its own success', Premier says

Premier Steven Marshall last week committed to finding a new location for the bears.

"I think that there have been legitimate questions raised about safety because it is such an attraction people are slowing down to take a look at it and other people are not slowing down to have a look at it," he told commercial radio.

"There's got to be somewhere we can put it where we can continue this legacy. I think it's fantastic. Kids love it, adults love it, South Australians love it."

Two local mayors are concerned about the risks of stopping at the spot. ( Facebook: Cosi Andrew Costello )

Mr Marshall said he had raised the issue with Transport Minister Stephan Knoll, and said he thought it should be moved to an area where drivers could pull over more easily.

"This is such a massive, massive attraction that people are slowing down, sometimes almost stopping, to find their favourite teddy in the 2,000-plus teddy bear line-up. It's so popular it's almost the victim of its own success," he said.

"I actually think you need to have it in a place where people can get out, have a look, take a selfie with their favourite teddy, put it around the world. Let's get it up to 3,000 teddies."

In a statement, DPTI said it had "hit pause" on plans to remove the fence.

"There's a number of safety concerns around the fence as it inhibits motorists' ability to pull over and also many people slow to look at the fence which causes a safety hazard — that's effectively why it was going to be dismantled," a spokesperson said.

"We're going to sit down with stakeholders and get a better understanding of what we can do to ensure we can keep these bears as a tourism attraction for the region."

The fence has also been divisive on social media, with some expressing admiration and others sharing the council's safety concerns.

"We have a shack at Moonta Bay and love how every time we go past the number of teddies grow," one wrote on Facebook.

"I nearly hit a car the other week that pulled off to see it and take a photo. Lucky I was watching road and cars and not looking at the teddies," another said.