Cockburn Council has signalled its intent to increase funding for fox control to improve protections for native wildlife including Southwestern Snake-Necked Turtles at lakes and wetlands managed by the City.
At its 11 March Ordinary Council Meeting, Cockburn Council approved the funding proposals to be considered for inclusion in the 2025-2026 budget, due for adoption in late June.
The intent is to increase annual funding for fox control from $20,000 to $50,000, plus a separate one-time $40,000 contribution to the Perth South West Metropolitan Alliance’s (PSWMA) Fox Monitoring and Targeted Control Project.
Participation in the PSWMA project ensures that the proposed increases in annual fox control would be coordinated with all PSWMA member local governments, the neighbouring Cities of Kwinana and Melville, who are also committed to a combined regional approach to fox control.
The Council’s intent to increase the funding is in response to a motion carried at the City’s 2025 Annual Electors’ Meeting on 30 January, calling for an increase to the City’s feral control budget and fox control.
City of Cockburn Director Sustainable Development and Safety Dan Arndt said the City had allocated $40,000 on fox control in 2024-2025, doubling its annual allocation.
“The proposed further funding increase to a total of $50,000 for fox control is a direct response to the loss of 118 turtles at Bibra Lake due to fox predation in May 2024 at the end of Perth’s driest six-month period on record.
“This includes funds for reactive control to be undertaken due to observed increases in fox predation rates on turtles at local lakes,” Mr Arndt said.
“The consideration of $40,000 for the PSWMA Fox Monitoring and Targeted Control Project will help determine how effective the existing fox control programs are in the region. It will also help to determine how the City’s control can be undertaken in the most effective manner.
“The City will also recommend the PSWMA implement recommendations from the Movement of Urban and Peri-urban Foxes in the South Western Metropolitan Region of Perth study.
“This includes the importance of PSWMA advocating to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development to implement a control program across State Government managed land.
“The study found that the State Government undertakes a very limited fox reduction program in the Perth south western metropolitan area, which includes the Cities of Cockburn, Fremantle, Kwinana, Melville and Rockingham, and the Town of East Fremantle.
“It will be important that increased efforts by the City are complemented by increase control by various State Government agencies that manage conservation reserves.”
Mr Arndt said a review had identified the City of Cockburn’s increased allocation for fox control was more than double that of other local governments in the region.
“Our City began advocating for a regional fox monitoring and targeted control program in the weeks following the devastating turtle deaths at Bibra Lake in May 2024,” Mr Arndt said.
“The City of Cockburn has been deeply committed to protecting the local Southwestern Snake-Necked Turtle population for many years and continues to explore ways to enhance turtle conservation.”