NO GO ZONES FOR FREMANTLE CATS

 

Fremantle Council has adopted a new local law to protect native wildlife from predation by cats.

The City of Fremantle already conducts a regular trapping program for cats and other feral animals in parks and nature reserves.

The Cat Management Local Law designates 12 areas within the City of Fremantle as cat prohibited areas, including parks like Booyeembara Park and Sir Frederick Samson Park, beach and river reserves and golf courses.

If any registered cat is captured in one of the cat prohibited areas the owner would be committing an offence and subject to a $200 fine.

It is a legal requirement in Western Australia that all domestic cats over 6 months old be sterilised, microchipped, wearing a tag in a public place and registered with their local government.

The new cat law will also require cat owners to have a permit to keep more than three cats.

Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said he hoped the new local law would encourage responsible cat ownership.

“Roaming cats can kill and disturb native wildlife and can cause a nuisance through spraying and fighting,” Mayor Pettitt said.

“They’re also in danger of being hurt by vehicles or by fighting with other cats, and may interact with wild populations and produce unwanted kittens.

“Prohibiting cats from certain natural areas and encouraging owners to be responsible for their cat’s whereabouts will reduce the impact on local wildlife as well as keep domestic cats safe.”

The new local law is now required to be published in the State Government Gazette, and will come into force 14 days after gazettal.

The 12 cat prohibited areas are:

• Booyeembara Park
• The Royal Fremantle Golf Course
• The Fremantle Public Golf Course
• Bathers Beach Reserve
• Sir Frederick Samson Park
• Cantonment Hill
• Leighton Beach Reserve
• Port Beach Reserve
• Rocky Bay Reserve
• North Fremantle Foreshore Reserve (including Prawn Bay)
• South Beach Reserve
• Hollis Park, Sandown Park and any other land within the boundary of the former South Fremantle landfill site

For more information visit the Responsible Pet Ownership page on the City of Fremantle website.

FREMANTLE SOCIETY WANT CAT BUS SCRAPPED

 

Fremantle Society president John Dowson has sent emails to the members that argue for the scrapping of the popular CAT bus in Fremantle. Dowson says the $ 800,000 a year for the bus service should go to the repairs of Arthur’s Head.

I am all for redirecting as much money as the City can afford to finally get the stabilisation work at historic Arthur’s Head done, but not at the cost of stopping the CAT bus service.

John Dowson writes that it is only an idea and not the position of the Fremantle Society committee, and that new South Fremantle Councillor Marija Vujcic is willing to put a motion to Council about it.

Dowson claims that Deputy Mayor Andrew Sullivan is also keen to scrap the CAT bus, but when I bumped into that South Fremantle Councillor, with appropriate social distancing, he said that was not the case.

The CAT bus is popular with local Freo people and tourists and a great way of connecting the CBD with South Fremantle, and for people to get to the Arts and Leisure centres.

I am all for keeping the CAT, but the financial situation of the City is precarious, so time will tell what savings need to be made, now that one of the major lines of income, parking fees and fines, has dried up because of the Covid-19 crisis.

Roel Loopers

PURRRFECT CAT CAFE LOCATION

 

 

Your cats will adore you forever if you take them to the new Cat Cafe on Hampton Roiad, because the cafe is next to the fish&chips shops and cats love fish.

Roel Loopers

CAT BUDDY TOOK RIDE FROM FREO TO VIC PARK

If anyone in the Fremantle Beaconsfield area is missing their little cat Buddy, it took a ride with a courier to Victoria Park. I have a note on my Facebook page about it and they say they contacted the City of Fremantle, so I assume COF know more as there is no contact number or name of the courier company.

Roel Loopers