The City of Joondalup has recently removed a lakeside fence that was installed just a month ago to protect wildlife.
The installation of the fence was authorized under the delegated authority of the CEO, rather than being brought to the council for approval.
The city incurred a cost of $4910 including GST for the installation, removal, and restoration of the area to its original state.
Residents had raised concerns about the fence at Picnic Cove.
During a public statement at the November 28 council meeting, Beth Hewitt expressed the community’s dissatisfaction with the sudden appearance of the fence.
She highlighted the impact of the fence on water birds, ducks, and turtles in the area.
In response, the city stated that the fence was intended to protect wildlife from off-lead dogs.
Despite initial communication with the DBCA, the city later consulted with the department and decided to remove the fence.
The city explained that the decision to install the fence was made in response to community complaints about dogs attacking native fauna in the park.
Following consultation with the DBCA, the fence was removed in early January 2024.
A petition with 183 signatures also requested the removal of the fence, which was ultimately taken down on January 8 after being in place for just over a month.
