Upgrades include the removal of existing bollards and installation of new fencing around the perimeter of the reserve.
- Open date
30 September 2024
Last update date: 06 December 2024
The City’s Conservation Maintenance upgrade program aims to protect, enhance and reduce threats to our natural ecosystems and biodiversity.
Background
There are 71 bushland conservation reserves within the City’s boundaries, as well as many smaller reserves that link to major bushland reserves. They are essential habitats for the unique plants and animals that live in the City of Stirling as part of our community.
There are a number of federal, state, and local laws and policies, as well as international agreements, that relate to biodiversity conservation in the Perth Metropolitan Region. These obligate the City of Stirling, as well as other local governments, other government authorities, agencies, and private landowners, to be compliant in terms of planning and management of their lands and natural resources. This includes the protection of threatened ecological communities present in the City, i.e., Banksia Woodland, Tuart Woodland, and Honeymyrtle shrubland on limestone ridges. Several rare, threatened, and/or priority animal and plant species also occur in the City and require protection.
City of Stirling reserves are maintained by conservation restoration and maintenance programs, which aim to protect, enhance, and reduce threats to our natural ecosystems and biodiversity as specified in the Local Biodiversity Strategy 2010.
Biodiversity is in decline due to increased pressures from urbanisation, development of infrastructure, the introduction and spread of invasive species, and climatic changes.
Our local bushlands, wetlands, and coastal areas face several modern threats such as weed invasion, bushfire, diseases such as Phytophthora dieback, groundwater depletion, rubbish dumping, trampling, and destruction and disturbance by feral and domestic animals. The City has implemented several measures to address these threats, for example, weed control programs, Phytophthora dieback management, fire risk reduction programs, and feral animal control.
Small reserves are often significantly impacted by these threats, and biodiversity decline can occur extremely rapidly. These small reserves, however, are important linkages for biodiversity throughout the City and allow mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects to live amongst the community. It is crucial that the City protects the biodiversity of these reserves and preserves these spaces for the community and future generations to appreciate and enjoy.
Project timeline
June 2024
Conservation area upgrades commence
June 2024
Edlaston Chellaston – Carine
July 2024
Bradford Glick – Coolbinia
July 2024
Meadowbrook Montclair – Dianella
August 2024
Williton Kestrel – Karrinyup
August 2024
Breckler Park – Dianella
September 2024
Beach Alexander – Mirrabooka
October 2024
Star Swamp Reserve - North Beach
December 2024
Conservation area upgrades complete
View more
Upgrades taking place in 2024
As part of the City's work to protect, enhance and reduce threats to our natural ecosystems and biodiversity, the City is undertaking essential works to reduce the spread of Phytophthora Dieback (plant death caused by a plant pathogen), enhance bushfire recovery and/or minimise human impacts on our conservation areas.
In recent years, Star Swamp Reserve has experienced multiple fires. Although progress has been made to restore the area under the supervision of the City’s Bushfire Management Officer and the Conservation and Wildlife team, the City has consulted with the community to take additional measures for the protection and recovery of this area. This includes fencing informal tracks in the fire-affected zones, while ensuring access to sealed and limestone paths within the reserve remains unaffected.
Through our engagement with the community, including signage in the area, resident letter drops, and drop-in sessions, we have identified the following community priorities:
What we’ve heard:
- Protecting habitats for unique, threatened, and endangered wildlife such as rainbow bee-eaters, quendas, and cockatoos
- The importance of having immersive walking experiences in the bushland
- Protecting quenda and managing interactions with dogs
- Ensuring adherence to dogs being on leads
- Enabling wildlife to escape fires
- Preventing fires in the bushland
- Allowing access for firefighters.
Top 10 Community Values for North Beach
These are based on Local Convos undertaken by our Community Engagement team for North Beach:
82% Elements of the natural environment
54% Protection of the natural environment.
Next Steps - Star Swamp Reserve
Based on our conversations with the community and their priorities, the City will install fencing that blends more naturally with the environment in the proposed area of Star Swamp Reserve. This aims to support more immersive walking experiences in the bushland. The fencing will be lower in height and set back from the path where possible, while still maintaining its conservation value.
Fencing Installation is scheduled for early 2025.
Completed upgrades
Proposed fencing upgrades are now complete in the following areas:
FAQs
The City’s Conservation Maintenance Upgrade program is reviewed and updated annually, and reserves are prioritised for upgrades based on a range of factors including biodiversity value, threats present and existing management strategies.
The City undertakes reserve maintenance inspections of all conservation reserves at a minimum of twice yearly and sometimes quarterly. This information determines the management strategies required, such as weed removal, general maintenance, restoration or conservation infrastructure upgrades. We also take into consideration available budget and resources.
The City undertakes reserve maintenance inspections of all conservation reserves at a minimum of twice yearly and sometimes quarterly. This information determines the management strategies required, such as weed removal, general maintenance, restoration or upgrades. Often before revegetation projects can be implemented, significant weed removal works need to occur. The sites at which this occurs will vary city wide and change annually.
The City seeks to reduce the spread of Dieback (plant death caused by plant pathogens), enhance bushfire recovery and/or minimise human impacts on our conservation areas. Therefore interventions and strategies used will vary site to site, but may include the direction of public access to only official pathways (if present) to protect the reserve’s biodiversity.
The conservation space may be closed when active works are taking place. We ask that you take care when using the reserve if any construction works are underway.
Phytophthora Dieback (referred to as dieback) is caused by the plant pathogen, Phytophthora cinnamomic, which kills native plants, such as banksias, eucalypts/gum trees, and grass trees. In addition, many of our garden, ornamental and horticultural species are also susceptible to this pathogen. Phytophthora Dieback is a type of water mould that lives in soil and attacks the roots of plants. It is called ‘dieback’ because eventually the plants die from rotting roots, lack of nutrients and water.
Phytophthora Dieback is found in many areas of the City including bushland areas, reserves, road verges, and gardens. It spreads by moving through soil (particularly moist/wet soils) and water (run off). This means it can be easily transported by humans, muddy shoes, bicycles, vehicles, equipment and less commonly domestic or feral animals.
Although specialised treatments can help, there is no cure, so preventing the spread is the main source of control to protect and preserve biodiversity.
Please visit the Project Dieback to learn more, or view South Coast NRM's dieback video.
Bushlands will respond naturally to fire, however disturbances to the soil ash bed may impact resilience. Fencing a fire affected area allows the City to carefully manage the response to fire by restricting disturbances such as foot traffic and minimising erosion and weed spread.
Natural recovery of fire affected areas can be facilitated in several ways. The most important factors in recovery are reducing foot traffic over the soil ash bed and maintaining invasive weeds to allow native recruitment to occur. The City undertakes monitoring and targeted weed control when required.
The purpose of fencing in fire affected areas is to allow recovery without the added pressure of erosion caused by foot traffic, weed dispersal and trampling of new seedlings. It is not to prevent fire from occurring and rather to allow better recovery of the natural environment.
No, to access a bushfire, emergency responders will cut through the fence if required. The City works closely with DFES to ensure access into our reserves.
The fencing design used in many of our reserves have been designed for conservation purposes and wildlife in mind. It allows the access of the small – medium sized animals in and out of reserves. The only large mammal that would be impacted by fencing includes kangaroos and the City monitors their presence.
After the current round of fencing, there are no tentative plans for additional fencing to be installed in Star Swamp Bushland. Any new fencing proposed would only be in response to specific biodiversity threats which may arise, such as bushfire.
Any fences installed will remain in place for the life of the fence.
Queries can also be directed to the City's Parks and Environment team by calling 9205 8555 or via www.stirling.wa.gov.au/enquiry.
For more information, to provide feedback or to receive this information in an alternate format, please contact the City on (08) 9205 8555 or visit www.stirling.wa.gov.au/enquiry.
