The City of Stirling is pushing forward with a comprehensive fishing prohibition that would affect approximately 16 lakes and wetlands across the municipality, following disturbing reports of animal cruelty and wildlife injuries.
From Local Concern to City-Wide Ban
What began as a targeted response to incidents at two local lakes has expanded into one of the most significant fishing restrictions proposed in Perth's northern suburbs. The initial motion, brought forward by Councillor Teresa Olow, focused specifically on Roselea and Princeton lakes in Stirling, where the RSPCA had documented multiple cases of wildlife harm.
According to RSPCA records, seven cases of wildlife sustaining hook-related injuries have been recorded near these two lakes since November last year. The animal welfare organisation believes some of these incidents were deliberate acts of cruelty, including one where minors were allegedly seen deliberately hooking a black swan.
Council Debate Descends Into 'Complete Mess'
During Tuesday night's council meeting, what should have been a straightforward decision turned contentious as councillors debated and amended the motion for approximately thirty minutes. With input from city officers, the proposal gradually expanded to include numerous additional water bodies across Stirling.
Mayor Mark Irwin expressed strong disapproval of the process, telling councillors: "This is looking like a complete mess. In my humble opinion, you're doing a shopping list tonight rather than creating a local law."
The mayor raised concerns about unintended consequences, noting: "You've been given a list from the officers who have looked at this from an environmental context, and now we're adding in lakes we don't even know the names of."
Despite these objections, all councillors except Mr Irwin ultimately voted in favour of the amended motion.
Comprehensive List of Affected Waterways
The proposed fishing ban now encompasses a wide range of popular urban wetlands and lakes, including:
- Herdsman Lake and Jackadder Lake
- Lake Gwelup and Talia Lake
- Careniup Wetlands
- Lakes around Carine Regional Open Space
- Multiple reserves including Dog Swamp, Shearwater Spoonbill, and Cedric Grebe
Cr Olow defended the expanded ban, explaining that the current Local Government Property Local Law 2009 doesn't allow for fishing prohibitions on local government property. The amendment would provide the necessary legal framework to protect wildlife at these locations.
Enforcement Challenges and Next Steps
City of Stirling community development director Michael Quirk acknowledged that simply creating new laws might not resolve the underlying issues. "We do have some provisions in our local laws that enable us to move these people on, but because they're young people, we would prefer not to use our local laws," Mr Quirk stated.
He revealed that rangers have responded to 248 inquiries and attended Roselea and Princeton lakes 176 times in the past year alone. The city's approach focuses on continued ranger attendance and partnerships with WA Police and RSPCA for incidents involving animal cruelty or criminal activities.
The city has previously encouraged residents and visitors to avoid fishing in urban wetlands to protect local wildlife and preserve wetland health. However, the presence of invasive species like Koi carp continues to attract anglers to these areas.
Before any ban becomes official, city officers will prepare a detailed report with recommendations, expected in February 2026. This will be followed by community consultation, giving residents and stakeholders opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed changes.
