The City's response to Yahoo! about fox control and turtle conservation, 8.8.25
Question: How much has Cockburn City Council spent on fox control in the past year? In a council statement from March it says $40,000 was spent, however in the minutes from July 8 it says only $17,570 was spent in the 2024/2025 financial year. Can council clarify?
Answer: The total expenditure on fox control for the 2024-2025 financial year was $37,653 across City-managed reserves, including the Rehabilitate Roe 8 corridor.
The Council statement from March was an estimate of the overall spend by the end of 2024-2025. The figure provided in the July minutes was an error on the City’s behalf.
Question: Has the budget for fox control and turtle conservation increased this financial year?
Answer: In response to increased turtle predation, the annual budget for fox control has increased from $20,000 to $50,000 this financial year.
The combined budget allocation for all turtle conservation initiatives has increased from $150,000 to $220,000. The $70,000 increase is attributed to the increase to the fox control budget and a $40,000 contribution towards the Perth South West Metropolitan Alliance’s Fox Monitoring and Targeted Control Project.
The other turtle conservation activities to be undertaken in 2024-2025 include:
- Continuation of the Turtle Tracker citizen science program established in the City of Cockburn
- Monitoring turtle populations on an annual basis to assess the effectiveness of conservation efforts
- Habitat restoration through revegetation at City-managed wetlands.
Question: How many foxes have been removed under the City’s control program?
Answer: As of May 2024, fox control activities have resulted in 24 foxes being removed from the control areas. The final control activity in June is not yet complete due to poor weather conditions. A report will be generated once it is complete.
Question: Have the fox monitoring cameras been installed yet at Bibra Lake?
Answer: The City has chosen four locations and is in consultation with local volunteers to determine the best location for the final two cameras. Installation will occur once the locations have been confirmed. It is anticipated that the cameras will be installed this month.