News

Blackmans Bay Strays

Kingborough Councillor, Paula Wriedt thanked the community in Blackmans Bay for their work with the Kingborough Council in cat management in the area.

Cr Wriedt said the community highlighted back in 2019 that there were several stray cats in and around the northern end of Blackmans Bay Beach, Blowhole Reserve and Mary Knoll Reserve.

“This is an important area for wildlife, including Little Penguins, Swift Parrots and bandicoots,” Cr Wriedt said.

“These are protected species and are especially vulnerable to predation by cats.

“The response from the community was very positive with them helping with sightings and trappings on their land,” Cr Wriedt said.

Blackmans Bay community member, Mark Thorp helped with the cat trapping program in the area.

“It was such a pleasure doing the 4am and 6am cat trap checks, and discovering cats in them, knowing there were possible wildlife lives saved that day.”

Cr Wriedt said since the start of the program 23 stray and feral cats have been trapped on private properties and along the beachfront and two domestic cats were taken to the Ten Lives Centre.

“With the removal of these cats many of the local native species will have a chance of survival.

The Council offers people assistance with trapping stray cats on private property, rehoming of unwanted cats and cheap desexing of domestic cats.

The Council this week advised the Kingborough community of the intention to declare Coffee Creek, Algona and Huntingfield Reserves prohibited Areas for cats as defined in Section 19 of the Cat Management Act 2009.

Cr Wriedt said that the community could make submissions in writing prior to 22 June 2021 by emailing kc@kingborough.tas.gov.au or by writing to the Council.

Further details and a map identifying the declaration areas can be viewed here Algona Reserve, Coffee Creek Reserve and Huntingfield Reserve.