Latest news with #Pingelly
Sydney Morning Herald
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Bold and visionary' WA council fights back on cat containment
The shire is seeking not to just contain cats but to limit ownership to two per household, with the option to apply for more subject to shire approval, and is investigating providing grants for 'catios'. 'The community is fully on board with this; we've advertised this or similar laws three times now and no objections have come in,' Dover said. Cat predation is one of the main threats' to the numbats' future. Credit: Robert McLean 'We have received quite a bit of support locally and more broadly from wildlife groups. 'We are frustrated that we haven't got there yet.' Dover said the official reason for the law's knock-back was an advertising-grounds technicality. The shire had now received legal advice that its new law was in accordance with the Cat Act and could carry out its aims and intentions. 'We believe it should be permitted and if it isn't, our current intention is to push that all the way to the Upper House of the Parliament to get that hearing, not just by the committee but by the full house,' he said. 'That would of course be subject to a council decision, but that is the current consensus around the council table.' WA Feral Cat Working Group executive Bruce Webber said it would be a brave politician or committee that disallowed an evidence-based law focused on saving WA's iconic numbats. He said the joint standing committee was being reformed this month under the new state government and could potentially reconsider its legal interpretations. If this happened, other local government attempts could be reconsidered, including the recent disallowance of a City of Bayswater cat law. Webber said the original Cat Bill in 2011 was clear that local governments should be able to make laws for cat containment and the state's most respected legal minds on local government law agreed. He said the committee also changed legal advisors at the end of 2024 and had the opportunity of testing their legal position with the State Solicitor's Office, which they had never yet chosen to do. 'This refresh creates the opportunity for long-overdue change,' he said. 'Perhaps finally, and with minimal fuss, the government can act on the mandate given to them in 2019, when 73 per cent of people surveyed as part of the last Cat Act review stated that they wanted permanent cat containment.' Webber anticipated the committee's new membership would be announced later this week, but a first meeting was not likely until next month, so the new Pingelly would stand for now. Loading He supported the shire's position that it would fight for its law if necessary. 'In the past the committee have recommended disallowance and local governments have capitulated. They don't want to annoy the politicians,' he said. 'But if Pingelly refuses to accept the disallowance … it would go to the Upper House for debate and decision for the first time … a new Upper House with a very different composition.
West Australian
16-05-2025
- General
- West Australian
Shire of Pingelly declares it won't back down on mission to contain cats through Save the Numbats Local Law
The Shire of Pingelly is on a mission to save the numbats and is prepared to take its battle all the way to State Parliament's Upper House. The numbat is WA's animal emblem and although the shire's Save the Numbats Local Law will come into operation on May 23 it still faces a final legal hurdle from WA's Joint Standing Committee of Delegated Legislation. If the JSCDL does not approve the new law, it can tell the shire to start the process all over again, which Pingelly CEO Andrew Dover says the shire will resist by taking the matter up the chain to the Legislative Council. 'This local law has never been tested at the Upper House, so we are happy to take it there, if necessary,' he said. 'If they knock it back, it will seem like they are voting against saving numbats, which is not a good look. 'We believe we have ticked all the boxes so we just have to wait until we hear from them.' Numbats, or banded anteaters, are an endangered species with WA's only wild populations at Dryandra Nature Reserve, in the Shire of Narrogin, and Perup Nature Reserve in the Shire of Manjimup. Cats and foxes are their main predators and it is cats which are the main target of Pingelly's new law. The shire wants to restrict pet owners to two cats and for them to be contained on the owner's property. If anyone wants to keep more, they will have to apply to the council for a permit. Mr Dover said there would have to be a common sense approach to policing the law and the shire would be looking at ways to help with containment, perhaps by providing grants for cat runs or 'catios'. Pingelly's previous attempt to inaugurate a local cat law was knocked back on a technicality in 2024. This time they have used the Shire of Narrogin's successful template from 2016 to make sure it goes through unhindered. The 2011 Cat Act already says domestic cats over six months old must be registered, tagged, micro-chipped and sterilised, with non-compliance risking the seizure of the pet and $5000 fines. However, some shires have felt it does not go far enough to protect wildlife against feral cats or domestic animals whose owners have not had them desexed, or who let them roam. Dr Louis O'Neill, an ecologist with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, welcomed the Shire of Pingelly's new law. 'Predation by cats was a significant cause of the numbats' decline and is an ongoing threat,' he said. 'There are significant conservation efforts to protect the last wild numbats, with a focus on reducing cat predation. 'I wholeheartedly welcome proposals to contain domestic cats, to protect native wildlife including numbats. 'It has also been shown that containing cats is beneficial for the health and wellbeing of cats.'
West Australian
14-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
NDNA 2025: Wagin and Williams notch impressive wins in second round of A1 competition
It was a tough and competitive game in this week's Narrogin and Districts Netball Association A1 fixture as Wagin faced off against Pingelly in a fast-paced and physical encounter. Wagin, known for their sharp game sense and strong defensive pressure, brought their trademark intensity from the outset, putting Pingelly under pressure early. Pingelly took some time to adapt to Wagin's speed and style of play, finding themselves on the back foot during the opening quarter. However, by the third term, they began to find their rhythm, piecing together several impressive passages of play and settling into the contest. Despite this, Wagin maintained their high intensity right through to the final whistle with a convincing win. In the other A1 match, Williams defeated Wickepin 59-44. This year's A1 competition features just four teams, Pingelly, Wagin, Wickepin and Williams. While a smaller competition presents its own challenges, each team is making the most of the opportunity to compete at a higher level. As the three-week grading period wraps up with this weekend's round, there's space for conversation about how best to support both competitiveness and participation in the competition, particularly as community sport continues to evolve and clubs work to field teams across all divisions. In the junior ranks, the JD3 competition delivered a stand-out game between Pingelly and Waves. The match showcased the skills of young players who are developing rapidly and gaining valuable court experience each week. The joy on their faces was contagious, matched by the enthusiastic support from the sidelines. The future of netball is looking bright. It was also fantastic to see the NDNA Green Shirt umpires out on court. Their growth is becoming more evident each week as they gain confidence with the support of experienced umpire mentors. Congratulations to these emerging umpires for stepping up and with more umpires always needed, it's promising to see the next generation coming through.
West Australian
06-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
NDNA 2025: Williams score commanding 40-goal win over Pingelly in opening round of A1 competition
NDNA 2025: Williams score commanding 40-goal win over Pingelly in opening round of A1 competition
