City of Joondalup – Coastal wetlands, bushland corridors & roaming cats

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City of Joondalup – Coastal wetlands, bushland corridors & roaming cats

The City of Joondalup stretches from the Indian Ocean beaches in the west to the freshwater wetlands of Yellagonga Regional Park in the east, with neighbourhoods, parks and artificial lakes woven between them (S1, S5). This mix of coastal dunes, bushland remnants, street trees and wetlands means a roaming cat can move very quickly from a backyard into sensitive habitat, so cat-safe netting, secure outdoor runs and keeping cats safe at home make a real difference for both pets and wildlife (S1, S4).

How the Joondalup layout shapes cat & wildlife interactions

Joondalup is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the west, Lake Joondalup and Wanneroo Road to the east, with Beach Road in the south and Tamala Park to the north (S6). Within that frame, a chain of natural wetlands in Yellagonga Regional Park runs north–south, while major arterial roads and greened verges connect the coastline to the lakes, creating long, green corridors across the City (S1, S5). Many suburbs sit directly along these corridors, so cats can step from verandas and verandahs onto verges, drainage lines and path networks that lead straight towards wetlands and bushland (S1, S5).

Council documents describe a mix of natural wetlands, artificial lakes, coastal foreshore reserves and street-scale biodiversity projects aimed at linking the western beaches to the eastern wetlands (S1, S4, S5). Signage projects at Burns Beach, Tom Simpson Park in Mullaloo and along the coastal dual-use path at Marmion highlight the area’s biodiversity and invite people to care for it (S5). In this landscape, free-roaming cats can follow the same paths as walkers and cyclists, moving unseen between dunes, parklands and lake edges unless homes are deliberately made cat safe with secure netting and enclosures (S1, S5).

Wildlife & habitats most exposed in City of Joondalup

• Yellagonga Regional Park wetlands – A 13 km chain of natural wetlands including Lake Joondalup and Lake Goollelal, with swamps and fringing vegetation linking them (S1). Council notes that these wetlands support upland forest, fringing and aquatic vegetation and provide habitat for species such as Carnaby’s Black Cockatoos, western grey kangaroos, quenda (southern brown bandicoots), brushtail possums, echidnas, southwestern snake-necked turtles, rakali, several frog species and over 120 bird species (S1). Roaming cats moving down back fences and along paths can reach these lake edges and associated bushland, adding hunting pressure to already stressed wetland wildlife (S1).
• Natural lakes and artificial wetlands in suburbs – Beyond the main lakes, Joondalup contains smaller natural lakes and many artificial wetlands in parks and drainage reserves that provide extra habitat, foraging areas and nesting space for waterbirds, amphibians and turtles (S1). These features are often integrated into residential areas, so cats allowed to wander can move directly from nearby houses to the water’s edge and surrounding vegetation (S1).
• Coastal dunes and foreshore parks – Coastal reserves at places such as Burns Beach, Tom Simpson Park in Mullaloo and the shared coastal path near Marmion protect dune vegetation and coastal habitats that support coastal birds, reptiles and invertebrates (S5). Houses backing onto or close to these foreshore areas mean that unenclosed cats can quickly enter dune systems, where stalking behaviour is hard to detect at night or in low light (S5).
• Street trees, native verges and biodiversity corridors – The City’s biodiversity projects use native gardens and tree-lined arterial roads to link the beaches to the wetlands, showcasing original Swan Coastal Plain flora (S5). These greener verges and median strips double as movement corridors for birds and small mammals, which in turn can draw roaming cats along footpaths and through pocket parks unless properties are designed with cat-safe fencing and netting (S4, S5).
• Neighbourhood parks and bushland pockets – Small parks, remnant bushland and revegetated areas embedded within the suburbs provide stepping-stone habitat for birds, lizards and small mammals (S4, S5). Cats that roam from yard to yard can repeatedly hunt in these small patches, making local impacts that are hard to see at the whole-city scale (S4, S5).

Common cat lifestyles in City of Joondalup

• Mostly indoor cats that slip out – Many Joondalup households keep cats indoors at night and try to limit roaming, especially near wetlands, consistent with Council guidance to keep cats inside at night and within property boundaries during the day (S1, S2). Without cat-safe fencing and netted outdoor runs, however, even “mostly indoor” cats may still find small gaps in fences or doors and move into nearby verges and parks.
• Daytime backyard wanderers – Some cats spend days moving between front verges, neighbours’ gardens and nearby parks before returning home to sleep inside. In a City where many streets form part of coast-to-wetland green corridors, these wandering patterns can bring cats into close contact with birds, small mammals and reptiles that use trees, shrubs and artificial lakes for shelter and foraging (S1, S4, S5).
• Semi-owned and “community” cats – A small number of cats may be fed or sheltered by more than one household without a clear owner taking full responsibility, a pattern described in State-level work on domestic cat management (S7). These semi-owned cats can roam widely through Joondalup’s parks and wetlands, hunting wildlife while not always being registered, microchipped or sterilised (S3, S7).
• Free-roaming pets near wetlands and coast – In suburbs close to Yellagonga’s lakes or the coastal foreshore, some owned cats are still allowed to roam freely outdoors. In these locations, a short nightly circuit can include back fences on the lake side, artificial wetlands in parks and the edges of dune systems, with frequent contact with frogs, ground-feeding birds and small mammals (S1, S5).

Cat rules that apply across City of Joondalup

Across Western Australia, the Cat Act 2011 establishes baseline responsibilities for cat owners, including that cats must be microchipped, sterilised and registered with the local government, with penalties applying if these requirements are not met (S3). These State laws apply throughout the City of Joondalup.

Within the City, the Cat ownership page explains that each household is permitted to keep three cats under the City’s Animal Local Law 1999, with special permission required to keep more than three cats at a property (S2). Council also notes that cats may be impounded if found wandering in public places or on private property without the owner’s consent, and that impounded cats must be registered, microchipped and sterilised before release (S2). Guidance on the same page encourages owners to contain their cats on their own property at all times, keep cats indoors at night and ensure they are identifiable with registration and name tags (S2). These measures work alongside State legislation to promote responsible cat ownership; they should not be read as a separate legal curfew unless specified in formal local laws (S2, S3).

The Cat Safety Network strongly recommends keeping cats contained at all times – indoors and in well-designed, cat safe outdoor spaces – even where only basic registration is legally required. In a City shaped by wetlands, coastal dunes and green corridors, full containment is the most reliable way of keeping cats safe while reducing hunting pressure on local wildlife (S1, S4, S5).

Suburbs within City of Joondalup

The City of Joondalup includes a string of suburbs running from the Indian Ocean to the Yellagonga wetlands (S6). Each suburb will have its own Cat Safety Network page, exploring local cat safety ideas in more detail, but this overview shows how cat-safe yards, netting and secure runs can matter everywhere in the district (S4, S5, S6).

• Beldon – Established residential suburb where cat-safe fencing and netted side passages help limit roaming between backyards and nearby parks (S4, S6).
• Burns Beach – Coastal housing close to dunes and foreshore paths; secure outdoor enclosures reduce hunting pressure on coastal birds and reptiles using the dunes (S5, S6).
• Connolly – Leafy residential streets near golf course and open space; keeping cats safe at home reduces encounters with birds and small mammals using fairways and planted corridors (S4, S6).
• Craigie – Suburban area with access to parks and bushland-style reserves; cat-safe yards help protect lizards and small birds using these green pockets (S4, S6).
• Currambine – Higher-density housing clustered around local parks and main roads linking coast and wetlands; netting and secure runs reduce roaming along these corridors (S5, S6).
• Duncraig – Well-treed streets and parks in the southern part of the City; containing cats helps protect backyard birdlife and wildlife in local reserves (S4, S6).
• Edgewater – Residential suburb close to lakeside parklands; cat-safe fencing and night-time containment protect wetland birds and frogs that use nearby lakes and drains (S1, S6).
• Greenwood – Leafy suburb with multiple parks and school ovals; secure outdoor runs keep cats safe from traffic while reducing hunting in shared green spaces (S4, S6).
• Heathridge – Mix of homes, parks and artificial wetlands; cat safing yards prevents cats following drains and paths that link backyards to waterbird habitat (S1, S4, S6).
• Hillarys – Coastal suburb with marina and beach reserves; keeping cats indoors at night and using netting on exposed fences limits hunting in dunes and foreshore parks (S5, S6).
• Iluka – Newer coastal neighbourhoods next to landscaped bushland and foreshore reserves; secure cat enclosures protect both pets and coastal wildlife using these green buffers (S4, S5, S6).
• Joondalup – The City’s urban centre, with apartments, offices, lakeside parks and artificial wetlands; indoor-only cats and cat-safe balconies are especially important in higher-density housing (S1, S4, S6).
• Kallaroo – Suburb close to coastal foreshore and local parks; netted side yards and enclosed patios help reduce roaming towards dunes and beach carparks (S5, S6).
• Kingsley – Leafy residential area with access to bushland pockets and lake-side walks; keeping cats contained limits hunting pressure along these popular green corridors (S1, S4, S6).
• Kinross – Northern suburb with parks and greened arterial roads leading towards the coast; secure outdoor runs and supervised outdoor time reduce roaming along these corridors (S5, S6).
• Marmion – Coastal suburb at the southern end of the City, with the shared coastal path highlighted in biodiversity signage projects (S5). Cat-safe fencing and indoor life help protect coastal birds and reptiles along this foreshore (S5, S6).
• Mullaloo – Beachside neighbourhood around Tom Simpson Park, a key coastal visitation site in the City’s biodiversity program (S5). Enclosed outdoor spaces are important to prevent cats from moving through dunes and park lawns at dawn and dusk (S5, S6).
• Ocean Reef – Coastal suburb with marina and foreshore reserves; keeping cats safe at home reduces hunting pressure along dunes, limestone outcrops and coastal paths (S4, S6).
• Padbury – Established suburb with a network of local parks and school ovals; cat-safe fencing limits roaming between these shared green spaces (S4, S6).
• Sorrento – Coastal suburb with beaches and foreshore parks; secure netting and indoor lifestyles protect wildlife using the dunes, reserves and marine edge (S5, S6).
• Warwick – Residential suburb with sports grounds and tree-lined streets; cat safing yards helps keep cats safe from traffic while reducing hunting in verge trees and parks (S4, S6).
• Woodvale – Suburb with good access to nearby wetlands and bushland-style reserves; keeping cats contained at home protects wildlife using these walking trails and lake edges (S1, S4, S6).

A better life for cats in City of Joondalup

• Design cat-safe outdoor spaces using netting and secure runs so cats can enjoy fresh air without roaming into wetlands, bushland pockets or coastal dunes (S1, S4).
• Use cat-safe fencing and balcony netting on exposed boundaries, especially where yards back onto parks, artificial wetlands, laneways or foreshore reserves (S1, S4, S5).
• Bring cats indoors at key wildlife times such as dusk, dawn and overnight, when frogs, small mammals and many birds are most active around wetlands and gardens (S1).
• Provide rich indoor enrichment – climbing shelves, scratching posts, puzzle feeders, interactive play and window perches – so cats are less driven to roam (S4, S7).
• Work with neighbours to reduce food sources for semi-owned or unowned cats and to promote microchipping, sterilisation and registration under the Cat Act 2011 (S2, S3, S7).
• Talk with local vets and community groups about cat safety and local wildlife so that cat safing backyards becomes a shared neighbourhood norm, not just an individual choice (S4, S5, S7).

Useful links & references

• City of Joondalup – Cat ownership
• City of Joondalup – Wetland management
• City of Joondalup – Biodiversity story
• City of Joondalup – Biodiversity Action Plan (SBSAP)
• WA Government – Cat Act 2011 overview
• WA Government – Domestic Cat Control Legislation decision paper
• City of Joondalup – geography and suburbs