Alkimos – cats between coastal dunes, foreshore reserve and rail corridor

How layout shapes cat movement

Alkimos is built between Marmion Avenue and the Indian Ocean, with homes stepping down towards the Alkimos Beach foreshore reserve and conservation dunes on the west side.[S6][S7]

Short streets such as Leatherback Boulevard and local laneways run from rear-loaded housing to Bathers Park and the foreshore conservation reserve. On the eastern side, the Joondalup Line extension to Yanchep forms a separate corridor with shared paths and rail reserve.[S8]

When a rear fence opens near these paths, cats can move in two or three steps from a yard to a linear track that runs along the dune toe or rail embankment.

Wildlife most exposed

• Coastal shrubland and Quindalup dune vegetation in foreshore reserves support small ground birds and reptiles that use low cover and open sand patches.[S7]
• Regional movement data show Carnaby’s black cockatoos travelling along the Swan Coastal Plain, using coastal and near-coastal vegetation for foraging, including banksia and other proteaceous shrubs.[S2]
• Drainage corridors and landscaped wetlands between Marmion Avenue and the coastal strip attract waterbirds and insect-feeding bats that move along these lines at dusk.[S5]

Common cat lifestyles

• Fence-base slip cats – squeeze under rear fences backing onto laneways or pocket reserves that run directly towards the dunes.
• Gate-lift cats – exit through side gates facing Marmion Avenue or connector roads, using verge trees and shared paths to reach drainage reserves.
• Dusk-pressure cats – leave houses near Bathers Park or similar beach car parks at last light, following people, dog scent and seabird activity along the foreshore trail.
• Pine-belt / creek-line scent followers – track scent along swales, basin edges and vegetated corridors that link inland parks to the foreshore conservation reserve.

High-risk zones (specific)

• Rear fences and side paths draining towards Bathers Park and the Alkimos Beach foreshore reserve, where one exit can place a cat onto a shared path at the dune edge.[S6][S7]
• Properties close to the rail reserve and shared path near Alkimos Station, where gaps open from back fences into a long linear corridor.
• Streets where drainage swales run between inland parks and the foreshore, creating a single movement lane for both cats and wildlife.

Cat rules that apply

Cats in Alkimos are covered by the Cat Act 2011 (WA), which requires identification, registration and sterilisation, and empowers local governments to manage nuisance and environmental impact.[S3]

Within the City of Wanneroo, the Cats Local Law 2023 sets limits on cat numbers, identifies prohibited and sensitive areas including some foreshore reserves, and supports enforcement of cat control in conservation zones.[S4] Public information for the district urges owners to keep cats away from dunes and coastal bushland where native fauna are present.[S4]

Why containment fits Alkimos

In Alkimos, a small gap on the foreshore side of a block can place a cat directly onto a shared beach path or dune-edge corridor where coastal birds and reptiles use the same narrow strip.

Better options for cats

• Dusk indoors when people, dogs and wildlife converge on the foreshore paths.
• Check fence bases and rear laneway interfaces after summer wind and sand movement.
• Install cat netting where back fences face laneways, parks or reserves that drain directly to the foreshore or rail corridor.

Helpful links

• City of Wanneroo – Owning a cat (cat numbers, prohibited areas, local law): https://www.wanneroo.wa.gov.au/info/20006/animals_and_pets/70/owning_a_cat
• DBCA – Coastal foreshore and dune conservation guidance (Perth region): https://www.dbca.wa.gov.au
• BirdLife Australia – Carnaby’s black cockatoo profile: https://birdlife.org.au/bird-profiles/carnabys-black-cockatoo/
• Back to Wanneroo: https://www.kitty-safe.com.au/cat-safety-network-2/city-of-wanneroo-coastal-corridor-wetlands-bushland-roaming-cats/

Sources

• [S2] BirdLife Australia – Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo population and movement on the Swan Coastal Plain.[S2]
• [S3] WA Government – Cat Act 2011 and responsible cat ownership guidance.[S3]
• [S4] City of Wanneroo – Cats Local Law 2023 and public cat information.[S4]
• [S5] City of Wanneroo – Urban Forest Strategy describing vegetation and corridors in coastal suburbs.[S5]
• [S6] Alkimos Beach Foreshore Management Plan – description of foreshore reserve and conservation dunes.[S7]
• [S7] Alkimos–Eglinton district and coastal node structure planning for parks and foreshore layout.[S1][S7]
• [S8] Yanchep Rail Extension documentation – alignment of rail and shared path north from Butler.[S8]