After a single cat decimated a population of fairy terns over just a few nights last year, the Mandurah council has moved to introduce new laws for cat owners.
"What happened with the fairy terns, everyone was focused on that particular site, they saw the devastation that occurs, and there was complete outrage," she said.
"We looked at what local governments were doing [with local cat laws] across the country, and picked the best parts out of those." The city's new cat law could come into force in early 2020 if approved this week, and would include $200 fines for owners if their pet is caught by a ranger in the fairy tern sanctuary or any other prohibited reserve.Ms Greenwell said it was likely the fairy terns, while unpredictable with their nesting habits, would set up a colony at the sanctuary again.
"The birds will almost certainly return to Mandurah — the Peel Harvey estuary is a really important foraging area for the birds where they feed on small baitfish," she said.
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