CONSERVATION groups are hoping to slow traffic around Bibra Lake in a bid to protect native turtles during nesting season.

The groups, including the Walliabup Wildlife Warriors, have the City of Cockburn on side after councillor Phoebe Corke successfully put forward a motion asking the city to advocate for Main Roads to allow temporary speed reductions around the lake.

“It was in response to a motion [at the City’s AGM of electors] from the Walliabup Wildlife Warriors, who are the group who are working very hard to try and save turtles around the Bibra Lake area,” Cr Corke said.

“Well, preferably everywhere, but we’re concentrating on Bibra Lake.”

• The death toll on the road for snake necked turtles is severe during nesting season, so groups like the Walliabup Wildlife Warriors are pushing for temporarily lowered speed limits. Photo by Anthony Santoro

Wildlife

Cr Corke said existing rules made it difficult to reduce speeds permanently for wildlife protection.

“One of the reasons that the city thought it couldn’t be done is because Main Roads doesn’t give wildlife concerns as a reason for changing speed limits,” she said.

“I realised that possibly we could get around this, that if wildlife concerns are not a reason for permanently lowering speed limits, maybe we could ask them to temporarily lower them,” she said.

“I just wondered if maybe it might be a little loophole.”

Council supported the idea unanimously.

She said the temporary limits could work similarly to roadworks traffic management.

“So it would be temporary traffic management signs that would go in.”

While exact speeds have not been specified, Cr Corke said some sections could potentially drop further.

Playground

“Bibra Drive going to 50 permanently is something that is already being advocated for,” she said.

Cr Corke said Progress Drive could possibly reduce to 40kmh, given there was a large children’s playground and Adventure World, where large crowds spill out at closing time – often after spending a day cooking in the sun.

She said slower traffic would benefit more than just wildlife.

“Safety for all, not just turtles,” she said.

“If you don’t try, if you don’t ask, you won’t get,” Cr Corke told the Herald.

by STEVE GRANT