A POPULAR Bibra Lake carpark and biodiversity hotspot has become a breeding ground for antisocial behaviour say concerns local residents.
City of Cockburn councillor Philip Eva is spear-heading a mission to update the carpark at the south end of Progress Drive with plans for CCTV cameras and resurfacing the dusty area..
“People feel very unsafe in this area,” Cr Eva said.
“By putting a security camera or two, it would give people peace of mind.
“I think we owe that to the general public and the residents to feel safe anywhere in Cockburn.”
• Crs Phil Eva and Phoebe Corke join Bibra Lake MLA Sook Yee Lai in calling for permanent CCTV to crack down on antisocial behaviour at Bibra Lake. Photo by Imogen Walsh
Accosted
Neighbourhood Watch member and Walliabup Wildlife Warriors volunteer Steve Shaw said the council had been “kicking the can down the road” over the carpark’s upgrade, with correspondence with the City stretching back to May 2025.
“We’ve got all this good stuff, people walking and using the exercise equipment but you also get all the bad stuff; drug dealing, dirt bikes and littering,” Mr Shaw said.
Turtle Tracking Team member for Bibra Lake and Yangebup Joyce Gadalon was recently accosted whilst checking the reptiles alone at night by a man the group claim is a known predator.
“As a single woman in a secluded area, there wasn’t anybody around; dim lighting – I was very alarmed,” Ms Gadalon told the Herald.
“Every woman has had at least one experience like this… I was concerned for my fellow trackers.”
“I think if CCTV was actually here, he would have never done that to me, because we would have physical evidence.”
Bibra Lake Residents Association president Bradley Zarins says when he checked locals about a permanent CCTV unit in the area, there was overwhelming support.
“There’s been a lot of illegal dumping and antisocial behaviour trends over the last 12-18 months where this can be a hotspot for it,” Mr Zarins said.
“The camera is well supported and something that we’re certainly pushing for as well.”
Prior BLRA President and current vice president Felicity Bairstow said the resurfacing and addition of CCTV is a “no brainer”.
“It seems like a pretty simple solution we need to solve several problems,” Dr Bairstow said.
“I just think we need to push it forward and sometimes you do have to make a little noise about these things if that’s what it takes to make a bit of change.”
Temporary CCTV units have been placed in the area a number of times however haven’t stayed long before being moved to the latest hotspot.
Voice of Cockburn president Marcus Burnett said permanent CCTV is “imperative” as the temporary units have proven to make a big difference.
“The proof was on the occasions that the camera had been moved within a matter of days antisocial behaviour and rubbish dumping had been reported,” Mr Burnett said.
State MLA for Bibra Lake Sook-Yee Lai said there were state government grants available for CCTV which could help Cr Eva’s mission but it was up to the local government to apply.
Cockburn deputy mayor Phoebe Corke said the council has applied for the grant for but the money had already been allocated elsewhere, and the Bibra Lake carpark would have to wait for a mid-year budget review.
by IMOGEN WALSH