The City of Wanneroo’s decision to retain nighttime community access at Mindarie Marina boardwalk – a popular local fishing spot – shows what can happen when communities speak up and common sense prevails.
The City made headlines when proposals were put forward to shut off access at night to the boardwalk and Jetty at the south-west corner of the marina, which would have deprived local fishers, particularly younger ones, of much valued land-based fishing access for species like squid, herring, mullet and Samsonfish.
However, there was strong community feedback to keep the boardwalk open with recognition of the value it provides.
Recfishwest Operations Lead Matt Gillett said the outcome was a strong and encouraging example of a local council listening to its community – at a time when other local authorities are eyeing off trying to put fishing bans in place in their areas.
“This is a really positive result and shows what can happen when local communities speak up about how important fishing access is to them,” Matt said.
“Places like Mindarie Marina are incredibly valuable because they provide safe, accessible fishing opportunities for families, kids and people who might not otherwise be able to get out on the water.”
“Once access like this is lost, it’s very difficult to get back, so it’s great to see the City of Wanneroo take a balanced approach rather than closing it unnecessarily.”
A better approach
As well as highlighting the importance of fishing access to local people, the strong community response shows that there are better ways to address concerns than implementing blanket closures.
Recfishwest strongly believes that recreational fishing should be managed through State fisheries legislation, not through a patchwork of local government rules.
Local government restrictions, while often well-intentioned, can result in unintended and disproportionate impacts on fishers. Good public policy doesn’t solve one problem while creating another.
“Where genuine concerns arise, they should be addressed through targeted, evidence-based solutions – not blanket bans that unfairly impact responsible fishers,” said Matt.
Fisheries management requires consistency, scientific oversight and a proper regulatory framework. Localised restrictions risk creating confusion, inconsistency and unnecessary barriers to participation in a pastime enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of West Australians.
Setting an important example
This outcome is particularly important in the current environment, with concerns emerging about potential fishing bans in local lakes by the City of Joondalup and the City of Stirling.
“With other councils considering access restrictions, this decision shows there is a better path, one that keeps places open while allowing any issues to be addressed in a practical way,” Matt said.
It sets an important example for other local governments considering similar measures.
A positive step forward
Recfishwest thanks everyone who took the time to provide feedback and acknowledges the City of Wanneroo for engaging with the community and being open to reconsidering its position.
“We’ll continue to stand up for fishing access across WA, because if we want more people enjoying fishing, we need to keep these places open,” Matt said.
