Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Shane Rattenbury, today announced that work to install new signage around cat containment areas has commenced.
“The ACT Government is working to make it easier for people to identify which areas cat containment legislation applies around Canberra’s suburbs by installing roadside signage at the main entry points to cat containment areas,” Mr Rattenbury said.
“Work to install new signage in Bonner, Crace, Forde, The Fair at Watson and Wright has started and is due to be complete within the next week.
“These signs feature a symbol of a cat in a house which is used to remind people living in containment areas they need to ensure their cats are confined to their premises at all times.
“The other cat containment areas consisting of Coombs, Denman Prospect, Lawson, Molonglo, Moncrieff , Throsby and Jacka (from 1 January 2017) will have signs installed progressively. “Cat containment symbols will also be stencilled onto the roads in prominent locations in cat containment areas in coming months.”
Mr Rattenbury said cat containment areas are in place to protect native wildlife from roaming domestic cats.
“One of Canberra’s greatest assets is the nature reserves that surround its suburbs. These reserves are home to an abundance of birds and animals.
“Unfortunately, one of the biggest risks to this wildlife is roaming domestic cats, with an ACT study showing that domestic cats are responsible for killing a variety of species of birds and animals.
“Under legislation, cats found roaming in containment areas can be seized by TAMS rangers and an infringement notice issued to the cat’s keeper or carer.
“The benefits of cat containment are not only felt by our native wildlife. The risk of fights with other cats and traffic incidents are avoided by contained cats, keeping them safe, happy and healthy.
“I urge cat owners who live in containment areas to make sure their homes provide a secure place to keep their cats to protect our native wildlife and the safety of their beloved pet,” Mr Rattenbury said.
More information on cat containment is available at www.tams.act.gov.au or by phoning Canberra Connect on 13 22 81.
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