Environment & Wildlife

The Town of Vincent boasts a rich diversity of ecosystems and is home to lakes, wetlands and parklands with an array of flora and fauna.

The Town is committed to preserving and enhancing these natural areas and recognises not only the ecological benefits of protecting our natural assets, but also the social and recreational benefits as well.


Environmental Initiatives

To help protect and manage environmentally important areas, the Town has embraced a number of initiatives:
• Cities for Climate Protection Program
• Sustainable Environment Plan
• Wetlands Interpretative Project
• Strategic Plan
• Hyde Park Lakes Restoration
• Carbon Neutral Program for the Town's fleet of vehicles
• Weed control
• Working with the Claisebrook Catchment Group and Swan River Trust
• Promoting the planting of local native plants and trees (and annual local plant sales and workshops)
• Investigating ways to reduce landfill and pollution including worm farms and recycling

Wildlife



The Town of Vincent is home to an abundance of wildlife. The lakes and reserves are home to multiple bird species and Hyde Park is famed for the native and exotic birds that visit throughout the year.

Along with Smiths Lake and the Banks Reserve foreshore, Hyde Park is used as a feeding and breeding site for a variety of birds and it is also home to a number of other fauna, including tortoises and various freshwater crustaceans.

The drying out of the lakes is ecologically desirable to sustain a balanced fauna population. Water birds naturally move to more permanent water sources as the lake level drops.
The natural wetland cycle of filling in winter then drying out over summer reduces the incidence of botulism, weed infestation, kills off exotic fish species introduced to the lake by park visitors and increases diversity in desired fauna due to the variation in seasonal water levels.

In recent times the drying out of the lakes has been more pronounced due to the lack of rainfall in the State. The Town of Vincent endeavours to do all possible to keep the water levels at an acceptable level; however it is likely that in future restrictions will be imposed on the Town to limit the recharging of the lakes.

For further information please contact the Parks Services Section on 9273 6563 or TTY 9273 6078.