Published on Tuesday, 27 June 2023 at 1:37:22 PM
Dieback, or Phytophthora cinnamomi is a water mould (similar to a fungus) which lives in soil and is an ever-present threat to our beloved Meelup Regional Park.
The most effective way to protect Meelup Regional Park and similar areas within the City is to arrive clean and leave clean. Dieback spores can be found in soil on shoes, tyres, pet paws and anything that has been in contact with soil, particularly if the soil is wet.
Around 40% of native Western Australian plants are susceptible to dieback, including banksias, grass trees, and hakeas, as are important crops such as stone fruit, avocados and grapevines. Dieback radically alters native ecosystems, leaving gaunt landscapes devoid of biodiversity and habitat for native fauna such as possums, quenda and huge ranges of insects and birds.
Dogs and other pets are prohibited in all sections of the park. All trails in Meelup have shoe cleaning stations and the mountain bike trails have grids designed to shake soil from tyres. Through keeping your shoes and tyres clean and staying on the path, you can protect the park’s incredible landscape and all of the biodiversity it contains for future generations. Additionally, all trails have markers that indicate whether the section is dieback infested (red), uninfested (green) or uninterpretable (purple).
Shoe cleaning station on Coastal Trail near Hurford Rd
Mountain bike grid on Endicott Loop trail head
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