On 1 July 2026, Maribyrnong Council announced a cat curfew, whereby house cats will have to be kept inside between the hours of 7pm–7am. 

Implemented amongst a slew of other measures taken by the council to protect the local environment, this curfew aims to reduce pet injuries, neighbourly annoyances and primarily protect the native bird species of the area. 

At the same time, Maribyrnong’s population is growing—estimated to reach 155,000 residents by 2051. 

In light of this growth, the area has been subject to developments that conflict with recent environmental progress. 

Across Melbourne, many similar conflicts are occurring. Informed Decisions, a demographic consultancy organisation, projects Melbourne’s population to reach 10 million by 2101, and this growth will occur without an increase to the city’s footprint, as the Carroll government recently announced the end of Melbourne’s urban sprawl. 

Curfew Expectations

According to Australian Geographic, there are 3.88 million house cats in Australia and these pets are responsible for 61 million bird deaths a year. Almost all of these deaths are from native bird species. 

While feral cats are responsible for a much higher percentage of total bird deaths, native bird populations could significantly benefit from the containment of house cats.

The Council has stated that they expect a prolonged transitory period, where the first year of the curfew will focus on educating residents on curfew expectations. 

“We’re fully aware that it’s going to take time for people to get used to the new system”, said Councilor for the Maribyrnong’s Sheoak ward, Bernadette Thomas. 

The Council is relying on reports from residents about out-of-curfew cat sightings and while the council website does state that noncompliance could lead to a fine after repeated offences, no fines[1] [2] [3]  have been handed down as of yet.

Wyndham City Council, another municipality located west of Maribyrnong, extended their cat curfew from 10pm–6am to a full 24-hour cat containment as of 1 January 2026. 

When asked if Maribyrnong residents can expect a similar transition in the future, Councilor Thomas responded, “after the first 12 months […] we’ll have a look at how we might progress to a 24-hour cat curfew.” 

Conflicts with Urban Development

House cats are not the only threat to Maribyrnong’s native wildlife. Recent housing developments in Bradmill have added 135 new homes to the council area, alongside the numerous Maribyrnong properties that have been bought, demolished and replaced with townhouses. 

The demands of a growing population have led the council and developers toward Maribyrnong’s limited green spaces. 

Aerial mapping in 2018 revealed that Melbourne’s western suburbs have significantly less tree coverage than the rest of the city, with the Maribyrnong area sitting at 8.4 per cent, compared to Melbourne’s eastern suburbs which boast an average of 26 per cent. 

Nevertheless, Maribyrnong’s McIvor Reserve is the first to go as proposals for an indoor sports stadium move forward with Council approval. 

In a press release regarding the stadium proposal Maribyrnong Mayor, Mohamed Semra, described the project as “an important investment in our growing community”. 

Initial reactions to this plan involved petitions and protests from local residents and the CFMEU banned its members from working on the project, out of concern for their members who live in the area. 

More recent changes to the proposal have included 20 more trees and a slightly smaller surface area than originally planned. CFMEU has yet to change its stance. 

Coinciding with this removal, the council has purchased three properties in West Footscray set to be transformed into communal green spaces. The council will also be removing the need for a permit for residents to plant vegetation on their nature strip, making it easier for residents to contribute to the cooling of local streets. 

Maribyrnong’s Struggles with Air Quality

The western suburbs of Melbourne are notorious for poor air quality, affecting not just the native bird species, but its human residents as well. 

The Maribyrnong area has the highest admission rates of respiratory illness admissions in Victoria, 70 per cent above the state average. 

The introduction of the Westgate tunnel did take trucks off local Maribyrnong roads and, for the majority of the Maribyrnong area, it has reduced fumes and improved the quality of air. However the stacks that funnel exhaust and gas from said tunnel have been built without a filter. 

An assessment from Synergetics Consulting Engineers (SCE) revealed multiple areas of the stacks’ design do not comply with good engineering practice guidelines. 

Low discharge velocity of the fumes and insufficient vertical clearance are elements that SCE says will lead to the plume being blown down to the surrounding area. 

To the upset of many Maribyrnong residents, these stacks funnel the exhaust from 67,000 vehicles a day, 16,000 of those being trucks. 

The council is operating a balancing act between protecting the local environment and urban development. When one green space disappears, another appears. 

When smog continues to permeate Maribyrnong’s air, the council has turned to other measures to maintain a sense of equilibrium. 

As Melbourne grows, Councilor Thomas reminds that  ”it’s just really important to keep bringing back nature into a city environment in as many ways as we possibly can.”

Image source: Elliot McCarthy