Source : Perth Now news
The Town of Victoria Park’s innovative Cockitrough has taken home yet another award after winning the environmental and sustainability initiative category at the Parks and Leisure WA Awards of Excellence..
The Cockitrough is a 4m-high bird watering station designed to provide reliable, safe and clean water for endangered black cockatoos and other native wildlife when natural water sources are scarce.
The award-winning initiative, developed and designed by the town in 2018, aims to support urban biodiversity and help native species survive WA’s increasingly hot and dry conditions.
The award follows its success at the 2025 National Awards for Local Government, where the initiative took out the national environmental sustainability category.
Victoria Park mayor Karen Vernon said it was great to see the project recognised again.
“What started as a local idea is now helping wildlife across Australia. More than 180 Cockitroughs have been installed in WA and other States, providing water for more than 50 species of birds and other at-risk wildlife,” she said.
“This award is a credit to the whole team behind the Cockitrough and we are very proud of them. It’s wonderful to see our staff recognised again for their creativity, hard work and commitment to finding practical solutions.”
The Cockitrough provides a low-maintenance source of fresh water for native birds in public open spaces, with the units also being available for purchase by local governments, conservation groups, businesses and private residents.
Ms Vernon said the Cockitrough’s success showed how local governments could have a far-reaching impact.
“The Cockitrough is proof that when community and councils come together with a shared passion to help the natural environment, we can make a real difference,” she said.
The town will now represent the state at the Parks and Leisure Australia National Awards in December.
“We’re excited to take the Cockitrough to the national awards and share the story of a project that started in Victoria Park and has grown far beyond our boundaries,” Ms Vernon said.
