No. 01

Hello everyone,
 
Many of you may be wondering at the fate of the Melville Bird Sanctuary concept plan presented by the Alfred Cove Action Group at the AGM of Electors on 5 December 2018. You may recall it received enthusiastic and near unanimous support from electors at the packed Mt Pleasant Baptist Community College. Subsequently, over 2500 people signed a CCWA/ACAG petition to the State Government for a Melville Bird Sanctuary & Discovery Centre. However the petition was not presented following the State Government’s decision on 28 March 2019, which resulted in cancellation of the Wave Park lease at Alfred Cove. Then some months later, at Council Elections in October 2019, a new Mayor George Gear and several new councillors were elected.
 
Now, a few of us original members of the Alfred Cove Action Group (ACAG) Committee, under the name of Friends of Melville Bird Sanctuary (FMBS), are keen to renew our efforts to have a Melville Bird Sanctuary (MBS) established in the region of Alfred Cove & Troy Park. A few weeks ago, we wrote to the CEO of the City of Melville asking for an MBS status update. We also copied in the Mayor, all councillors and the Member for Bicton Lisa O’Malley MLA.  
 
We were pleased to receive the CEO’s prompt response and assurance that the Melville Bird Sanctuary is definitely on the City’s current list of priorities.That's great news!! Mr Marten Tieleman advised us that the City wishes to engage broadly with the community regarding a masterplan for the whole of Tompkins Park, Alfred Cove and Troy Park foreshore areas. Lisa O’Malley who has previously been an advocate for us at both local and state levels is keen to be involved and we welcome her assistance on this project.

The region in and around Alfred Cove and Troy Park, bordered by the Swan Estuary Marine Park, is known for its remarkable birdlife comprising some 100 species including threatened trans-equatorial migratory wading birds. The area is also renowned for its natural beauty, is worthy of protection and will be an outstanding location for a formal bird sanctuary.  

We have developed a blog called Friends of the Melville Bird Sanctuary which includes recommendations and suggestions.  However, establishing the bird sanctuary and all that it entails, will rest with the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) and the City of Melville. See our blog at https://www.melvillebirdsanctuaryanddiscoverycentre.com/   Go to the Index at the top right of the page and click on March to read the articles.

Please show your support for the Melville Bird Sanctuary by forwarding this email to your family and friends.    Please also  give a ‘Like’ to the Melville Bird Sanctuary & Discovery Centre Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/melvillebirdsanctuaryanddiscoverycentre/   Also check the page from time to time for informative posts as well as photos of birds of the area. 

Rest assured that MBS newsletters will only be sent to you when there’s something new to report. But, if you do not wish to receive future newsletters, please click "Unsubscribe" below to take your name off the database.

Thank you for taking the time to read this email.   And please take care and stay safe in these challenging times.
 
Kind regards
 
Tom Lubin & Jenny Christenson 
for
Friends of the Melville Bird Sanctuary