No. 18
Hello everyone,
It’s been 3 months since our last Newsletter to you. (So we can’t be accused of cluttering up your inboxes!) Since then, we’ve continued to follow up on matters to do with the proposed Melville Bird Sanctuary (MBS) and provide further updates below:
Consultancy for the Melville Bird Sanctuary
We have just received the draft brief for the MBS Consultancy from the City of Melville for review.
Progress on the new Bird Viewing Platform at Pt Waylen
The City of Melville is handling construction of this platform including getting the necessary approvals from DBCA (Dept of Biodiversity Conservation & Attractions). Our most recent advice from the City is that the platform should be ready sometime in October.
Next Birdwatching Walk
We have our next Birdwatching Walk on Tuesday 4 October from 7.30am to approx 9.30am. Our Guest Leader will be Dr Claire Greenwell. Claire is a conservation biologist and ornithologist. She is the Citizen Science Manager at the Conservation Council of WA and also convenes the Western Australian Fairy Tern Network. Don’t miss the opportunity to come on this or any of our Walks. They’re super friendly, relaxed, very informative and always with extremely knowledgeable guest leaders.
If you’d like to come along, please let’s know by reply email or via our Facebook page. The Walk will commence from the viewing platform at the entrance to Troy Park (opp 194 Burke Drive, Attadale). Please arrive at 7.20am to complete registration details. Bring a pair of birdwatching binoculars (if possible) as well as a hat, sunscreen and water. We’ll have some spare pairs of binoculars and Claire will also have a birdwatching scope. You can leave any time you wish during the Walk if you have time constraints.
NB We were recently invited to give a presentation to residents, as part of the Alchera Guest Speaker program in Willagee, about the proposed MBS. Several of the residents knew Alfred Cove well and remarked that the tranquility of the area and amazing birdlife existing in close proximity to the City should make it a highly desirable destination. We also invited them to take a walk with us at the bird sanctuary sometime.
It’s time to recount some Facts about the proposed Melville Bird Sanctuary:
Memories fade so we’re listing some important facts that may have been forgotten along the way:
A proposal for a Melville Bird Sanctuary was first presented by the Alfred Cove Action Group to an AGM of Electors in December 2018 at a packed Mt Pleasant Baptist Community College Hall. The presentation was accompanied by large screen images of birds photographed by renowned wildlife photographer Melissa Zapelli at Alfred Cove. There was overwhelming endorsement for the proposal from several hundreds of Electors present.
In early 2019, 2542 people signed a petition from the Conservation Council of WA to the WA Government to establish a Melville Bird Sanctuary & Discovery Centre at Alfred Cove.
The Friends of Melville Bird Sanctuary group currently has some 2000+ supporters on its database.
The FMBS group has an active Facebook page at Melville Bird Sanctuary & Discovery Centre | Facebook
The Melville Council voted (12/1) at the Ordinary Meeting of Council in March 2022 to appoint a consultant to progress the establishment of the Melville Bird Sanctuary as a Short Term Recommendation.
Finally:
The Attadale Alfred Cove Foreshore Master Plan put the Melville Bird Sanctuary officially on the map. The master plan was developed by consultants Element who drew in a team of specialists including environmental experts to consult widely with the community and submit expert advice as to what should be done going forward. Suggestions for revegetation, path design and placement and the Melville Bird Sanctuary proposal were considered by Element who recommended future strategies in particular where erosion and narrow buffers have affected the Attadale foreshore and wildlife habitat. The recommendations included in the master plan are in line with DBCA’s policies and DBCA played a key role in the Plan. It is hoped that these will guide future decisions by the City of Melville and Council.
Kind regards,
Tom Lubin and Jenny Christenson
Friends of Melville Bird Sanctuary
“The decisions we make today could lead to a brighter future not only for the world’s wildlife but for all humanity”
– David Attenborough at the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II