The University of Western Australia is determined to clear over half of Underwood Avenue Bushland for a housing development.

The bushland provides a crucial link and refuge for wildlife between Kings Park and Bold Park.   Even if part of the bushland is retained, the proposed clearing means most of the bushland values will be lost.

Underwood Avenue Bushland has high conservation value and is a Bush Forever site.  It is hugely significant for the survival of black cockatoos. Family groups of around 40 Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoos fly into the bushland every morning and voraciously eat the Jarrah seeds.  There are very few Jarrahs left in the city and suburbs.

Nearby, a flock of 350 endangered Carnaby's Cockatoos roost overnight and fly into the bushland to feed on their favourite foods: Banksias and the grubs within the Acacias and mighty Tuart trees. Here too they feed their young and socialise.

“That flock of Carnaby’s Cockatoos around Underwood Avenue is the last surviving flock in the western suburbs of Perth.”

“Now if you just continue to degrade and reduce the amount of available foraging habitat you will lose that flock". (Ron Johnstone: 4 January 2012)

The bushland also has special significance to Noongar people who lived there right up to the 1950s. It is part of their ancestral run and cultural landscape.

As a matter of urgency, we ask Ms Bishop to act now to ensure that the housing development proposed does not proceed.