Hello dear supporters. We have decided to close this petition as our original target was 3000 signatures. This has now been achieved. We will now request a meeting with Professor Paul Johnson to get his response to the petition From late August to mid November the “Friends” have continued campaigning in diverse ways. We met with Professors Kent Anderson and Peter Davies on 22 October. Both are on the UWA Executive. We had a worthwhile discussion about alternatives for the bushland, although were clearly told that there is no change of UWA's position at the present time. Another meeting is scheduled for 11 December. We are still awaiting an answer to the key question: “What will it take for UWA to change its mind and not go ahead with the housing development” . Whether this ongoing dialogue leads us anywhere is still an unknown. Sadly, it seems like business as usual and we need to keep pressure on UWA through other initiatives. The Friends had a good presence at the City to Surf Event on 30th Aug, and attended an on campus event organized by PAW (People for Animal Welfare) on 20th October. The new petition aimed at UWA staff and students is going well and many signatures were gathered. The ongoing focus of the campaign will be to continue to stimulate interest and catalyze internal concern and action with the UWA community. An excellent article by Anna on the Underwood Bushland and UWA appears in a recent edition of the UWA Student magazine – The Pelican (“UWA has Major Issues” - Vol 86, Edition 6, p12) Thanks to Ryan, our Facebook page (Friends of Underwood Avenue) has been going extremely well with a lot of interest in this issue. Margaret Owen’s daily posts of her wonderful Underwood bushland photos continue to highlight what we stand to lose. Should UWA obtain Federal approval under the EPBC Act, and go ahead with the development it will almost certainly find it very challenging to sell expensive properties so close to the Subi sewage works. This also has great potential to damage it's reputation, if it is seen to be engaged in dodgy real estate developments and “selling a lie” to prospective buyers. We are currently looking into the odour buffer zone issue with the aim of pushing Water Corp and the Government to re-visit the separation distance between the sewage works and the nearest of the proposed residential units. Realistically, due to risks of chemical spillage and odour, the odour buffer boundary needs to be extended east to Selby Street. If this occurs the development will not be able to proceed. Results of the Great Cockie Count conducted by Bird Life Australia in April 15 show the continuing decline in Carnaby Cockatoo numbers at 10-20 % per year, trending to extinction on the Swan Coastal Plain within 10 years. This will be a catastrophe for one of Australia’s most iconic birds. UWA will be seen to have contributed to this tragic loss. We encourage everyone to continue to support this campaign. If you haven’t already done so please write to VC Prof Paul Johnson. Donations are always welcome to fund ongoing campaign costs via: http://www.underwoodavenuebushland.org/ Thank you