ONE: Thank you for your support

We have reached 600 signatures this morning, at only 11 days old.

Thank you for your generosity in the form of donations for ads to further expose this petition to a wider audience.

A very special photographer Dr Lenny has submitted a seriously cool capture of the Little Grass Bird (see feature photo). Shout out to his talent and contribution to the cause.

TWO: Get Involved! Take A Stand!

We are uniting at the Wetlands itself at the Perth Cultural Centre this Friday, September 29, 2023 at 5.30pm.

Hop on board, join us for a "vigil", a gathering of sorts to say NO to the demolition of this beloved green space.

Guest speakers include:

• Mandy Bamford, Past President of the Western Australian Naturalists’ Club, Ecologist and science communicator
• Thom Scott, Board Member of Trillion Trees (formally Men of the trees), public speaker, educator and advocate for holistic people enabled, sustainable, built and natural environments
• Johnny Perfumo better known as "The Frog Doctor", Environmental Biologist and educator
• Gabriel, 16 year old student who has visited the wetland since he was a little critter himself
• A 5 year old who may or may not say a few words depending on how malleable she is to an ice-cream bribe on the day
• more to come...

THREE: Strengthen Your Cause By Writing A Strongly Worded Letter!

We have written to Minister David Templeman (Minister for Culture and the Arts) about our opposition to the demolition of this Wetland and SO CAN YOU (so should you, really).

His email address is: Minister.Templeman@dpc.wa.gov.au

Here is an copy and paste email for your convenience:

Dear Minister,

We are shocked and angered to learn that Perth Cultural Centre Wetland will be removed to create a thoroughfare to link Beaufort St to the Cultural Centre. That link already exists and while it can no doubt be improved and enhanced; we reject the notion that it has to involve the destruction of the wetland that involved so many community members in its creation.

The wetland should be repaired and retained, or if repair is not possible, a replacement wetland should be incorporated into the redesigned space, as the public was led to expect.

Twelve years ago, thousands of people were involved in a series of activation events to help bring the wetland into being, to populate it with aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates; geckoes, skinks, and two of the three frog species that now live there.  We hear the Clicking Frogs, the Motorbike Frogs and the Slender Tree Frogs.

We bring our children to spot them, to learn their different calls and to build a love and respect for nature.   We love that this wetland provides these animals with habitat.

Science tells us that we need biodiverse green spaces in urban settings for human mental and physical health and to reduce the heat island effect at a time when our climate is warming.  We now know better than to want cities dominated by paving and asphalt.

It is a much loved, thriving ecosystem which is the focus of lunch breaks, school visits, a unique venue for events and quiet moments in a busy day.  It has received design awards and is regularly mentioned in national and international discussions on best practice environmental engagement and urban biodiversity.

The wetland contributes to the character of WA's cultural centre in a way unique to Perth that no other city in the world can claim. In the short time the wetland has been present, the way it has framed the Cultural Centre and tied it to the very identity of the WA landscape has made it a defining part of our cultural image both to residents and tourists.

Plus this stance to preserve the wetland is supported by a large number of concerned citizens who are signing three petitions to this effect (over 800 signatures so far):

• Petition 1- https://chng.it/tzfRw2bx4k - over 180 signatures as of 25/9/2023
• Petition 2- https://chng.it/cRTrNjkxLJ - over 600 signatures as of 25/9/2023
• Informal paper petitions with over 40 wet signatures!

Yours Sincerely,

A concerned member of the community

Other stakeholders worthy of an email include:

• The Arts and Culture Trust
  Chairperson - Morgan Solomon
  email: pccevents@artsculturetrust.wa.gov.au
  
  
• Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
  Minister Reece Whitby
  email: Minister.Whitby@dpc.wa.gov.au
  
  
• The Art Gallery of WA
  Director - Colin Walker
  Board Chairperson - Janet Holmes à Court 
  email: admin@artgallery.wa.gov.au 

Anyway, keep on sharing and thanks again.

Toodles and see you this Friday x