Leave park for black cockatoos

Dear Echo News,

An evening event, likely to comprise extensive lighting, sound and evening visitation, is being considered to be held at Jorgensen Park this winter.

This reserve is known to have critical roosting habitat for all three species of black cockatoos.

Black cockatoos, who on a normal evening, would be safely positioned high in the branches of the marri trees, in peace and darkness.

Our city is considering hosting this evening event, which will shatter that darkness, that peace and that safety, for over four months.

The three black cockatoo species, all listed as endangered or vulnerable, are already under immense pressure due to habitat loss for housing, vehicle strikes, and competition for remaining roosting trees.

To think we would prioritise hosting this event at a known roosting location, purely so that  individuals can experience one night of highly commercialised stimulation, with the short-term wow factor at lights and sounds, followed by privileged opportunity to purchase overpriced, generic souvenirs, all to the benefit of a sizeable commercial entity.

Are we really as a species this in need of entertainment and stimulation, that the interests of our endangered fauna slips quite so far down the list?

It’s quite clear there is only one winner from this venture, and it sure isn’t our resident black cockatoos.

H Lill

Kalamunda

Bridge

removal

concerns

Dear Echo News,

I would like to make you aware of a dangerous situation that exists and lack of safe access by people on shop riders, in wheelchairs, mums pushing prams and other pedestrians to the Hawaiian Shopping Centre in Forrestfield.

In April 2022, after years of meetings, the Woodlupine Brook in Forrestfield between Strelitzia Avenue and Woolworth Drive had a lot of work done to realign the flow of the brook to prevent more erosion and the possible loss of large marri trees.

During this work the City of Kalamunda decided to remove the pedestrian stone bridge near Strelitzia Avenue, which they deemed was unsafe with replacement costing $35,000.

This bridge was used a lot by people accessing the shopping centre from the Hale Road area while students on their bikes used it to pedal to the two colleges on Hawtin Road.

Unfortunately, the city ran out of money to replace the bridge.

We now have the dangerous situation where people  use the very steep road into the shopping centre that is used by big delivery trucks and numerous cars.

This is just an accident waiting to happen!

Unfortunately, the cost of replacing the bridge has now blown out to $265,000.

I have contacted the City of Kalamunda  numerous times regarding the bridge and have always been told that it is on the waiting list.

I have been in contact with the local member for Forrestfield Stephen Price and recently had a meeting by the brook with MP Phil Twiss and Liberal leader Basil Zempilas and representatives from the local Bendigo Bank.

They are all very supportive of replacing the bridge but are expecting the City of Kalamunda to show commitment and lead the funding!

I am very concerned for the safety of the citizens!

H Pember

Forrestfield

Join the weed fight

Dear Echo News,

Gardeners have the right to plant many things, but will they accept the responsibility to catch them when they run away?

Flinders Range Wattle (FRW) is a devastating weed invading bush reserves and verges throughout the Perth Hills.

This prolific tree rapidly takes over good bush, outcompeting everything and allowing nothing to grow underneath due to its allelopathic properties.

When a mature FRW dies or is removed you get years of dense seedlings — but they’re all Flinders as the native seed bank is long gone.

Over the last couple of decades Friends volunteers have removed 192,000 woody weeds from John Forrest National Park, including 9000 Flinders Range wattles.

If it catches alight, especially when green, the intense heat has to be experienced to be believed.

It almost explodes and is a major fire hazard.

Become a gardener on a massive scale - join a volunteer Bushcare Friends group to learn how to control this and other environmental weeds.

See mixmargaret.com/bushcare or phone the Mundaring Shire.

MD Jones

Hovea

Thanks for the article

Dear Echo News,

Thank you for your glowing sports article, published in the Echo on April 24 outlining my achievements as a swimmer in the recent Masters State Short-Course Championships at the Mandurah Aquatic Centre.

The event gave 200 swimmers, in four-year age brackets (from 18 years) the opportunity to set and break records.

I cannot let the sensationalism of a 96-year-old swimmer cloud out the achievements of our local club Maida Vale Masters inaugurated in 1979 is just six years older than the Echo.

Club secretary and National Association executive Lynne Duncan officiated, club president Andrea Williams held the microphone (quite a tongue-twisting effort naming eight swimmers and their clubs in a short-time frame of a 25m pool) as well as, taking three seconds off the previous record and becoming the new state record winner for 200 freestyle.

Along with her husband, senior club coach Gwyn also taking 1.9 seconds off and setting a new state breaststroke record while club coach Lesley Hart gained runner-up winner in her age group.

With only 8 club members competing, Maida Vale Masters finished in 7th place from 26 participating clubs.

Like our only privately-owned, independent local Echo, we have a proud history and I thank your advertising clients for supporting the Echo’s publication.

If longevity means anything, I wish you 96-years of continuing success.

G McGough

Maida Vale