Aboriginal elders and concerned community members from Cockburn and Kwinana have met to discuss how their communities would be united under a proposal to create the City of Cockburn-Kwinana.
In July 2013 the Western Australia Government, in response to the Metropolitan Local Government Review Report chaired by Professor Allan Robson, proposed uniting the communities of Cockburn and Kwinana. The City of Cockburn resolved to support this concept and lodged a proposal with the Local Government Board to create the City of Cockburn Sound.
However, in November 2013 the State Government instead proposed splitting the City of Cockburn into three parts while still merging around half of Cockburn with Kwinana.
Cockburn Community Steering Group Spokeswoman Alison Loo, who is also a member of the Aboriginal community in Cockburn, said over 30 people from Cockburn and Kwinana attended the community meeting in January.
“Elders from Cockburn and Kwinana came together to discuss how the division of our imagined boundaries would have a real effect on our cultural sites.”
Ms Loo said the two most prominently discussed issues were:
The potential destruction of the culturally significant Beeliar Wetlands if the City of Melville is handed Bibra Lake because of its support for the Roe 8 extension.
The loss of the proposed Aboriginal Cultural Centre at Bibra Lake (proposed to be built on Progress Drive, Bibra Lake).
Aboriginal Community member from Kwinana Kay Walley said cultural sites in Kwinana such as the Spectacles and surrounding hills between Kwinana and Cockburn were significant cultural assets in need of protection.
“Cockburn and Kwinana are best placed to protect our land under one government authority as opposed to a divided region.
“The Aboriginal communities of Cockburn and Kwinana look favourably on a united Cockburn and Kwinana that would preserve our communities instead of divide them.”
