CONCEPT PLAN
EDEN HILL CULTURE AND
ENVIRONMENT CENTRE
At PYRTON
A community initiative of sharing together
for the Pyrton Site in Eden Hill
Pyrton Site Newsletter
Patron: Archbishop Peter Carnley - Anglican Church
Fellow Patrons:
Bevan Carter - Mayor of Town of Bassendean
Mingli Wanjurri Nungala - Aboriginal Educator and Nyungah Elder
Phillip Gibbs - Architect
Gatjil Djerkurra - Chairperson of ATSIC
Professor Fiona Stanley - Institute of Child Health
Sir Ronald Wilson - High Court, Reconciliation Council, Stolen Children Inquiry
INTRODUCTION
The Pyrton site is located on the edge of the Bennett Brook wetland
which was recommended for conservation as early as 1976 in the
System Six report. Its significance was reaffirmed in the Eastern
Corridor Plan. The area was classified as being of regional
environmental significance in the Conservation Reserves Study of 1983
and was proposed to be part of a l,linear Park linking Whitemans Park
to the Swan River. This concept was again strongly supported at an
Urban Greenways seminar in 1996.
This Land has strong cultural values and is imbued with Sacredness of
the Nyungah People of the Swan River and the Swan Coastal Plains. The
protection and preservation and the passing on of the Living Culture is
vital.
"This is deep rooted Aboriginal Culture and Beliefs of the Rainbow
Serpent Dreaming in this area in the Valley of the 110,000 years old
Ancient Sacred Site and makes this Culture here a really strong core..."
Clearly the old Pyrton site would be the ideal location for a
Culture and Environment Centre for the maintenance and
enhancement of environmental and cultural values.
This land has been considered for a number of years by a number of
people from cultural and environmental bodies and organisations whose
proposals are summarised here.
SUMMARY
Under the broad classification of a Culture and Environment Centre,
sensitive use of the existing buildings could house a diverse range of
complementary activities in addition to the recently accepted vision of an
"environment centre" as typified by those at Denmark and Rockingham. Potential
complementary proposals are listed:
1. Environment Centre - featuring all aspects of sustainable existence
including energy conservation and renewable energy - modelled on the
successful example operating at Denmark W.A.
2. Wetlands Education Centre - modelled on the highly successful
example operating at Cockburn. (There are no others comparable in the
Metropolitan Area)
3. Nyungah Cultural University - teaching of Nyungah and Indigenous
studies. Nyungah Circle of Elders in association with Edith Cowan
University - Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Neil Tuckwell.
4. Natural Flora Gardens of Eden Hill - indigenous species.
5. Greenskills - base for Environmental Traineeship Education
Program north of the river. (No facilities presently available other than
Fremantle).
6, Base for community volunteer groups involved in
environmental work particularly major lCM efforts such as the
Bennett Brook Catchment Group.
7. The Daisy Bates Archive and Research Centre - a Collection of
records and materials of national significance. Swan Valley Nyungah
Community in association with Allan Caddy (Manager Library and
Information Services of Bassendean Library), Battye Library and National
Library of Australia.
8. Base Camp for Teaching Culture - Aboriginal Elders and
Artists Kevin Cameron and Bob Cameron.
9. Ribbons of Blue - office for catchment co-ordinator.
10. Bennett Brook Plant Nursery - existing joint venture of Bennett Brook
Catchment Group/Swan Valley Nyungah Community.
11. Community Meeting Place - Success Hill Action Group.
12. Autumn Centre -Aboriginal Rights League (Chairperson Wayne Daly).
13. Greening Western Australia - base for north of river activities more
suitable than old Fremantle Prison site..
14. Art Gallery - Yalurita (Clarrie Isaacs)
15. Centre for Indigenous Women - Indigenous Women's Aboriginal Corporation
(Vice-President Margaret Morrison).
16. Artists' Studio - community arts, public art, facilities for children,
Dumbartung (Robert Eggington) Community Arts Network
17. Cultural teaching for music students - Abmusic (Glen Taylor)
18. Stolen Children's Centre - Woolkabuiining Kiaka (Alan Kickett)
19. Health Education Centre - Marr Mooditj.
20. Men of the Trees - Executive Retreat with environmental outlook.
21. APACE - base for north of river operations.
DRAFT PROPOSAL
1. Environment Centre
This would be similar to the centre at Denmark and would feature energy as well
as land and water conservation. The renewable energy options would have the
wind generators which have been recently built at the Nyungah Community as a
practical example in addition to the more easily constructed solar options. There
is ample room between the existing buildings for demonstration areas for all the
sustainable hind use options and the proximity to wetland would add emphasis to
the water conservation demonstrations.
Details of the Rockingham centre, included as Attachment 1, give an outline of the
intended activities at a similar centre.
2. Wetlands Education Centre
Since there is no facility of this kind north of Cockburn and since the Cockburn
Centre has been so successful that it is now to be expanded, it is appropriate that
such a centre be established on the Pyrton site. 't'he location on the edge of a
System Six conservation area, as outlined in the Introduction, is of course perfect.
The activities of i.his centre would fit naturally with the operations of the
Environment Centre described in 1. above.
A description of the Cockburn Centre is included as Attachment 2 to give a clearer
outline of the proposed activities.
3. Nyungah Cultural University
The University on this Sacred ground is to focus on teaching of Nyungah and
Indigenous philosophies, religions, cult, law, languages, thought, history and
also Nyungah and Indigenous geography, botany, health and nutrition, biology,
environmental studies. All this is on the verge of extinction.
4. Natural Flora Gardens of Eden Hill
Indigenous species would be grown in the variety of habitats on this land. In
areas needing it, the land would be rehabilitated. it would provide beautiful
gardens with small pathways for recreation and study and for demonstration of
environmentally sensitive and low-water no-fertiliser use garden design.
5. Greenskills - base for Environmental Traineeship education
program.
The State Government Environmental Traineeship employment initiative offers
unemployed people the opportunity to work with a subsidised salary-y and also
receive formal training in environmental career areas.
The programme has been very well received in the community as it is providing assistance towards
permanent employment in an expanding sector of the job market. Unfortunately
the only accredited training-*** facility is in Fremantle making access for northern
suburbs residents difficult. Greenskills, (the current service provider), are
enthusiastic about the opportunity to provide this training from a base north of
the river and close to transport facilities.
6. Base for community volunteer groups involved in
environmental work
This region is fortunate in having very active volunteer community groups such
as the Bennett Brook Catchment Group (BBCG) and the Bassendean Preservation
Society undertaking environmental rehabilitation work. The BBCG has started
weed eradication and replanting sections of Bennett Brook. This group is an
excellent example of Integrated Catchment Management in action in an urban
area with State Government Departments, Local Government and the community
working together to improve the local catchment and help restore the long term
health of the Swan River. The BBCG has two part time employees who currently
require office accommodation. The Bassendean Preservation Society is currently
obliged to carry out its seed germination work in members back yards. The use
to which these groups could put the Pyrton facilities is self evident and would be
completely in harmony with the other proposed activities for the site.
7. The Daisy Bates Archive and Research Centre
The Archive would house the already existing collection of records, documents
and materials of national significance belonging to the Swan Valley Nyungah
Community, and other collections held by others (eg the Ansara Collection). It
would be available to researchers and students and the public through t,he
Research Centre. The Manager of Library and Information Services would give
strong support and the Local history Collection at Bassendean Library would be a
complementary and supportive collection.
8. Base Camp for Teaching Culture
Aboriginal artists and craftspeople will be teaching hands-on Culture to young
people and students with the Pyrton site being a base camp for expeditions to
other cultural areas. Aboriginal Elders Kevin Cameron and Bob Cameron have had
long experience in teaching culture, arts and crafts.
9. Ribbons of Blue - office for catchment co-ordinator.
If space was available the Ribbons of Blue programme would have the
opportunity to base a co-ordinator in the facilities and assist in the overall
community education effort. The current Ribbons of Blue approach is to link
their water monitoring activities to real environmental action and their
presence in the centre would be in keeping with this objective.
10. Bennett Brook Plant Nursery
The Nursery is an already existing joint venture between the Bennett Brook
Catchment Group and the Swan Valley Nyungah Community. Indigenous trees and
plants are being grown. The nursery would be able to expand, carrying out plant
propagation, planting, seed collection, land regeneration and sale by contract and
to the public. It is a very suitable area for this activity.
11. Community Meeting Places
Meeting areas - from small informal gatherings to organisations' meetings and to
large public events would be able to be made available.
12. Autumn Centre
The Autumn Centre has a high demand for places and sees that the Pyrton site
would be a culturally and physically and socially appropriate place for
recreation and exercise and aged care for elderly people who need help but not
requiring constant medical attention.
13. Greening Western Australia
A base north of the river has great appeal for Greening WA and they would be
keen to participate in the proposed centre.
14. Art Gallery
Collections and exhibitions and sale would be arranged. There are many Nyungah
and Aboriginal artists whose work is unknown outside of their own communities.
There is experience in the Nyungah community in organising public art projects
and exhibitions. This is the perfect location on culturally suitable land where
there are large open buildings.
15. Centre for Indigenous Women
The Indigenous Women Aboriginal Corporation requires offices and facilities for
health, welfare and human rights work. They are already sharing an office on
the Pyrton Site.
16. Artists' Studios
Space for artists involved in community arts, public art and other activities are
needed in the area with facilities for children. Community Arts Network would be
happy to support partnerships with others.
17. Abmusic
Space would be used to teach music students cultural units, and rejuvenating old
cultural forms in music
18. Stolen Children's Centre
Woolkabunning Kiaka is already using an office on the Pyrton Site and need an
office and facilities here.
19. Health Education Centre
Marr Mooditj have been engaged in health education for many years. A need has
been expressed for facilities north of the river
20. Men of the Trees
Men of the Trees have been searching for a site suitable for an executive retreat
with an environmental emphasis. The proposed centre seems ideal to them and
they would be enthusiastic participants in the project. This function would be
income generating.
21. APACE
This community-based non-profit organisation produces plants for revegetation
and runs training courses in environmental work. They would welcome an
operating base north of their present Fremantle location.
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