ITEM 9.4.4

Discovering ’s Lost Wetlands Proposal for Collaborative Project between ECU and

Background

Like many other cities around the world, Perth was founded on wetlands. While they are important habitats for a range of species, these environments have also played a significant role in the city’s cultural and economic development over time. The aim of this project is to develop an interpretive package for residents and tourists alike that highlights the rich cultural and environmental history of Perth and its wetlands. The project will involve digital modeling of the flora and topography of the Vincent, Perth CBD, Northbridge and areas as they may have been in 1827 immediately prior to European settlement. The map will include Indigenous place names and will be integrated in an interpretive package that includes rich data outlining the cultural and environmental significance of the wetlands.

Budget: The City of Vincent is invited to partner with Edith Cowan University in a joint project which will leverage research funding from the University via its Industry Collaboration Scheme. The Scheme supports research initiatives which foster collaboration between ECU researchers and industry and community partners. ECU provides awards to the value of $20,000 (minimum) to $30,000 (maximum) to ECU researchers for one year research projects which involve one or more industry and community partners. The industry partner is required to provide at least 25% of the total funding requested from ECU as well as an appropriate level of in-kind support which may include items such as staff time or access to information or space. The level of budget commitment from the City of Vincent will determine the scale of the project and outputs. The following table provides an indication of the level of commitment requested and related outputs:

City of Vincent ECU Project Deliverables OPTION A

$5,000 cash and $20,000 cash and 1. A map that includes digital additional in-kind significant in-kind modeling of the flora and commitment that may commitment from the topography of Perth’s wetlands include items such as ECU researchers involved and includes reference to staff time for meetings in the project Indigenous place names; and consultation 2. Content for a brochure that ‘value adds’ to the current City of Vincent ‘Wetlands Heritage Trail’ brochure by referencing the digital modeling showing the past and present extent of the wetlands, their topography and flora with additional indigenous information and cultural and archival materials (which can also be made available via the Vincent website) as deemed appropriate;

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OPTION B $10,000 cash plus $30,000 cash and 3. All of the above plus development some in-kind significant in kind and delivery of an App that links commitment commitment from ECU to and accesses the modeling and researchers related cultural and historical material guiding participants along a wetlands interpretive walk trail that encompasses the cities of Perth and Vincent. The App will be developed by experienced programmers in ECU’s School of Computing Science and update the current City of Vincent wetlands trail making use of the existing trail posts as marker points on the journey.

Key Personnel and Partners:

ECU Personnel: Associate Professor Rod Giblett, Edith Cowan University, is the author of five books about wetlands, three of which include chapters devoted to Perth wetlands. Currently he is researching and writing a book about cities and wetlands that will also include a chapter on Perth wetlands. He recently completed a book about Canadian wetlands that will be published next year. He has been the Secretary of the Friends of Forrestdale Lake for over 20 years so he has plenty of experience liaising with local government and community groups. Dr Danielle Brady, Edith Cowan University, has extensive experience in researching and managing mapping projects, in particular the ARC-funded ‘Firewatch’ project in collaboration with Landgate. She will liaise with Jeff Murray, formerly of Landgate, who is the consultant cartographer on this project. Dr Nandi Chinna, Edith Cowan University, recently completed her PhD on the Perth wetlands under Rod’s supervision. Her thesis included poems about them that will be published as a separate volume by Fremantle Press next year. She will research and write the proposed revised brochure. Dr Noel Nannup, Edith Cowan University, is the Indigenous heritage consultant for this project who will be consulted on the accuracy of place names and other Nyoongar information to be included in the modeling and brochure. Dr John Ryan, Edith Cowan University, completed his PhD on the cultural botany of south Western Australian flora under Rod’s supervision. He is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at ECU. He will research the flora and fauna of the Perth wetlands and drylands between them for the mapping and brochure. Dr Chris Kueh, Edith Cowan University, Senior Lecturer in Design with many years of industry experience in design. He will provide advice and consult on design lay out of the brochure. Dr Martin Masek, Edith Cowan University, School of Computing Science and Co- Director, Centre for Transformational Gaming. Dr Masek will oversee the development of the App if there is sufficient interest and support from partners to pursue this aspect of the project.

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Partners: Giblett has had two meetings with City of Perth’s Carole Winfield, (Community Development Officer) and Noel Robertson (Heritage and Sustainability Development Officer). City of Perth has indicated their interest and support for the project and has agreed to allocate funds for the development of the digital modeling. Claise Brook Catchment Group Giblett has had two meetings with CBCG. Jenny Hopwood, President and Sally Lake are interested and supportive of the project and have indicated their willingness to apply for Lotterywest funding for possible further research and for publication of a book on Perth’s wetlands.

Timeline: 2014

January – April: Research consultant to carry out digital modeling and mapping May- July: Nandi Chinna, in consultation with co investigators Giblett, Ryan, Brady and Nannup, to research and write updated brochure referencing the digital modeling and other relevant cultural material. Chinna and co-investigators will also develop additional material for inclusion on City of Vincent website July- December: Development of App to be carried out by an experienced ECU graduate student, overseen by Dr Martin Masek of ECU’s School of Computing Science. Dr Masek has extensive experience in App development. He is currently working with National Trust of Australia (WA) on the development of a framework for Trail Apps for National Trust sites.

Future Prospects On successful completion of the project, it is anticipated that ECU researchers will seek further funding from the Australian Research Council via its Linkage scheme for research and publication of a book with an established WA publisher documenting and exploring the cultural histories of Perth’s wetlands. Further funding may also be sought from Lotterywest in collaboration with the Claise Brook Catchment Group to further develop the Wetlands Trail App.

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