Every dollar helps. Here are the 3 ways you can donate:
If you are able to help our cause through a donation please directly transfer your chosen amount to
Friends of Gelorup
BSB: 633 000
Account number: 168 204 873
If you’d like to make a Tax deductible donation
Friends of Gelorup is a proud auspice of Friends of the Earth Australia. Friends of the Earth Australia is a deductible gift recipient and you can also support our work by making a donation at Friends of the Earth Australia
Thank you to those who attended this fantastic High Tea event.
High Tea event with Sabrina
Reviews from the day were all positive. Many walked away with pieces of art, new found knowledge, friends and a smile. A huge thank you to the lovely Sabrina for spending time in Gelorup and Stratham to help our cause.
UPDATE:
On December 14th FOTGC will be challenging current environmental law that allows approvals to be given despite dodgy offsets plans from the applicant, Main Roads WA.
‘It is a developer’s obligation under federal environment law to procure land elsewhere to compensate for, or “offset”, lost habitat or threatened flora.
This case brings a new element by asking if the government complied with the offset requirement, and is a potential landmark case testing how offsets can be used.’
This federal court challenge isn’t just about Gelorup because the ramifications of the outcome of this case can impact EVERY small environmental group around Australia fighting to retain their own pocket of remnant Bushlands, Woodlands, Forest, rainforest, grasslands, swampland, heathlands, coastland…the list goes on.
If anyone wishes to join a contingent heading to Perth early on Wednesday morning, please email Wendy wastbury49@yahoo.com.au to book a spot. A bus may be available depending on how many wish to go. It would leave Margaret River around 5.30- 6am (time to be confirmed), pick ups in Busselton and Bunbury, and return the same day. (Cost to be shared amongst participants)
Read the Sydney Morning Herald’s reporting on this Case documented in November.
https://www.smh.com.au/.../landmark-federal-court...
The environmental approvals process appears to be broken.
Recovery plans and conservation advice regarding our critically endangered flora and fauna appear to be ignored. Recent promises and commitments made by the Federal Government appear to indicate a change of heart.
However, the approval for the Gelorup Corridor and commencement of clearing has directly led to the death of 4 possums that we know of. Despite over 20,000 signatures to date to protect the possums and their environment the approvals still stand. The only way forward now is to challenge the law/process through the courts. A potential game changer for ALL environmental groups around Australia fighting for recognition of their precious Fauna and Flora - their Gelorup Corridor!!!
All monies raised will go towards our cause that now has become a chance to change the antiquated systems that don't value the importance of our natural world.
Update - 3rd Sept 2022
Dear Friends
Well - it is finally September and I am sure you will agree that August was a particularly tumultuous month. The month began with the horrendous commencement of clearing of the southern most section of the Gelorup Corridor. A temporary injunction was obtained and stopped clearing for 3 full days in early August but we were unable to stop further clearing via the courts at that time the end of the 3 days.
On ground actions by WA forest defenders , local activists and concerned community members caused continued delays to clearing activities. Committed photojournalism exposed some terrible scenes of possums being forcibly removed from their homes which received National press coverage.
Widespread media profiling and interviews were undertaken with 6PR in Perth, Triple MMM in Perth, ABC TV south west and many other outlets. A letter of support from local Indigenous elder Wayne Webb was received about the devastating impacts of clearing on our native wildlife and forwarded to the Federal Environment Minister.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson Young sent an urgent letter to Minister Plibersek on our behalf after strong advocacy from Gordon Tayler and Brad Pettitt. An online petition has raised over 20000 signatures to date- please continue to circulate and encourage people to sign.
https://www.change.org/p/sos-save-the-critically-endangered-ringtail-possum-from-disappearing-forever
Our Go fund me page was a massive success generating over $20000 towards our legal fees. This page remains active as we move into our next phase so please continue to share and support us if possible.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-gelorup
We will also be hosting regular community events over the next few months.
Main Roads has now stopped clearing in Category 1 Habitat and many beautiful areas of habitat and vegetation remain intact throughout the proposed development footprint including Five Mile Brook and surrounds. They have only cleared 11.5 hectares out of the total 71 planned so we are still planning the next stage of our fight.
We have finally received further documents from the government which we would have preferred to have before the case started. Our legal team says that as a result of the documents we now have more to fight about.
So please …….
Stay in touch, watch the website and our FB pages, and we will be in touch soon about the next exciting development in our fight against Main Roads and how you can help.
Quizmas in July was a great success. The Gelorup Hall was a festive scene with a positive community atmosphere. Thank you to all our sponsors and the wonderful teams who made this event one to remember.
Quizmas in July at the Gelorup Community Centre.
People came from far and wide to join in the festivities and compete in the fun events and win some great prizes on Saturday 24th July 2021. Thank you to the dedicated Quiznight team who put an incredible effort into making the evening a fabulous success, and once again bringing our Community together.
The winners of the evening were Table 8, with Table 7 runner up, Table 9 third place. Table 2 received the Wooden spoon!!
Table 6 won the Acronym competition, Table 7 won the DingBats competition.
Participation was high and fiercely contested in ‘Closest to the Whiskey Bottle’ won by a very happy Terry.
Heads and Tails, Paper Aeroplanes and 8 rounds of questions set a vibrant and cohesive mood with the large crowd, some who dressed for the occasion and spread the joy of the Christmas Spirit!
Mr Brendan Kelly MC’d the evening and we thank him for his professionalism and humour. You did a fantastic job!
To our sponsers who have donated the prizes and gifts, our deepest appreciation for your generosity and support for our Community and cause.
Chris Skeggs
Abbott’s Water Filters
Leschenault Nursery
South West Tourist Services
Ingenia Gardens Jigsaw Group
Christian Fletcher
Silk Caravan
Caltex
Entire Commercial Furniture
Dalyellup BWS
Laurie Sorensen
Mojo’s
Green Door Winery
Australind Travel Centre
Coles
Fat Bird Cafe Capel
Happy Nails Dalyellup
Tree Memories Boyanup
Malatesta Nursery
Solvelt Escape Rooms
To Friends and Members of the FOTGC, Gelorup and surrounding Communities for your hard work and support.
Thank you
For Gelorup and Stratham residents - please note that our local action will be at the AFK mural, which is located on the side of the BWS bottle shop building. Saturday 20th February at 10.30am. Friends of Gelorup are not hosting the action, just participating.
As you are all aware; the state election is coming up, and our community is one of several that continues to be ignored by the WA Labor Ministers. We feel that right before the election is when politicians are most likely to be listening, so have created this action with help and input from others. We hope that you will all join in to make this successful.
Please feel free to share this information with others who may like to participate, including other community campaign groups. It is easy to ignore one person or group - but if we unite to shout collectively, we have a greater chance of being listened to. Together we will attract media more easily - this will benefit all groups participating and is a great way to help and support each other.
#stopthedamagepremier
Fundraiser event, water colours.
What have we been doing? We have been busy!
Meetings
Don Punch organised a meeting for us at Dumas House with a Senior Policy Advisor from Rita Saffioti’s office, 2 members of the Main Roads WA BORR team, including the Project Manager and Don Punch. The meeting was a productive one, we made sure our concerns were heard.
Tree survey
Our tree survey continues, under the direction of Dr Eddy Wajon. Thanks to those who have helped, we now have a significant amount of accurate and detailed data.
Media
You may have noticed that the local papers, TV and radio are reporting on what we are doing and saying.
Regular updates are also on our website, and facebook pages. There have also been quite a few letters to the editor published - so continue to write them!
Asphalt Plant
There has been no decision yet by the State Administrative Tribunal for Apsphaltec's appeal.
Find out more ... get involved
Road Closures
There are a number of proposed road closures on the current BORR plans, for both Gelorup and Stratham, restricting road access in the event of a bushfire. Come along to the Community Information Night run by the Gelorup Bush Fire Brigade for more information and to ask any questions you may have. It’s on October 5th at the Community Centre, from 4:30pm - 7:30pm. Otherwise, feel free to email us.
Affected residents
We have started a group specifically for residents who will live close to the Southern BORR and will be affected by noise, reduced road access or lighting, etc. If you would like to be part of this group, let us know.
We can be contacted via return email
Facebook – Friends of the Gelorup Corridor EST 1995
Instagram - @friendsofgelorupwa
now on display at the Bunbury regional art gallery
Art created by Christine Blowfield
Artist Statement:
Some place that are so familiar to us can yield treasures. Treasures, that you never thought or expected to be there. Our environment often throws us treasures, it’s whether we see them, admire them, enjoy them and protect them.
I have found such a treasure.
One that we need to acknowledge and protect. In a quiet, eerie but comforting, paperback swamp in the South West locality of Gelorup, is a Mother tree. A glorious Swamp Paperback, Melaleuca Rhaphiophylia.
She has a base that is 4.9 metres and towers above this cathedral of smaller paperbacks. She is the protector, the guardian.
My work captures her sprawling all over my canvas with texture and light filled moments that take you there, to that cathedral.
She is of significance; she fills the canvas and delights the viewer. She wishes to tell you about her journey, about her lifetime. She wishes to be heard. This area is so important to our environment; it is a filter and gives us new, refreshed air and vitality. How dare we threaten her?
Let me be heard is a window to this beautiful Matriarch’s soul - her voice.
This area is part of the controversial Bunbury Outer Ring Road Development.
I will let you decide, if she is important to us, or more importantly, our environment?