Published on Saturday, 22 June 2024 at 7:00:00 AM
The Kerkhoff Carnaby Group and Shire would like to provide an update on the status of the Kerkhoff Carnaby Cockatoo Proposal, which was discussed at length in Wednesday night’s Council Meeting.
As you may be aware, the Kerkhoff Carnaby Group (KCG) has raised funding to construct a large, 11 metre high, Carnaby cockatoo structure. Council gave its in principle support to the project on 21st October 2020, and consequently a formal project proposal was provided by KCG on 2 October 2023.
Through the Kerkhoff Carnaby Working Group, it was agreed between the Kerkhoff Carnaby Group and the Shire that the project will remain the responsibility of the KCG until the structure has been built and will then be handed over to the Shire to manage thereafter.
Further to this decision, the working group has discussed the location for the construction of the cockatoo structure. Three sites had been considered including, Apex Park, the Moora Bowling Club, and the Carnaby Cockatoo Walking Trail adjacent to the Moore River at the south-western corner of the Sports and Recreation Precinct.
With each site having its own merits, Council at its meeting on 19 June 2024 ultimately committed to build the structure on the Carnaby Cockatoo Walking Trail adjacent to the Moore River at the south-western corner of the Sports and Recreation Precinct.
This site provides many benefits. It is relatively undeveloped, has good road and footpath access, minimises traffic hazards and is in close proximity to visitor infrastructure. It also has room for future expansion, and will minimise the costs of development as it enables costs to be shared with the development of the sport and recreation precinct.
Above all else, it places the structure in an environment that is sympathetic to the Carnaby cockatoo’s natural habitat and provides a distinctive landmark on the Carnaby Cockatoo Walking Trail.
Topsy De Vries said that the Kerkhoff Carnaby Group is now happy to have a working relationship with the Shire of Moora to bring the “Big Carnaby” sculpture to fruition in the near future.
“Although some of our members and supporters would have preferred Apex Park as the location, we accept that this site at the recreation precinct is a suitable alternative. We think that the new location is well suited for the sculpture to have maximum impact on the town as far as tourists are concerned,” she said.
“We sincerely thank our members and supporters for their patience over the last four and a half years that we’ve been working towards this outcome and we will keep working until the sculpture is erected”.
Shire President Tracy Lefroy said “the decision is positive; it gives confidence to the KCG and its building programme and will allow the project to advance quickly from this point forward. It will provide the town and region with the tourism, ecological and cultural benefits”.
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