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Discovering Kwinana �

��. a place of natural beauty and rich in cultural heritage.

Document last updated on: 28 March 2006

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Kwinana�s environmental beauty is a secret treasure. Few people know that Kwinana has more than 800 hectares of extensive natural bush and wetlands. This offers an untapped tourism potential which is just waiting to be experienced. Another treasure in Kwinana is the richness of the Aboriginal culture. There is a large local Aboriginal population living in Kwinana and a willingness to share the Aboriginal cultural heritage with the wider community is, as yet, an undiscovered asset. Put these two factors together and there exists a wonderful opportunity for people to both explore the bushland environment and also to learn first hand from local Aboriginal dignitaries about survival in the bush and what it was like to live here before European settlement.

Kwinana is privileged to have on its doorstep The Spectacles Wetlands which covers 370 hectares (located north-west of Kwinana and comprising two lakes connected by a drain thus giving it the appearance of a pair of spectacles) and the Leda Nature Reserve (a conservation area covering 439 hectares - an area twice the size of King�s Park).

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There already exists tracks and trails throughout these areas but only those who are fit and well enough to walk the distance are able to enjoy the full extent of Kwinana�s natural beauty, the birds, the peace and the tranquility that is so uniquely Australian. Those who, due to age, illness or disability, are not able to walk the distance are at present denied access to this experience.

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The Vision �.. is to have a trackless train with wheelchair access which will:

Provide the opportunity for people of all ages and physical abilities to access and

enjoy Kwinana�s environmental beauty and cultural heritage (both the traditional Aboriginal heritage and also that of the early European settlement).

Protect the fragile environment (tourists will be contained on the train which is

confined to the tracks thus minimising any destruction of vegetation which could be caused from foot traffic)

Put Kwinana �on the map� as a desirable tourist destination within the Perth

metropolitan area, stimulate local tourism, create employment and benefit local business

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The Values �.. Commitment The Town of Kwinana is a unique community, there is a strong sense of �belonging� and this project reflects a commitment to ensuring that all people are welcomed to participate and be included in their community. The trackless train will literally provide a vehicle whereby people of all ages will be able to participate in the rich and enjoyable experience of a day out in the bush with family members and friends regardless of their level of physical abilities. Inclusion The trackless train will provide an equitable mode of participation in what can be an unique and exciting recreational, cultural or scientific adventure. No one will be excluded from participating due to a mobility issue. Culture Kwinana has Aboriginal Elders living in the community who still remember the �old days� and how things used to be and it is critical that the younger generation learns from them while we are privileged to still have them amongst us. We need to tap into this rich resource of memories and traditions before they pass from us and so have the stories to hand on to the next generation. Cultural awareness (as provided in the tours at The Sepctacles) assists to enhance cultural pride and build and encourage understanding and friendships between community members who originate from different cultural backgrounds. Working Together The trackless train project offers the opportunity for individuals, community groups, local industry, Local and State government agencies to come together and work towards a common goal for the benefit of the local community.

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Potential Applications �.. Disability Disability Services Commission together with the assistance of Technology Assisting Disability WA Inc. (TADWA Inc.) have brought the trackless train concept to the point where a design concept has been finalized with Australian Electric Vehicles which ensures that each of the three carriages are designed to be fully accessible (via fold down ramps) and caters for the safe transport of passengers in a wheelchair. Seniors The trackless train will provide an enjoyable and equitable mode of access so that people of more senior years can enjoy and appreciate the beauty of the local bushlands. The �inner child� is forever captivated by a train ride and this concept will add excitement and interest and encourage our older citizens to explore the bushlands which have previously been denied to them due to their loss of physical function and mobility. It will provide a memorable day out for people who may otherwise be limited to their own living rooms. Education The trackless train will provide a range of educational tours for seniors, school classroom groups and tourists � these tours could cater for scenic tours, wildflower tours, science lessons, bird-watching groups and tours which focus on nurturing an understanding of Australia�s cultural origins. The trackless train could also be used as regular transport to gather toddlers and their parents from their homes to a local park to meet up with the Town of Kwinana Fun Van, the children could be entertained while on board and join in community singing, alphabet and counting games during the journey to the park � making learning a fun and exciting experience and an opportunity to store valuable childhood fun memories of adventures with their parents - an opportunity often denied to many local families who are living on the edge of poverty.

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Culture The Kwinana Town Council in consultation with the Medina Aboriginal Cultural Community has built a small amphitheatre and a pit barbeque at The Spectacles which now provides an ideal setting to educate tour groups and classrooms of school children about how life was for Australians before European settlement. These cultural tours:

o Provide recognition to the local Aboriginal community and an opportunity to honour the culture of the traditional owners of the land in Kwinana

o nurture a sense of cultural pride o provide the opportunity to gain a more complete understanding of the

richness of the Aboriginal culture while the older generation is still able to pass on the knowledge and memories of what it was like living in Kwinana in the early years

o create employment opportunities

Wanju Wanju Djinining

(welcome to the Spectacles)

Kuluk Mangatj Milly Milly Kwenda Yagin and Kepu Kumbu (home of the Banksia, Paperbark,

Bandicoot, tortoise and Big Water)

Kuliny nitchu dutnyin kutunginy (come here sit down think and

learn)

Tourism The trackless train can have conditional registration to allow it to run on selected public roads which would allow the tourist potential to be expanded to historical tours of the Kwinana town site. It could be available to meet tour groups at the Wellard passenger train station and then take the group on to the bushland / wetlands tours. Special Events The trackless train could also be used as a special attraction for specific local events such as the Kwinana Festival, the annual Kwinana Children�s Party and the arrival of Santa to Kwinana in December. It could also be available for hire for private functions and weddings and generate an income by being available for hire to other Local Government bodies for their special functions.

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The current status of the project �.. Technology Assisting Disability (TADWA) has provided technical advice and assistance to Australian Electric Vehicles to ensure that the carriage design complies with the relevant Standards and that the train is fully accessible, including wheelchair access. Australian Electric Vehicles has provided a quote for the cost of manufacturing three carriages with wheelchair access plus the prime mover (engine). The price quoted was current for 30 days only which means that there may be price increases in the future. Discussions have occurred involving Medina Aboriginal Cultural Community, Kwinana Rotary, Disability Services Commission, Town of Kwinana, Conservation and Land Management (CALM) ALCOA and LotteriesWest. In principal, the concept has been well received and there is a very positive and enthusiastic response. CALM has advised in a letter dated 2 March 2006 that the project is supported in principle pending more detailed information which they have suggested should be provided in the form of a feasibility study. The students in the Leadership Certificate 2 course at Kwinana Challenger TAFE are enthusiastically working on a project as part of their course to promote the Trackless Train amongst the Kwinana community. The students will earn course credits for this work. Community involvement will be welcomed and encouraged and it is planned that a public meeting will be held later this year. It is proposed that this project will be managed by Imagine Kwinana which will ensure that the trackless train will be owned and managed by the Kwinana community. What can we do in the meantime? ���.. If you think that a trackless train will benefit Kwinana you are welcome to send your letters of support to:

Trackless Train Project PO Box 523

KWINANA WA 6966

If letter writing is not �your thing� and you �don�t know where to start� you may prefer to use the Letter of Support form that is attached on the following page. Your comments are welcome.

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Trackless Train for Kwinana

Letter of Support Name (please print): �������������������������.. Name of Organisation or Agency (if applicable): ��������������� Postal Address: ��������������������������� ���������������������������. Telephone no. ����������. Email:�������������.. I/we enthusiastically support the concept of a trackless train for Kwinana and would use the train in the following ways once it is available: ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ (PTO: please turn this page over to use if more space is needed for further comments) ����������������. ������������ Signature Date

Please send to:

Trackless Train Project

PO Box 523 KWINANA WA 6966