Save The Tavern - John Forrest National Park

Last week, Mundaring Shire Council voted unanimously in support of the motion reprinted below.

We've got over 17,000 signatures.
We have the unanimous support of our council.

When is the state government and DBCA going to listen??

Please continue to sign and share, and keep this incredible momentum going. It belongs to us all!

That Council writes to the Western Australian State Government through the Premier, Minister for Tourism and Minister for the Environment regarding the proposed closure and demolition of the John Forrest National Park Wildflower Tavern and expresses its concerns as follows:

1. That there has been no public consultation regarding this redevelopment proposal for the John Forrest National Park and Council strongly suggests that the matter go out to public consultation; and

2. Council expresses its deep concern about the proposed redevelopments to the John Forrest National Park, particularly the decision to permanently close the Wildflower Tavern - a tourism and hospitality amenity where locals and visitors can eat and drink with birds and kangaroos in and around the facility - a truly unique and iconic experience.

John Forrest Tavern Is Set To Close: Everything You Need To Know The iconic John Forrest Tavern is closing its doors to make way for a national park redevelopment.

https://soperth.com.au/perthnews/john-forrest-tavern-is-set-to-close-69392

John Forrest Tavern Is Set To Close: Everything You Need To Know The iconic John Forrest Tavern is closing its doors to make way for a national park redevelopment.

If only every sitting politician would be this helpful and engaging.

Shout-out to independent candidate for Hasluck, Jeanene Williams, for volunteering their support for us. A copy of their letter to some of the key parties responsible for the imminent closure of the John Forrest Tavern is reprinted below. Thank you Jeanene!

From: Jeanene Williams
Sent: Friday, 25 March 2022 7:53 AM
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: Attn Director General, Request for information on John Forrest Tavern closure.

Attn : Mark Webb PSM, Director General.
CC : Reece Whitby, Minister for Environment
CC: Paul Papalia, Minister for Tourism

Dear Mark,

My name is Jeanene Williams and I am the independent candidate for the Division of Hasluck. I have been contacted by a number of people in Hasluck and greater Perth area about concerns over the John Forrest Tavern. This is an iconic tourist attraction that has been operating since 1978 and is now facing closure because of the DBCA’s failure to renew its lease due to the creation of a car park.

Concerned citizens have been trying to get details from the department for some time now and to date the department has not provided adequate information on the plans, timelines or justification for the project. I respectfully request that your department provide details on timelines, proposed development plans, and what actions it will be taking to ensure that this iconic tourist attraction can continue to operate. I would also like to see justification as to why a carpark is required at this specific location including usage modelling figures and alternative sites or plans that were considered.

The limited information that I have been given so far shows that detailed architectural plans are not due for completion until June this year with project completion not until 2024, as such I would also request that as a temporary measure a lease extension be considered for the site to allow it to operate as long as possible.

As you can appreciate many people in Perth, as well as international visitors, have a connection with the tavern and this issue is causing great concern. I would also like to draw your attention to a petition which has already gained over 8,000 signatures https://www.change.org/p/dbca-save-the-wildflower-tavern-john-forrest-national-park. I look forward to your prompt reply.

Sincerely,
Jeanene Williams

Independent Candidate for Hasluck,
Vice Chair, ACS National Diversity & Inclusion Council,
ACS WA Branch Executive Committee member

MAR 26, 2022 —
Open Letter to Kalamunda MLA Matthew Hughes

Dear Mr Matthew Hughes,

As I'm sure you're aware, our petition to save the Wildflower Tavern in the John Forrest National Park has gathered over 8,000 signatures, with a large percentage of these coming directly from residents of the Kalamunda electorate, including myself.

The lack of information and transparency we have received thus far, from all levels of state government regarding the proposed redevelopment in the John Forrest National Park, is profoundly concerning to us.

We understand from your Hansard speech that you have “a strong commitment to a state government that is responsive to the needs of all Western Australians.” We are also pleased to read that your personal commitment is to be a strong voice for your electors in Kalamunda.

Mr Hughes, your electors are calling on you to be our strong voice and to demonstate your leadership in urgently pressing for responses to our questions.

Please consider and respect this actively in your next response to us, by promptly answering in detail the following questions:

Which State Ministers have been contacted by you, regarding our concerns for the John Forrest National Park?

What dates were these Ministers contacted?

What specific information did you ask be provided in the requested brief?

What replies have you received, and from which Ministers?

We appreciate and thank you for your urgent assistance in this.

Respectfully,
Glen Adams

Sign the Petition Save The Wildflower Tavern - John Forrest National Park

It's been an incredible few days, with almost 8,000 signatures added so far!

A big thank you to the Federal Labor candidate for Hasluck, Tania Lawrence, for meeting with us at the tavern on Monday night to discuss our concerns. This is more meaningful engagement than we've had from any other politician whatsoever, since we began this campaign.

Minister for Environment Reece Whitby? Minister for Tourism Roger Cook? Kalamunda MLA Matthew Hughes?

When will you listen to us?

Massive thank you to all those who have recently signed. Please keep sharing as widely as possible, and please lodge your concerns with all of the ministers listed above. We have less than 9 weeks. It belongs to us all!

For anyone visiting the tavern in person, please sign this special hallway wall too! Just like all these other brilliant people.

An urgent message to the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. When will this briefing occur? Who is making these decisions? When will public comment be sought? It belongs to us all!