My name is Cindy Arlott, and I founded Connecting Corridors to help protect, restore and reconnect the natural environments of the Peel region and beyond. My work in conservation began when I was young, and it has shaped every part of my life since. I have spent decades involved in environmental protection, wildlife rescue, marine education, digital communication and community advocacy.
Environmental and Conservation Work
My environmental work began in the 1980s, when I became involved in campaigns to protect Western Australia’s forests and marine life. I was part of the movement that contributed to the closure of the Albany Whaling Station, working alongside Greenpeace and other environmental groups during a time when public pressure and activism were essential. I also took part in efforts to save ancient tree forests in the South West, supporting campaigns that helped protect old growth ecosystems that were under threat from logging.
Over the years I have been a member of the Rainforest Action Network, Greenpeace, WestWhales, and I am currently involved with ORRCA. I have participated in many dolphin and whale strandings, assisting with response, coordination and community communication. My marine work also includes time spent on Baja Grey Whales, learning about their behaviour, migration and the importance of protecting their breeding grounds in Mexico.
Global Environmental Experience
I have travelled widely over the years, visiting environments that are under pressure and communities working hard to repair them. Seeing what other countries are doing to restore habitats, protect wildlife and rebuild damaged ecosystems has shaped the way I approach conservation here in Western Australia. These experiences have shown me how important community involvement is, how much can be achieved with practical action, and how fragile many environments are when they lose their natural connections.
My time overseas has included observing large scale restoration projects, marine protection efforts and community driven conservation programs. It has also given me a broader understanding of how wildlife corridors, coastal protection and marine response systems operate in different parts of the world. This global perspective helps guide the work I do through Connecting Corridors, ensuring that local action is informed by international knowledge and long-term environmental thinking.
Marine Education and Early Projects
In the early days of the Bunbury Dolphin Trust, I helped establish the first education program at what later became the Dolphin Discovery Centre. My work included developing educational materials, guiding visitors and helping build community awareness around local dolphin populations. This experience shaped my long-term interest in marine conservation and community based environmental education.
Early Marine Education Endorsement
During my early work with the Bunbury Dolphin Trust, I produced an educational booklet on the Dolphin Beach Project at Koombana Bay. The booklet examined the history, scope and potential of the project, and was used to help build community understanding of local dolphin behaviour and coastal issues.
In 1991, Edith Cowan University formally endorsed this work. Geoffrey Lummis, Lecturer in Science Education at the Bunbury Campus, recommended the booklet as essential reading for anyone wanting to understand the project and its educational value. This endorsement recognised the quality of my early marine education work and supported the development of community based marine learning in the South West.
Connecting Corridors
Connecting Corridors grew from my long-term interest in wildlife movement, habitat fragmentation and the need for safe passageways between natural areas. I created Connecting Corridors to help identify, protect and restore wildlife corridors across the Peel region, with a focus on Dawesville, the estuary and surrounding bushland. My goal is to build a community supported environmental authority that can provide clear information, practical guidance and local action.
The project is grounded in science, mapping, community engagement and long-term environmental planning. It also draws on my experience in digital communication, allowing Connecting Corridors to share information clearly and reach people who want to help but may not know where to start.
Resurrecting WestWhales
I am also in the process of resurrecting WestWhales as a marine support and communication arm under Connecting Corridors. WestWhales was an important part of my early marine education work, and it played a role in community response to strandings and coastal issues in the 1980s.
I am bringing WestWhales back because the Peel and Waroona coastline has significant whale presence but very limited marine resources. There is no structured local support for whale monitoring, community reporting, education or response, despite regular sightings and seasonal movements along this stretch of coast.
Rebuilding WestWhales will take time. There is currently very little support for marine response in this region, and part of the process involves establishing a credible working relationship with DCBA. WestWhales needs to be recognised as a reliable community partner before it can operate effectively. This means developing trust and building a clear framework for how WestWhales will support local marine issues.
WestWhales will work alongside DCBA to support dolphin and whale strandings, coastal observations, citizen science and public education. It will also help strengthen community awareness of the changes happening along our coastline and the importance of protecting marine life.
Education and Training
I hold a BAppSc in Wilderness Reserves and Wildlife Parks, supported by additional qualifications in National Park Management, Agricultural Protection, Agricultural Science and Film and Media Design. Alongside these formal studies, I have completed a wide range of training across environmental monitoring, digital media, communication and community engagement. I continue to expand my skills through ongoing study, field experience and digital development work.
Work History
My work history spans environmental conservation, marine education, digital business development and community projects. I founded Attitude e-Media in the early 2000s, one of Western Australia’s early web design businesses, which later merged with Tolra Microsystems to form TolraNet. I then co-founded clearFusion Digital, a software and web studio that continued to build digital tools and online systems.
I also founded Absolutely Australia, an independent digital publication focused on Australian culture, heritage and storytelling. My digital work has always supported my environmental interests, giving me the tools to communicate clearly and build long term projects.
Skills
My skills include environmental science, wildlife corridor planning, marine education, community communication, digital design and development, content creation, mapping, research, documentation and project management. These skills allow me to bridge the gap between science, community and communication.
Tools and Apps
I work with a wide range of digital tools for mapping, content creation, data organisation and project management. My background in digital development means I can build systems that support environmental projects, including websites, databases, mapping tools and communication platforms.
Past Projects
One of my significant past projects was my involvement with the Bunbury Dolphin Trust, where I helped develop early education programs and community engagement. My work included very long days in the sun keeping the dolphins in a calm and relaxed state for visitor interaction, ensuring both the animal and the public had a safe and positive experience.
I also assisted with dolphin treatment under the instruction of Dr Nick Gales, who later became Australia’s Chief Environmental Scientist. This hands-on work provided valuable insight into marine behaviour, animal care and the importance of calm, consistent interaction during public education sessions.
These early experiences contributed to what later became a major marine education centre in Western Australia, The Dolphin Discovery Centre, and helped shape my long-term commitment to community based marine conservation.
My Commitment
Connecting Corridors is the result of decades of environmental work, community involvement and digital development. My commitment is to create a trusted, science based, community focused environmental organisation that helps protect wildlife, restore habitats and support long term environmental health in the Peel region.
If You Need More Information
If you have any further questions about me, my background or my work, just ask. I am always happy to provide more detail and to help people understand the history, experience and purpose behind Connecting Corridors.