using notwithstanding as a preposition

[tulipflower]

I would like to connect the following two sentences into one sentence using notwithstanding. I wonder if I'm right or wrong.

1- The people of Cooper Pedy come from more than 40 ethnic groups. They work together very well.

Cooper Pedy's people from more than 40 ethnic groups notwithstanding, they work together very well.

I think there is something wrong with 'Cooper Pedy's in the above sentence.


2- Building a dug-out is a great challenge. More and more miners want underground houses.

The great challenge of building a dug-out notwithstanding, more and more miners want underground houses.

[Rover_KE]

First read the Similar Threads below, and also look at the Fraze.It website for examples of this easily-avoidable, clumsy word used in many contexts.