Altone Local Area

1. Ensuring Adequate Amenities and Infrastructure for Public Open Space

The City has a number of internal mechanisims to ensure adequate embellishments are provided for at our public open spaces. This includes the Altone Community Infrastructure Plan developed to provide guidance on future planning, location, development and funding priorities for public open space and community facilities within the Altone local area. The intention in Altone is, where possible, to maximise current infrastructure and promote the multi-functional use of community facilities which have potential to bring a range of compatible services to existing activity centres. 

The City’s Standards of Provision Open Space and Community Buildings document(PDF, 1MB) sets out the City’s expectations in order to meet the City’s growing population and diverse community needs. The standards guide our planning and development by ensuring the City provides consistent and adequate open space and community building provision throughout the City.

The City is developing a playspace strategy to guide the efficient use of resources whilst providing quality play environments for the community. This includes the City’s Play Space Replacement Program, a 5 year plan which indicates where facilities become due for replacement, based on an assessment of safety, and the most appropriate course of action.

2. Improving Movement and Access Networks

The Altone local area is located between three Metronet stations: Bennett Springs East (indicative), Malaga and Noranda, as shown in Figure 9 in the Background Report. The project is currently in the Design Phase, with designs available on the Metronet website. Bus routes and cycle facilities will also be planned for as part of the designs. Construction of the project is expected to be complete by 2023. 

On the completion of Northlink WA project, residents in the vicinity of Beechboro Road North will be in the proximity of a high quality Principle Shared Path (PSP) along Reid Highway and Tonkin Highway extension. Cycling access to the new PSPs should be improved by upgrading the path on Beechboro North (from Marshall Road to City boundary) to a 3m wide shared path, and a shared path on the southern side of Marshall Road (From Beechboro Road North to Northlink WA) to ensure it is connected to the Northlink PSP. 

3. Protecting Bushland and Tree Retention

This City encourages the retention of bushland where appropriate. The City has prepared a draft Urban Forest Plan as a response to the loss of tree canopy as clearing of vegetation increases with continued development. This Plan seeks to provide healthy and diverse landscaping on public and private land, supporting biodiversity, preserving natural amenity and protecting valuable natural plant resources as the region develops

The City supports the formation of ‘Friends Of’ groups who work together informally to conserve and protect a local reserve under the management of the City. Activities include planting native trees, weed and rubbish removal, dieback control, protecting and restoring habitat for native species, and creekline restoration. In Altone there is a ‘Friends of Bennett Brook’ who aim to increase biodiversity and provide habitats for the various native animals that reside in the bushland, and anyone is welcome to join.

4. Facilitating Social Cohesion through Community Programs and Activities

The City continues to facilitate events and programs which promote social cohesion amongst Altone’s multicutlural community. This includes ‘Altone Comes Alive’, a key cultural event for the local area to celebrate Altone’s strong diverse community. It is an opportunity for residents to connect and learn more about the community’s rich cultures. 

The City offers free Social English Club at Beechboro Library where conversational English is encouraged over a tea or coffee and cake. The library also offers the pop up space in the foyer to CaLD organisations who would like to showcase their organisation, services and activities that are available within the Altone local area.

5. Provision of Social Opportunities for Young People 

The City continues to facilitate programs, activities and events for young people including Futures Labs at Beechboro Library, BMX, skateboarding and scooter sessions for all ages and levels at Altone Skate Park, Youth Out Loud public speaking competition series, the Youth Power Leadership Group, and the Hyper series which includes small and large scale music festivals, and art exhibition and competition. See section 3.3 of the Background Report for more

6. Provision of Service Delivery for the Community

The Beechboro library is part of the Be Connected project, a digital inclusion program providing computer access, free personalised training and support through a learning portal. The learning portal includes a range of free courses and resources to help improve their skills and embrace digital technology. 

The City of Swan Community Care Services continues to offer a variety of support services for the frail aged or people living with dementia or disabilities. Support services include a Home Care Package consisting of domestic assistance, personal care, social support, community transport and home maintenance. Community Care Services provides cost-effective transport for clients and their carers to attend social activities, medical appointments, social support and shopping assistance.

The City of Swan has commenced construction on the Brockman Community Centre, a modern, functional home for a not-for-profit neighbourhood centre that has provided valuable services to our local community for over 30 years. Funded by a $5 million commitment from the State Government, we look forward to delivering Brockman Community Centre which will support our growing community and provide strong social benefits for years to come.

7. Promoting Indigenous Culture

The City has developed a draft Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The RAP will formalise a commitment between the City and the Wadjuk-Noongar and other Indigenous peoples living and working in Swan. Developing the RAP enables the City to develop greater cultural awareness and professional development practices that will strengthen relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders, and ensure more effective and relevant service delivery to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities

The City of Swan supports annual NAIDOC Week celebrations to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The Beechboro Library supports free access to the library collection and public computers to Indigenous communities. The library recognises and celebrates the culture by having dual signage of the welcome and bookshelves in both English and Noongar.

The Altone local area is located in the south west area of the City of Swan and includes the suburbs of Bennett Springs, Beechboro, Kiara, Lockridge and parts of Caversham and Whiteman. It is predominantly a residential area with a population of 21,577 persons and 7,950 private dwellings. More than 70% of households in Altone are either being purchased or are owned outright. 

Approximately 80% of Altone's residents are aged less than 55 years and 28% are less than 20 years of age. Almost 16% of residents are aged between 55 and 69 years, and 6% are aged 70 or more. Between the 2011 and 2016 Census, the population declined in all five year age groups from 0 to 49 and increased in the 50+ age groups.

Almost 30% of Altone residents come from countries where English was not their first language. Other than English, Vietnamese is the most common language spoken at home. More than 72% of all households in the Altone local area are family households with 51% of those having children. Altone’s labour force of 10,613 includes 9,594 employed persons of which 61% work full time and 37% are employed part time.

Prior to European settlement in 1829, the area was home to the Nyoongar people. Historically, the suburb of Lockridge was known as “Mooro” and part of the territory belonging to Yellagonga. There are a number of registered sites of significance throughout the area and as such, approval is required under the Aboriginal Heritage Act (1972) for any development of land on those sites.

European settlement of the area dates from late 1829 when land was allocated to settlers along the Swan River. The history of Beechboro commenced around the 1870s, when a large part of the Caversham estate was subdivided into large lots and renamed from its original name “Beechborough Park” to its current name. Prior to World War II, the Beechboro area was subdivided into smaller farms and used for dairy farming. During the 1960s, Lockridge was partly developed as a housing estate and in the 1970s, development of the area took off with the first subdivision north of Benara Road. The suburb of Kiara was approved and named in 1990 and the suburb now known as Bennett Springs was developed during the 1990s. More recently, there has been significant development in Beechboro, Bennett Springs and Caversham.

Major features and attractions of the area include:

• Shopping centres at Altone Park, The Springs, Amazon, Kiara and Beechboro
• Swan Active Beechboro and adjacent library, golf course and playing fields
• numerous primary and secondary schools.

Development of the Altone Local Area Plan (LAP) has involved local community members working together with the City to identify specific issues affecting their community. Community members and stakeholders were invited to contribute to the Altone LAP through a series of community workshops, events and an online survey from March to May 2015. All submissions received were considered in the formulation of strategies and actions to implement Altone’s vision and ensure that local needs and aspirations are met. This LAP is therefore an important document for the City to plan for infrastructure and services, and manage change at the local level.