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Swan Scoop is our quarterly printed newsletter, bringing our residents the latest local news from across our City.
There are five editions produced each quarter – one for each of our five wards.
They are filled with positive community stories, news about upcoming events, and updates on City projects and services.
Below, you can read all of the stories from the current editions of the Swan Scoop.
The City of Swan community has made its priorities clear in the 2024 Community and Business Perceptions Survey.
The survey, supported by independent consultancy CATALYSE, is held annually to track our progress and to identify what matters most to you.
It measures how you view our performance and compares those results with previous years and other WA local governments.
More than 830 people had their say in this year’s community survey in February.
The overall performance score put us slightly above the WA local government industry average.
There were notable increases in satisfaction with our management of public open spaces near waterways, and our services for youth and families.
Seven key community priorities emerged from the survey:
- Community safety and crime prevention
- Streetscapes, street trees and verges
- Playgrounds, parks and reserves
- Swan Active leisure centres
- Lighting of streets and public places
- Waste management services
- Climate change/sustainable practices.
The survey gives us valuable data and feedback from residents and businesses about what we are doing well and what we need to do better.
Community safety and crime prevention was far and away your top priority.
Tanya Richardson, City of Swan Mayor, said we were already taking steps to address key safety issues raised in the survey, including strengthening our mobile CCTV program and rolling out major public lighting upgrades.
“We are working on keeping our community and businesses safer by developing our Community Safety Plan, which outlines key actions to make you feel safer in Swan,” Mayor Richardson said.
“We’ve just finished our second round of community consultation on the plan and that will be coming to Council in the near future.”
We have made a significant investment in greening our City, including more than $2.3m in tree-planting in the 2023/24 budget.
Playground renewals and shade sail installations are ongoing across the City, with a $6.5m play space coming soon to Ballajura.
Swan Active Midland has reopened after its $30m refurbishment and Swan Active Ellenbrook is in the design phase.
In the waste management space, FOGO is almost here, with the rollout of our new three-bin kerbside collection system set to start in July.
More than 150 businesses took part in the business survey, and again, the overall results were above the industry average.
Our businesses told us that as well as safety and crime prevention, they wanted us to prioritise parking management and support for existing businesses.
We are already planning parking improvements in the Ellenbrook town centre and parts of Midland, which we aim to implement in the 2024/25 financial year.
We are also delivering a range of initiatives for businesses, including enhanced training and networking, the Buy Local campaign, and our Accessible and Inclusive Business Initiative.
City-wide
We are excited to be rolling out a three-bin kerbside collection system across Swan.
FOGO, which stands for Food Organics and Garden Organics, takes organic material out of the general waste stream and makes it easier for us to reuse it.
We will join a growing number of local governments to introduce FOGO when stage one of our rollout starts in Ballajura in July.
We are doing this to protect our natural environment and align with the State Government’s Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2030.
Currently, each residential property puts almost one tonne of waste in its general waste bin each year, and over half of our general waste bins are filled with organic material.
By separating organic waste, we will be able to turn it into compost and return valuable nutrients to our soil.
Properties that pay our standard kerbside waste collection charge will soon have three bins – a yellow-lid recycling bin, a red-lid general waste bin and a lime green-lid FOGO bin.
During the rollout, each property will:
- Have the 240L dark green general waste bin lid swapped with a lime-green FOGO lid. This bin will be collected weekly
- Get a new 7L kitchen caddy, making it easy to collect food scraps for the FOGO bin
- Get two rolls of compostable liners for the kitchen caddy, as well as our Waste and Resource Recovery Guide which explains how to use the new system
- Get a new 140L red-lid general waste bin. This will be collected fortnightly
- Keep their 240L or 360L yellow-lid recycling bin. This will be collected on the alternate fortnight.
Swan covers almost 20 per cent of the metropolitan area, so the new system will be rolled out in stages from winter 2024 to summer 2027 to ensure a smooth transition.
You will get a letter a few weeks before your stage explaining when to expect the new bins and what will happen during your transition week.
Visit our website for more information and a list of frequently asked questions.
We have identified priority projects in your ward that may be funding opportunities for the State or Federal Government.
Our Financial Advocacy Priorities 2023-2025 list contains 70 key social and infrastructure projects spread across the City.
Projects need to meet certain criteria to make the list, including community demand.
Chosen from projects on our capital works program, the list will guide our strategic and proactive approach to advocacy.
They range from minor projects such as water fountains to major projects such as the duplication of Marshall Road.
We will actively seek funding pledges for these projects in the lead up to State and Federal elections.
We can still pursue other grant funding opportunities, but this approach will give us a better chance of securing State or Federal investment.
Council endorsed the Citywide list of 70 projects at a meeting on Monday, April 29, 2024.
See our Financial Advocacy Priorities for 2024/25.
Our commitment to embracing and empowering our multicultural community has earned us the Local Government Award at the WA Multicultural Awards 2024.
Presented by the Office of Multicultural Interests in March, the WA Multicultural Awards honoured the outstanding contributions of individuals and organisations to multiculturalism in the State.
In 2021, 33.6 per cent of residents in Swan were born overseas and 23.2 per cent spoke a language other than English at home.
We strive to create an inclusive community that is welcoming to everyone, regardless of age, race, religion, ability, sexuality, gender identity or cultural background.
This vision was formalised with the adoption of our Access and Inclusion Plan in 2023, a five-year plan which outlines a series of goals to guide our thinking, planning and actions.
The plan takes a whole-of-community approach that nurtures cultural unity and reflects the incredible diversity of the people who call Swan home.
The development of the Access and Inclusion Plan was one of many initiatives that earned us the Local Government Award for 2024.
Tanya Richardson, City of Swan Mayor, said the award was a great honour for staff and Council Members.
“It’s something that means a lot to all of us, given the effort that has gone into making Swan a place that celebrates its diversity,” Mayor Richardson said.
“We can all see that those efforts are making a difference in our community but to be recognised at a State level is really encouraging."
One of the City’s biggest family fun days, the Avon Descent Festival, will return to the riverbank at Lilac Hill Park in August.
Running from 10am–3pm on Sunday, August 11, 2024, the festival has become a key part of WA’s best known adventure challenge.
Bring the family along to experience the excitement of the 124km race, which passes through the Swan Valley region and Bells Rapids.
There will be plenty of action on land, as well, with a range of free fun-filled activities for everyone of all ages to enjoy, including carnival rides, roaming entrainment, and live music.
This is the perfect opportunity to bring a picnic and enjoy the outdoors – but remember, our festival is a plastic-free event.
There will also be a range of delicious food, sweet treats and drink options to keep you going.
Put it in your diary now and make sure you along to Lilac Hill Park on West Swan Road in Caversham.
We can’t wait to see you there.
We know how important trees are.
Not only do they help to absorb carbon and purify the air we breathe, but they also improve our biodiversity.
As part of our Urban Forest Plan, we aim to plant about 1,200 street trees each year to enhance our streetscapes and improve our urban canopy.
It will help us provide healthy and diverse landscaping that can protect valuable natural plant resources as our population grows.
We are spending about $2.3m on street tree planting cross Swan in 2023/24.
Through this program, we will be planting 246 trees across Altone Ward this financial year.
Across four big days in June, almost 5,000 of our residents will visit the Trillion Trees Australia nursery in Hazlemere to collect packs of seedlings.
Back in March, applications opened for our annual Free Trees and Plants Giveaway.
If you applied for a pack, you should have received a confirmation email containing a reference number and confirming your collection date and time.
You’ll need to bring this reference number with you on your collection day to pick up your seedlings.
If you didn’t get a confirmation email, please contact us on (08) 9267 9267 or email freetrees@swan.wa.gov.au.
The City of Swan moved into the unrestricted burning period on Saturday, June 1, 2024.
This means you can burn without a permit if your property is over 2,000sqm and the material you plan to burn is vegetative or untreated wood.
Please note that when the fire danger rating is high or a total fire ban is declared, all burning is prohibited.
Sign up to our SMS service to get notifications about total fire bans, and harvest and vehicle movement bans.
If you haven’t already, it’s time to take stock of your severe weather plans.
Severe storms can give you very little time to make any last-minute preparations.
If you plan ahead and involve your family in storm preparations, you have a better chance of reducing damage.
Make sure your emergency kit contains your emergency plan, important documents, a battery-operated radio, a first aid kit and basic supplies at a minimum.
Stay up to date with emergency warnings by visiting www.emergency.wa.gov.au.
Altone
The second trial of the our Women’s Aquatic Program has come to an end at Swan Active Beechboro, with participants gaining swimming techniques, safety skills and new friends.
Not only did the trial given the women a chance to learn how to swim in a safe and comfortable environment, but they have also been able to share their experience with their children.
It was a pleasure for the Swan Active team to see how much the eight-week trial benefited the community.
Here is some of the heartfelt feedback from participants:
“It’s been my dream to learn how to swim. I have a pool at home and haven’t been able to use it, but since starting this program, I’ve now been able to have the confidence to swim on my own for the first time.”
“I’ve overcome a massive fear of water and now will be able to enjoy the water with my kids and not just sit on the sidelines.”
“My kids are so happy to see me finally being able to join them in the water and go to the pool together.”
“I highly recommend the program because it provides people like me to have the confidence to be around water and know what to do in the event that someone needs help.”
A report will be prepared for Council to consider any future delivery of the Women’s Aquatic Program.
Royal Lifesaving WA, which proudly supported the Swan Active program, will be running women’s only swimming lessons at Swan Active Beechboro during regular operating hours from Term 2.
Artist Marisa Santosa, also known as Marzland, is bringing her artistic vision to life at Dayton Community Centre.
Her design, which will adorn an outer building at the Arthur Street venue, was based on the theme “Coming Together”.
It will serve as a vibrant visual representation of the Dayton community’s spirit and values.
Featuring vibrant, colourful designs wrapping around a building, it is symbolic of Dayton residents coming together in harmony.
This mural is one of many installations taking place across Swan this year, creating a network of visually stimulating and thought-provoking public art.
The $30 million Dayton District Open Space is now open to sporting clubs and the wider community.
This major sport and recreation hub includes youth facilities, pavilions, sports ovals, hockey fields, netball and tennis courts, and other play areas that will accommodate our rapidly growing community.
The scale of this project meant it had to be completed in two stages.
Stage one, which focused on the neighbourhood park and play equipment, was completed in August 2022.
Stage two involved construction of the buildings, floodlit sporting grounds, a half-court basketball court and parking areas.
Other recent works included drainage and irrigation, landscaping, internal building fit-out and shade structure installation.
You can expect Dayton District Open Space to become the home ground of the Eastern Blades and Ellenbrook Falcons hockey clubs, the Caversham Suns Junior Football Club, the Caversham Dayton Cricket Club.
Tanya Richardson, City of Swan Mayor, said the world-class new facilities would be a cornerstone of the Dayton community.
“Dayton is part of the Swan Urban Growth Corridor – a key area for population growth,” she said.
“Building a high-specification open space like this one will support that growing community into the future.
“It provides a place for all ages, abilities and skill levels to enjoy sport and recreation.
“The Dayton community can be very proud of these incredible facilities.”
Dayton District Open Space was open to sporting clubs and the wider community ahead of its original June 2024 completion date.
The final touches will come in the 2024/25 financial year with the installation of public art.
Dayton will receive statement tree planting at its main entrances this winter to welcome residents and visitors to the suburb.
Through public consultation, the Dayton community asked for different varieties of ornamental pear trees to be planted to align with existing tree species in the area.
Ornamental pears are a popular choice as they have beautiful colour-changing foliage in autumn and flowers in spring.
Our staff will help establish the trees for the first two years of their life with a regular fertilising and watering schedule.
The aim is to ensure they grow into strong and healthy mature trees, forming part of a series of striking new entry statements.
The trees will be accompanied by six new locality signs, marking the boundaries of the suburb.
Midland/Guildford
Swan Active Midland is back better than ever as Midland’s home of wellness, fun and connection after a $30m refurbishment.
Its grand reopening on Saturday, May 11, 2024, was marked with fireworks, live music, guided tours, giveaways and more.
It was the first time that members of our Swan Active community had seen the revamped facilities – and they were not disappointed.
The new gym is four times igger than the old one, with dedicated change rooms, an appraisal room and a specialised functional training area.
The 650sqm is packed with premium equipment from Technogym, one of the world’s leading brands.
To give you an idea of the scale of the refurbishment, the area occupied by the old gym now forms part of the new café.
The café is bound to be one of the most popular features of the refurbishment.
Situated near the main entrance, the café now has a big kitchen, a spacious indoor area and a semi-alfresco area.
The semi-alfresco area has an external serving window, meaning customers can order from the café without having to enter the venue.
Nearby, our new creche is going down a treat with the little ones, with new indoor and outdoor play areas to explore.
Your children can enjoy a first-class creche experience while you work on your wellbeing goals.
Our indoor sports courts have been upgraded with competition-grade timber flooring, while our group fitness room has improved lighting, air-conditioning and sound.
There is also a new wellness room – a calming space where you can escape the daily grind and relax.
The wellness room hosts activities such as yoga, Pilates, meditation and sound healing.
Accessibility has been enhanced, especially in the indoor aquatic area, where the lap pool now has a ramp for wheelchair access and lane depths that vary from 1-1.7m.
The sauna and spa have been made more accessible and there is a new accessible change place.
Now, more than ever, Swan Active Midland is more than just a leisure centre – it’s a community hub for physical, mental and social wellness.
Upgrades to Dulcie Liddelow Netball Centre are complete and ready to be enjoyed by the community.
With more sporting clubs and community groups using the facility than ever before, the Midvale centre underwent a $2.5m renewal to make it safer and more modern.
Upgrades were made to the tiered seating, toilets, offices, first aid room and electrical and mechanical service.
The roof and kitchen facilities were also improved and extended, while old perimeter fencing was replaced with new fencing.
The refurbishment comes after all 13 netball courts at the centre were resurfaced in 2022.
So, come along to the Dulcie Liddelow Netball Centre to check out some games this winter season and see its fresh new look.
Old Midland Junction School, the Midland Junction Arts Centre has served as a vibrant community hub in the heart of Midland.
To look after this cherished piece of local history, the City is carrying out conservation works to the heritage-listed building, in line with a strict conservation plan passed by the
Heritage Council of WA.
Works include repairing the external facades, paying particular attention to fixing the brickwork and mortar pointing.
Damage to the windows, chimneys and verandas is also being repaired, followed by a fresh coat of paint to external painted timber.
Stage two of the works will focus on internal improvements, including sanding and oiling the floors, painting the walls and replacing old light fittings with new LED fittings to bring
the building up to code with the City’s lighting policy.
The works are expected to finish in September 2024.
MJAC remains open to the public with an exciting program of free exhibitions, workshops and artists-in-residence.
It was a showcase of community and creativity at the inaugural Bop N Shop market, with young entrepreneurs taking centre stage during Youth Week WA.
Held at the Crooked Spire in Midland on Saturday, April 6, the event was co-designed, developed and facilitated by the headspace Midland Youth Reference Group.
It was the first market of its kind in Swan.
All of the businesses involved were owned and operated by young people, with many organisations that support youth also involved.
These included Our Place, the Bullseye Youth Committee, Youth Focus WA and Swan City Youth Service.
It was an example of what young people can achieve when they are given a platform to have their voices heard, and support to achieve their goals.
Pearce
Priority traffic-calming works have been brought forward to reduce ratrunning and boost safety in Ellenbrook.
In 2022, the City commissioned a traffic management study in response to community concerns about traffic volumes on Arbor Drive and Brookmount Drive.
The opening of the Tonkin Highway and The Promenade connection had led to motorists using the two local residential roads as rat-runs.
A petition calling for traffic deterrents on Arbor Drive gathered more than 500 signatures, with petitioners describing the rat-running as a “danger not only to local
traffic turning onto Arbor Drive but children who attend Arbor Grove Primary School”.
Pearce Ward Councillor Aaron Bowman, brought those concerns to Council’s attention, advocating for urgent action.
Road modifications were recommended which aimed to reduce vehicle speeds along Arbor Drive and Brookmount Drive, while minimising the risk of shifting the problem to
other local roads.
City staff adjusted some of the proposed modifications based on feedback from local residents.
The project was designated as a Ward priority, with the Arbor Drive works scheduled for completion in 2024/25 and Brookmount Drive set for 2025/26.
However, Cr Bowman pushed for the Brookmount Drive works to be brought forward so they could be carried out simultaneously.
The project is now in the design phase, with modifications to both roads expected to start in summer 2024/25.
“These roads are carrying more than double the number of vehicles they were designed to carry, including heavy vehicles,” Cr Bowman said.
“Motorists are using them as a rat-run to cut 40 or 50 seconds off their trip but it’s putting our community – including schoolchildren – at risk.
“The community has been frustrated and worried about this for quite some time now.
“We’ve listened to our local residents, staff have done the groundwork and I’m pleased to see that we’re getting on with it.”
Architecture firm dwp Australia has been appointed as the lead consultant for the design of Swan Active Ellenbrook.
We went out to tender for the design team contract in February and received seven submissions.
The contract was awarded in April to dwp Australian in conjunction with local firm, WITH Architecture Studio.
The appointment marks a milestone for Swan Active Ellenbrook, a highly anticipated project with a provisional budget of about $85m.
About $42m of that budget is set to be provided by the State and Federal governments.
Initial design concepts were expected to be presented to Council last month.
We have also released a registration of interest for contractors to undertake the design and construct of the facility, and we have engaged Rawlinsons WA to undertake
quantity surveying services for the project.
Swan Active Ellenbrook will be built near the new Ellenbrook train station on land set to be gifted by the State Government.
It will feature a 50m outdoor pool, three indoor pools, waterslides and four indoor sports courts.
Thousands of people gathered at Ellenbrook District Open Space on Anzac Day for a moving dawn service hosted by the Ellenbrook RSL sub-branch.
Tanya Richardson, City of Swan Mayor, spoke at the service, paying tribute to the “determination, camaraderie and courage in the face of terrible odds” of the Anzacs
who landed at Gallipoli 109 years ago.
Mayor Richardson has a family history of service, including her own in the Army Reserves.
“My personal experiences have given me a deep sense of gratitude for those who have served in our military – not only in World War I but in all conflicts,” she said.
“We enjoy the lives and luxuries we have in the City of Swan because of the sacrifices of those who have gone before us.
“We should not take any of it for granted.”.
Ellenbrook’s new home of BMX is on track for completion in June.
Construction of the new truck started in early April at the corner of Verdant Vista and Library Avenue, near Charlie Gregorini Memorial Reserve.
The new track is replacing the old one which was removed in 2021 to make way for the METRONET Morley-Ellenbrook line.
Despite some unexpected delays earlier this year, the project is on schedule for a June finish.
The new track has been designed by Three Chillies Design with beginner and advanced layouts.
It features roller straight sections to build speed, banked corners to carry pace while turning, and a series of jumps and hipped roller elevation changes for those up
for a challenge.
It was designed in consultation with the local community.
The new BMX track will give young people another outdoors recreational option in Ellenbrook, a fast-growing area with a particularly young population.
Swan Valley/Gidgegannup
Six art statements have been installed in the Swan Valley to convey the character of the State’s oldest wine region.
The Swan Valley is the agricultural heart of Swan and one of Perth’s most popular destinations for locals and tourists alike.
In consultation with the Swan Valley Tourism Alliance, we set out to deliver a project that would give visitors to the Swan Valley a sense of place.
The public art statements were designed by WA artist group Wild by Midnight – Leanne Bray, Phil Gamblen, Dawn Gamblen and Peter Gee – who drew inspiration from the region’s vineyards and winemaking history.
They will become recognisable markers of the region, while also providing photo opportunities for visitors.
“The first vines went in here almost 200 years ago and I’m really pleased to see that significant history reflected in this public art,” Cr Rod Henderson said.
“I think they look fantastic.”
The first art statement was installed near Lilac Hill Park in mid-2023.
Another five have since been installed at the following locations:
• Corner of River Road and Great Northern Highway, Herne Hill
• Near Yagan Memorial Park, West Swan Road, Belhus
• Near West Swan Hall, West Swan Road, West Swan
• Near All Saints Anglican Church, Henry Street, Henley Brook
• Maali Bridge Park, Herne Hill.
“These art statements successfully and creatively define the Swan Valley’s sense of place”, Cr Charlie Zannino said.
“They are effective as a visual and artistic way of letting the visitor know they are in a truly special and unique region”.
The revegetation of Lilac Hill’s picturesque foreshore is underway with thousands of native plants set to line the banks of the Swan River.
We have teamed up with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) for a two-year cofunded project that will have environmental benefits for many years to come.
The revegetation efforts will develop the ecological corridor from Lilac Hill Park’s southern foreshore to Barkers Bridge, supporting biodiversity, increasing shade and stabilising soils along the riverbank.
The project was launched in April.
It was made possible by $172,513 in grant funding from the DBCA’s Swan Canning Riverpark Urban Forest (SCRUF) program, and guidance from Aboriginal environmental consultants.
Tanya Richardson, City of Swan Mayor, said it was important to act now to protect the environment.
“Our population is expected to reach about 220,000 by 2034 – an increase of almost 50,000 people in just 10 years,” she said.
“While we embrace our rapidly growing population, and the development necessary to accommodate everyone, we know we must preserve and enhance our precious natural environment.
“Focusing on revegetation projects such as this one is part of our overarching plan to support our biodiversity and protect our valuable natural resources.
“It is our responsibility to preserve the environment so that our residents, visitors and our children have an urban forest to enjoy.”
A cottage rich with local history has been destroyed in a bushfire which tore through Wandoo Heights nature reserve.
The fire started in Red Hill on Tuesday, March 19, covering almost 700ha over the next 24 hours.
Easterly winds pushed the blaze towards Wandoo Heights, 22ha of largely virgin bushland that was gifted to us in 1988.
Sadly, the fire destroyed the cottage that was beloved by many in the Swan community.
The cottage was previously owned by Olive Gear, Adela Hyde and Harry Hyde, the former chaplain at Guildford Grammar School.
The trio acquired the bushland property in 1960 for its educational and environmental values.
They built the cottage with the help of Guildford Grammar School students.
Tragically, Mr Hyde drowned in 1962 while rescuing a student on an excursion to the coast.
But Ms Gear and Ms Hyde continued their work and maintained the property with the help of volunteers.
They also set about improving access to the bushland so that people could experience it without causing damage.
In 1988, with maintenance becoming too difficult for the owners, they entrusted it to us.
The late Grant MacKinnon, a well-respected City staff member, was instrumental in keeping the property in fantastic condition over the next three decades.
A memorial bench and plaque were installed at Wandoo Heights in tribute to Mr MacKinnon who passed away in 2018.
The memorial bench and plaque are still standing after the bushfire, albeit scorched.
Tanya Richardson, City of Swan Mayor, said it was a poignant moment for many City staff and local residents.
“Wandoo Heights is a special place with a special history and although the bushland can regrow, the cottage cannot,” Mayor Richardson said.
“That property has been maintained with so much care over the years and it’s sad to see a piece of local history lost.”
After a couple of very close calls over summer, our City experienced its worst blaze of the bushfire season in March as homes came under threat near the Swan Valley.
Residents in Red Hill, Millendon, Herne Hill and Baskerville endured the stress of an out-of-control bushfire that threatened lives and homes, triggering an emergency warning.
The bushfire razed part of Wandoo Heights nature reserve, some outbuildings and the historically significant Wandoo Heights Cottage.
Thankfully, no lives or homes were lost in the blaze.
But the result could have been very different without the efforts of hundreds of emergency services personnel, from volunteer firefighters to pilots.
“Our community is grateful for the selflessness, expertise and support of emergency responders, including local volunteer bushfire brigades, Swan SES and our fire and emergency management team,” Tanya Richardson, City of Swan Mayor, said.
“They put it in long hours in extreme conditions, often putting their lives at risk to keep us safe – thank you for everything you do.”
Whiteman
A new pump track is coming to Ballajura.
Construction has just started on the track at Kingfisher Oval, with the project expected to be complete in late June.
The popularity of pump tracks has exploded around the world in recent years because of their wide appeal.
They promote outdoor play and interaction to a broad demographic in a relatively safe environment.
The design of the tracks makes them fun for riders of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced.
Circular loops with a mix of rollers and banked turns, they are intended to be ridden by “pumping” – using up and down body movements.
With enough practice, a rider can go around the track without pedalling or pushing, maintaining a constant flow with their “pumping” movements.
Pump tracks are suitable for mountain bikes, BMX bikes, scooters and even skateboards.
The Ballajura pump track is being delivered by WA trail-building company, Three Chillies Design.
Three Chillies Design have also been putting the final touches on the new Ellenbrook BMX track.
The popular play space at Kingfisher Oval in Ballajura has been decorated with new public artwork that aims to engage children and encourage playfulness.
The artist, Concreto, was tasked with creating something that would fit in the play space and spark curiosity in children and families.
Their design was based on feedback provided by you.
Installed as part of a broader playground renewal, the art will help transform the area into a unique and engaging space that draws out a sense of fun for children.
The piece is now part of our public art collection.
It was commissioned under our public art installation program, which requires projects over $2m to include funding for artwork to benefit residents.
We are renewing lighting at our ovals to improve visibility for local sports groups.
Community groups told us that reliability issues with the existing lighting infrastructure were making it difficult to use the facilities at night.
After testing and inspections, the older lighting systems will be replaced to bring them in line with current specifications and standards.
This includes replacing light poles, cables and control systems to support brighter 100-lux LED lighting requirements.
Several sports ovals will benefit from the lighting renewal program with Ballajura Oval the first to receive the upgrade.
The renewal project is well underway and is expected to finish in June, just in time for the shortest days of the year.
Hi, my name is Azeem Lamat, and I have always had a passion for reading, books and libraries.
When I was four years old, I attended a family library event.
It was a public reading of the kids’ book We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, by Michael Rosen.
I have very vivid memories of sitting outside on the grass with a group of other kids and chasing down a big bear.
The man in that bear costume was Peter, a City of Swan library worker.
Peter also handed me a small 3D printed creature, which I held onto and still have to this day.
Today, I am pleased to be working alongside Peter and the wonderful Ballajura Public Library team.
This is an environment I have always felt comfortable and welcome in.
It is a full circle moment for me, and I am so grateful to be working here at a place where so many fond memories have been made.