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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.
Our Free Trees and Plants Giveaway is back for 2024, with tens of thousands of native seedlings up for grabs.
There are more than 45,000 native plants and trees available overall, with different species of native seedlings to be distributed based on the size of each resident’s property.
Tanya Richardson, City of Swan Mayor, said the City had decided to include urban residents in the giveaway once again after the positive response last year.
“Extending the Free Trees and Plants Giveaway to residents in our urban areas has been well received and is helping us improve our tree canopy in these areas,” Mayor Richardson said.
“The City works with Trillion Trees – a community nursery in Hazelmere – to grow the native, waterwise seedlings for our residents.
“The native varieties are a hardy, low-maintenance choice which enhance our urban forest, support building shaded spaces and create habitats for biodiversity.”
Urban residents – those who live on properties smaller than 4000sqm – are eligible for an urban pack, containing a pre-selected assortment of six native species, suitable for smaller properties.
It includes a mix of shrubs, strappy-leafed ground covers and climbers.
Rural residents – those living on properties larger than 4000sqm – are eligible for a rural pack.
These residents need to select their top 10 species preferences from our species list.
Applications are open until Sunday, March 31, 2024.
Apply now.
City-wide
The Swan community celebrated local champions and welcomed dozens of new citizens in Midland on Australia Day.
The annual Australia Day citizenship ceremony at Weeip Park started with a special performance from the Midn Marr Dreaming dancers, who had guests out of their seats and dancing to the sounds of the didgeridoo.
Tanya Richardson, City of Swan Mayor, spoke about the late Whadjuk Noongar leader Weeip, whose name lives on at Weeip Park.
She acknowledged the sensitivities around the date of Australia Day and paid tribute to the “resilience and enduring culture” of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
“It is a culture that should be celebrated and preserved every day of the year,” Mayor Richardson said.
In total, we welcomed 73 new citizens from 28 countries on Australia Day.
The ceremony also featured the announcement of our 2024 Community Citizen of the Year award winners, listed below.
- Mechelle Turvey, City of Swan Community Citizen of the Year – she may be a local champion in Swan, but Mechelle Turvey’s message of unity and justice has touched people all over the world. She has shown incredible strength and grace after the death of her son, Cassius, in 2022. She is a powerful catalyst for change and her advocacy has already earned her widespread recognition.
- Janice O’Shea, City of Swan Senior Community Citizen of the Year – Janice O’Shea’s development of the first memory café in the City continues to have profound positive impacts on the community. Mrs O’Shea founded the Swan Valley Memory Café on the back of her research and collaboration with Dementia Australia. It has made a marked difference to the lives of people with dementia.
- Isaac Bhalsod, City of Swan Young Community Citizen of the Year – at just 16 years of age, Isaac Bhalsod has shown remarkable courage in the face of tragedy to advocate for life-saving change. Isaac spoke out in the wake of his father’s death in 2022, putting pressure on WA authorities to improve defibrillator procedures. An investigation led to an overhaul of the procedures.
- Swan Family and Domestic Violence Network, City of Swan Active Citizenship (group or event) – the Swan Family and Domestic Violence Network is passionate about supporting survivors and breaking the cycle of abuse. Their initiatives include the Midland March that Matters, accidental counsellor training for frontline staff, and training for hairdressers who can become a first point of disclosure for woman facing abuse.
On the back of a highly successful pilot program, we are launching a campaign to help local businesses become more accessible and reach more customers.
The Accessible and Inclusive Business Initiative will encourage businesses to conduct a review of their premises to identify any gaps in their accessibility.
They can do this by completing a self-assessment, engaging a paid consultant or participating in a free program for businesses.
The results of the review will provide business owners with recommended improvements.
After implementing the improvements, businesses are encouraged to promote any changes they made, highlighting their accessibility and inclusivity.
Almost 20 per cent of Australians live with disability.
Making these improvements now means businesses will reap the benefits for years to come.
They can attract and retain a diverse customer base, potentially increase their annual turnover by up to 25 per cent, and build a reputation as an accessible business.
“The City is committed to delivering a more consistent and coordinated approach to developing and implementing good access,” Tanya Richardson, City of Swan Mayor, said.
“We want to help our businesses become more accessible and inclusive so that they can bring in new customers and employees.
“Not only is it beneficial for the businesses, but it also creates an inclusive and welcoming environment for the whole community.”
As we have seen this summer, the sun sure can pack a punch.
During the warmer months, shade sails at City parks provide relief for families, offering sun protection over playgrounds and BBQ areas.
We run an annual shade sail installation project with many parks receiving new or additional shade sails each financial year.
From March, the 2023/24 project will start rolling out across the following parks:
- Astroloma Place, Koongamia
- Badminton Park, The Vines
- Grimrey Oval, Lockridge
- Harold Snow Bennett Park, Midvale
- Heisler Park, Brabham
- Holdsworth Park, Aveley
- Holmesdale Park, Woodbridge
- Kemble Park, Caversham
- Kings Park, Ballajura
- Lilac Hill Playing Fields South, Caversham
- Menindee Park, Ellenbrook
- Moulton Wetland, Ellenbrook
- Mundego Park, Ellenbrook
- Pegasus Park, Bennett Springs
- Seine Park, Beechboro
- Vasse Park, Ellenbrook.
New parks are being added to the list regularly in consultation with the community.
If you’d like a shade sail in your area, let us know through the free Snap Send Solve smartphone app. Alternatively, you can call (08) 9267 9267 or email swan@swan.wa.gov.au.
Our community is leading the way for Snap Send Solve in WA, winning a hat-trick of titles at the 2023 Solver of the Year Awards.
The awards, presented in February, recognised the Australian and New Zealand organisations driving positive change with Snap Send Solve, a free app that gives residents a quick and easy way to report issues.
Snap Send Solve is used by hundreds of local governments across Australia and New Zealand.
If residents spot something that needs fixing in their neighbourhood – such as graffiti, potholes or fallen branches – they can report it through the app.
The City won three of the four WA categories at the awards, showing the popularity and effectiveness of Snap Send Solve in Swan.
The efforts of staff and residents earned us the WA Community Engagement Award, presented to the council with the highest ratio of users and the highest speed-to-solve rating.
More than three per cent of Swan residents used the app in 2023.
Residents delivered another win in the WA Snapper’s Choice category, presented to the council which received the most votes from its users.
We also won the WA Customer Experience Award for having the highest rate of updated reports (98.9 per cent) and the best overall communication in the State.
Tanya Richardson, City of Swan Mayor, said the awards were recognition for the many community members who use Snap Send Solve to play an active role in keeping their community safe and clean.
“Our staff are always on the lookout for maintenance and safety issues, but Snap Send Solve makes it easy for the whole community to get involved and work together,” Mayor Richardson said.
We have joined the Small Business Friendly Local Governments (SBFLG) initiative, sending a clear message of commitment to local businesses.
In February, the City signed the SBFLG charter to show our commitment to strengthening relationships across the sector.
Delivered by WA’s Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC), the initiative recognises local governments that are serious about supporting businesses in their area.
The SBFLG charter covers areas such as red tape, customer service, dispute resolution, consultation and other activities to improve the operating environment for businesses.
Tanya Richardson, City of Swan Mayor, said a thriving small business sector had many benefits for the community, including creating more job opportunities for a growing population.
“We’re passionate about doing our best to support our local businesses to grow and prosper,” Mayor Richardson said.
“We provide helpful welcome packs for new businesses, offer a range of professional development opportunities and sponsor a business awards program that recognises and encourages success – and much more.
“But we feel there is room to do even more so we will also review our Draft Business Support and Enhancement Plan to investigate ways to improve our support.”
David Eaton, WA Small Business Commissioner and CEO of the SBDC, praised the City for its efforts to boost local businesses.
“It’s fantastic to see the City of Swan join a growing number of local governments who are putting their small businesses first,” he said.
“Small businesses are a vital part of thriving communities and economies. They provide employment opportunities for local residents and make the area more attractive for potential investors.
“Also, running a small business is incredibly hard work, so it is wonderful to see the City of Swan providing a network of support for their owners alongside the assistance provided by the State Government through the SBDC.”
Hyper, WA’s longest running and largest alcohol-free, all-ages music festival, will return to Midland in March with another stacked line-up of Australian talent.
The festival, scheduled for Saturday, March 23, 2024, will feature headliners (A-Z) Pacific Avenue, Sly Withers, Sycco, Teen Jesus and The Jean Teasers, and Ūla.
The headliners will perform alongside local acts South Summit, Joan and The Giants, Coco Elise, Elianie, Teenage Vertigo, Lachy John and the Red Bellies, Blue Lighthouse and Rosalie Chilvers.
Hyper is unique – a program curated and completely organised by a team of young people who volunteer their time across the year to receive mentorship and learn how to organise a music festival by doing it.
The result is one of WA’s longest running festivals, an institution known for its finger-on-the-pulse programming, inclusivity and community spirit.
Previous line-ups have included the likes of Spacey Jane, Amy Shark, San Cisco, Stella Donnelly, Camp Cope and Ball Park Music.
The 2024 line-up will showcase the next round of incredible rising talent in Australia, with ARIA Top 10 albums, triple j Hottest 100 appearances and many more hallmarks of success littered throughout the day’s programming.
In addition to the music, attendees can also enjoy gourmet food vans, free 18-hole adventure golf, games, merchandise and a signing tent for all of their favourite artists.
Hyper 2024 will be held at Weeip Park and LoCale at the corner of Cale Street and The Crescent in Midland’s New Junction precinct.
In our Strategic Community Plan, we have set out five key result areas (KRAs) – natural environment, economic, social, built environment and governance – each with its own vision, outcomes, objectives and measures to keep us on the right track to deliver on our community’s needs.
We now have a dedicated webpage outlining what we have done and what we have in the pipeline to achieve these goals.
Our first focus is our economic KRA, and what we’re doing to promote the City, attract new business and generate job growth.
We encourage you to go online and find out more about the support we offer to local businesses.
The webpage will be updated throughout the year with details on the other KRAs.
Did you know you can get up to $25,000 in City grant or sponsorship funding to support your projects, events or community initiatives?
Ngala Community Services recently received a $4,000 Swan Activation Grant to contribute to the delivery of the Swan Aboriginal Community Christmas Party in Guildford.
There was a great turnout at the event in December, with 1,000 locals coming together in a celebration of community spirit.
The event promotes reconciliation, the importance of giving back and supporting vulnerable families in our community.
Thank you to the partner agencies, volunteers and staff that made the day possible.
Our Grant and Sponsorship Program strives for the equitable and optimal use of resources to support and connect people, build social capital and enhance community wellbeing.
If you want to learn more or apply, call our Grants team on (08) 9207 8693 or email communitygrants@swan.wa.gov.au.
Our Community and Business Perceptions Survey is now closed after a strong response.
Feedback from residents, ratepayers and business owners is a crucial part of our planning.
Thank you for telling us what we are getting right and how we can improve.
The survey was run by CATALYSE on our behalf.
We will release the results in the coming months, including in the Swan Scoop.
Please keep an eye on our communications channels to read about the results and how we will address them.
Hooning is antisocial driving behaviour that is dangerous and disruptive.
The best way to reduce hooning in your suburb is to report it to the police on 131 444 as soon as possible.
If you see or hear hooning, try to make a note of the following details, without putting yourself at risk:
- Description of the behaviour
- Description of the driver
- Date, time, and location of the behaviour
- Vehicle details including registration, make, model and colour.
We are calling on you to help tackle graffiti on public property in your area.
We are always on the lookout for graffiti, but sometimes we miss it. And if we don’t know about it, we can’t remove it.
So, how can you help us?
If you see graffiti vandalism on places like bus stops, playgrounds, park signs, or public toilets, report it using Snap Send Solve.
Simply snap a photo, send it to us through the app and we will get our graffiti team members to visit the site and work their magic.
Altone
Swan Inflatables returned to Beechboro in January, giving a huge crowd a day of smiles, laughter and relief from the heat.
Held on Saturday, January 20, it was the perfect escape for families as the temperature rose to 36C.
The event featured eight inflatable installations, transforming the grassed area near Swan Active Beechboro into a water wonderland.
There was a toddler-friendly space with an obstacle course, a water slide and the ever-popular foam pit.
Older kids enjoyed friendly racing on obstacle courses, waterslides and a slip-n-slide.
Plenty of families flocked to Swan Active Beechboro’s aquatic area, with the pool near capacity throughout the day.
Other activities included health check stalls, coaching program promotions, swim school sessions, face painting, kindy sport and kindy gym.
The Swan Active Cup basketball competition added another layer of excitement to an event that continues to grow in popularity.
Read more.
Altone Comes Alive is just days away and everyone is invited to this free annual celebration of our diverse community.
Coinciding with Harmony Week, Altone Comes Alive is an inclusive cultural festival with something for everyone.
It brings the community together to enjoy the food, music and dance of the many cultures that make up our community.
One of the City’s most popular events, it was attended by more than 4,000 people in 2023.
This year, Altone Park Oval will host a wide range of attractions and activities for people of all ages.
There will be live performances, community stalls, a cuddly animal farm, carnival rides, inflatables, games, face painting, henna tattoos and more.
In addition to all the fun and games, a citizenship ceremony will be held on the day to welcome new Australians.
Tanya Richardson, City of Swan Mayor, said it would be a day to remember.
“This is the sort of event that encapsulates what makes our community so special,” Mayor Richardson said.
“This is the sort of event that encapsulates what makes our community so special”
“The City of Swan is home to people from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures, and it is that diversity that enrichens us all, I look forward to seeing you there.”
Altone Comes Alive will be held from 11am-4pm on Saturday, March 16 at Altone Park Oval in Beechboro.
Midland/Guildford
Quendas are small marsupials that spend their days fossicking for beetles and grubs in pockets of bushland across Perth.
While they are great at finding food in dense understory, they are vulnerable to attacks from predators such as foxes, dogs and domestic cats.
The quenda population at Bushmead Reserve is closely monitored by members of the Bushmead Conservation Cobbers (BCC) Friends Group, who care for the reserve and the animals it supports.
Over a few months, the group noticed a rise in quenda deaths caused by domestic cats
Wasting no time, the group worked with a local men’s shed to build bandicoot bungalows – small boxes with entrances just large enough for quendas to dash into if they are being chased.
The BCC then worked with us to determine the best locations for the bandicoot boxes in the reserve.
Since the boxes were installed, the group has reported several holes around each box and leaf matter near the entrances, indicating the quendas are using the boxes as refuges.
The BCC, in consultation with us, will continue to monitor the quenda population and the locations of the boxes.
You can keep up with the work of the BCC on Facebook.
If you would like to form or join a Friends Group, call the City on (08) 9267 9267 or email swan@swan.wa.gov.au.
Our commercial leasing opportunities in Midland could boost your small business.
From office spaces to commercial kitchens, there are resources to help you take the next step.
We recently visited Jewel Jackson-Fisher, the owner of chili sauce business, The Devil’s Tears.
Ms Jackson-Fisher operates out of one of our commercial kitchens at Stafford Court.
“I find the commercial kitchen space here very convenient,” she said.
“It’s clean, it has very good standards, and the City of Swan looks after this facility very well.
“It works really well all-round, so I would absolutely recommend it to other businesses.”
Pearce
The gazebo at Ellenbrook Dog Exercise Park has been removed in response to safety and durability concerns.
In late 2023, after a thorough assessment, we found the gazebo at Coolamon Oval was rusted at the base of the poles and unsafe for use.
Temporary safety fencing was placed around the gazebo, before the structure was removed in January 2024.
Shade is an important part of any park in Swan, especially during the warmer months, so replacing the gazebo is a top priority.
After feedback from the community, we have brought forward the installation of a new gazebo.
The installation is expected to be completed in the 2023/24 financial year.
The new Gnangara Shared Path is boosting safety and connectivity in Ellenbrook and Aveley.
The $355,000 project was fully funded by the State Government as part of its cycling election commitment package to create new riding and walking infrastructure across WA.
Gnangara Road has been the subject of extensive road upgrades in recent years and this path is a welcome addition to Aveley’s growing active transport network.
Tanya Richardson, City of Swan Mayor, officially opened the path alongside Jessica Stojkovski MLA, who represented Rita Saffioti MLA, Minister for Transport.
Mayor Richardson said the 1.3km-long, 3m-wide shared path extension along Gnangara Road would have many benefits for the community.
“Not only does the shared path encourage people of all ages and abilities to engage in riding and walking, but it also helps create a safe, connected and healthy community,” she said.
“It gives residents a dedicated space for outdoor activities and promotes an active lifestyle.”
We are excited to be in phase two of consultation for our Bullsbrook Local Area Plan, but we need more of your valuable feedback.
During phase one, you identified five new community priorities for us to focus on:
- Provide more opportunities and facilities for young people
- Advocate for more public transport options
- Upgrade and maintain local government parks and reserves
- Protect the natural environment
- Facilitate and advocate for more employment opportunities.
Thank you for being part of our review process so far.
You have told us what your priorities are, but now we need more clarification to make sure we understand what they mean for Bullsbrook.
Visit our webpage to see the results of phase one of the engagement and to provide more details on these priorities.
Swan Valley/Gidgegannup
Residents in Gidgegannup and Bullsbrook are still feeling the effects of a freak summer storm that caused widespread damage in Perth’s east.
Clearing broken branches and uprooted trees from roads and accessways was the first priority for our arbor crews.
Now, the focus of clean-up efforts is to remove the remaining debris from verges.
Tanya Richardson, City of Swan Mayor, said the City’s crews were hard at work addressing safety concerns and conducting street-by-street inspections.
“It’s been a testing summer with several heatwaves and this severe storm, but we know our rural communities in Gidgegannup and Bullsbrook are resilient,” Mayor Richardson said.
“Extreme fire danger ratings have caused some delays with the clean-up, and we thank the community for their patience while our crews get through the large volume of work.
“The City is well aware of the remaining debris and more crews are being brought in to support our clean-up efforts.”
You can report issues such as storm debris to the City via the free Snap Send Solve smartphone app.
Alternatively, you can call (08) 9267 9267 or email swan@swan.wa.gov.au.
We are working with Arc Infrastructure to raise awareness of the risks of trespassing in the freight rail corridor near the popular Bells Rapids site.
There has been increased corridor trespassing in the Bells Rapids area, with hikers and visitors taking unapproved pathways to access a local waterfall.
Of particular concern is a private level crossing about 250m from the Bells Rapids visitor car park.
The level crossing is on private property and is not designed for public use.
Trespassing in this area is extremely dangerous.
Visitors to Bells Rapids should be aware that:
- This rail crossing has poor visibility on both sides due to a curve and a cutting
- This section of track is used for passenger trains which are almost silent and can’t be seen or heard on approach
- The locked gate and “no trespassing” signage are there to protect members of the public – please don’t ignore it or go around it
- Unauthorised access to the rail corridor is a very real issue and endangers the lives of people who are working on the rail infrastructure, train drivers and the surrounding community
- Arc and the City will be installing new signage in the area as a reminder to hikers and visitors to stick to the designated walking routes – the 2.5km River Walk and the 3km Goat Walk.
Swan Valley gift cards are now available online, making a brilliant gift idea even easier to buy.
The digital gift cards are redeemable at many of the region’s wineries, breweries, distilleries, retail outlets, cafes, accommodation providers and attractions.
They can be bought in custom amounts from $5 to $1,000.
The gift cards can be used online or in person, and once bought, they can be sent instantly to the recipient by SMS or email.
Whiteman
Malaga is one step closer to becoming WA’s new home of movie magic with construction underway on the State’s first dedicated screen production facility.
The State Government announced in January that works had started at the site at the southern end of Whiteman Park, near Malaga’s METRONET station precinct.
The Marshall Road screen hub will feature four purpose-built sound stages, production offices, workshops, an art department, set storage and more.
It will be built by Home Fire Creative Industries, creating an estimated 600 jobs during construction ahead of a 2026 opening.
Rita Saffioti, WA Treasurer and West Swan MLA, said the State Government would invest $233.5 million in the construction of the WA-first facility.
“The delivery of the METRONET Morley-Ellenbrook Line and Malaga Station precinct has allowed us to plan for the growth of new industries in Perth’s north-eastern suburbs, including this one-of-a-kind screen production facility,” Ms Saffioti said.
The Ballajura Youth Outreach project is taking a proactive and holistic approach to supporting young people and reducing anti-social behaviour.
The project was launched in September 2023 in response to an increase in disengaged youth and anti-social activity in the area around Ballajura Public Library, Swan Active Ballajura and Ballajura Skate Park.
In collaboration with support service providers, we identified a pressing need for a dedicated youth outreach service.
In 2023, we received a $200,000 grant from the State Government to hire two youth outreach workers and launch the project.
It has been designed to help at-risk young people make positive connections with their community, feel a sense of belonging, access support services, and build resilience and capacity.
Our youth outreach workers are not connected to any particular provider, allowing them to play a valuable linking role between young people and support services.
They will be able to meet young people aged 12-25 in their own spaces and at local hot spots.
Alongside this, they will offer peer mentorship and support to local service providers to help them develop positive relationships with at-risk young people.
A heritage tram service will link METRONET’s Morley-Ellenbrook line to Whiteman Park in a tourism boost for Swan.
The State Government announced in February that Whiteman Park’s historic tramway would be extended to take visitors to and from the new Whiteman Park station.
A tram platform will be built to the south of Whiteman Park station, to complete 1.3km of new line.
It is expected to be taking passengers after the 21km Morley-Ellenbrook Line opens later this year.
Once it is up and running, trams will be provided free of charge until the end of 2025.
A collaboration with industry partners and North Metropolitan TAFE, the project will use about 85 per cent recycled materials.
Ballajura Skate Park was the place to be on January 30 when it hosted the Ballajura Skate Park Contest.
Students showed off their skills and sent off the school holidays in style at the event, which was organised by Freestyle Now and Youth Outreach Project Ballajura.
Young people aged 12-25 turned up with skateboards, scooters and BMX bikes to take part in training sessions and some friendly competition.
Temperatures rose to 38C but that didn’t stop the action.
There were prizes on offer, as well a sausage sizzle and some very popular ice creams.
The Ballajura Skate Park Contest gives young people an opportunity to hone their skills in a safe and inclusive youth-focused environment.