Canopy and culture key elements of City of Stirling forecourt revamp

The City of Stirling’s civic forecourt is getting a green makeover to provide a cooler and more inviting space for the community.
 
Native trees and plants will reconnect the area to its ecological past, while a range of other new features will transform the forecourt into a functional civic plaza.
 
The project stemmed from community and Councillor feedback about the forecourt having too much concrete and not enough greenery.
 
In September 2022, Council endorsed the development of a concept plan for the forecourt, including improvements to landscaping, lighting and access.
 
The works are set to start on Tuesday 22 April and be completed in September 2025.
 
Sections of the concrete slab will be cut out to make way for vegetation and repurposed as seating and sculptural elements.
 
The planting areas will feature mostly local native species, with tuart trees and melaleuca groves reconnecting the forecourt to its natural past.
 
A yarning circle will be a focal point, with bespoke seating, specialised lighting and a central fire element creating a space for connection and knowledge sharing.
 
The yarning circle is a collaboration between Nyoongar artists Peter Farmer and Kylie Graham and fabricator Jahne Rees.
 
It will feature artwork from the City’s art collection by the late Meeyakba Shane Pickett, one of the foremost Nyoongar artists of his generation.
 
The 10m-tall sculpture Lina – a tribute to an Italian migrant woman who had a passion for gardening – will be surrounded by a garden bed symbolising the City’s market gardening history.
 
New programmable LED uplighting will allow the City to illuminate Lina in a range of colours.
 
“We talk a lot about the benefits of trees and the importance of growing our urban canopy, so it’s only right that we lead by example and create a greener forecourt,” Mayor Mark Irwin said.
 
“We have hundreds of people coming through our forecourt every week, whether it’s to discuss day-to-day Council matters or attend events like citizenship ceremonies.
 
“The project will give those people somewhere to sit, relax and connect, and it will create a space that can host Council and community events.”
 
The main entrance doors to the administration centre will be replaced during the works, with public access to the building maintained from 8.30am – 5.00pm through the civic centre entrance.
 
The forecourt will become a pedestrian-only zone, with new parking bays nearby to replace the parking area near Lina.

Image caption: An artist's impression of the revamped forecourt, incorporating future tree growth.