Playgrounds make a welcome return

Being able to welcome the community back to local playgrounds and skate parks earlier this month was a great feeling. We have reopened our three skate parks, five fenced dog parks, all outdoor exercise equipment and more than 300 local playgrounds in line with the State Government’s easing of restrictions in Phase Three. Whether it’s a small pocket park or a bigger scale regional playground, we are thrilled that the hundreds of play areas across the City are back in action for local children and families to enjoy.

At the Yokine Regional Open Space playground

In addition, we have also increased capacity at our leisure and community facilities as part of Phase Three. Adhering to the two people per square metre requirement, these facilities can now cater for 100 people per area, with a maximum of 300 people per venue. This extends to our leisure centres, pools, community and recreation centres (including gyms) and six libraries. We look forward to reinstating further services such as our day centres, the Learn to Swim program and the Mount Flora Museum in the yet to be announced Phase Four easing of restrictions.

We are now a step closer to Stephenson Avenue Extension works getting underway. Council voted unanimously on Tuesday, 9 June 2020 to appoint local company Densford Civil Pty Ltd as the preferred tenderer for phase one of the $125 million project. Managed by the City, phase one works will extend Stephenson Avenue from Scarborough Beach Road through to Sarich Court in Osborne Park.

With Premier of Western Australia the Hon. Mark McGowan MLA, Minister for Transport the Hon. Rita Saffioti MLA, Stirling CEO Stuart Jardine, Acting Managing Director Main Roads WA Peter Woronzow and Member for Balcatta David Michael MLA

Jointly-funded by the Federal and State Governments, the collaborative project is a key part of the Stirling City Centre that will unlock private investment in the area, relieve traffic congestion and increase employment opportunities. Phase one works are expected to get underway in August 2020.

Earlier this month, myself and Deputy Mayor Cr Bianca Sandri announced the winners of the 2020 City of Stirling History and Heritage Awards online. Held every two years, the awards called on City of Stirling residents, business owners and groups to enter projects that preserve or promote local heritage in the community.

Heritage Category joint winner - Feathersby House in Karrinyup

Congratulations to the joint winners of the Heritage Category for restoring/renovating classic homes at 49 Clotilde Street in Mount Lawley and 41 Summerhayes Drive in Karrinyup. The Education and Promotion of Heritage Award went to the Osborne Park Uniting Church for a remarkable story of community-led heritage restoration. Margaret Summers received the Barrie Baker Special Recognition Award, which honoured her family’s efforts to preserve Windsor Hall at 36 Queen’s Crescent in Mount Lawley.

Stirling Memories Photograph with a Story winner shows Yokine bushland circa 1953

The History Category acknowledged some stunning yesteryear photos from Ben Saraceni and Giuseppe D’Alonzo taken in the City of Stirling. Livia Mangione wrapped up the awards by picking up the Youth Award for her classic looking photo of modern day Menora and a story that contemplated the family unit before modern technology like mobile phones. Please click here for more details about all the winners and runner-up entrants.

This month, the City was fortunate to receive the Top Recycler Award for WA in the annual MobileMuster Local Government Awards. Thanks to the efforts of the community, we were able to collect the most mobile phones across Western Australian local governments during the past 12 months. The grand total was an incredible 271kg in discarded mobiles being diverted from landfill.

Crs Sargent, Migdale, Boothman, Proud and Ferrante with the MobileMuster award

The fact that we have won the MobileMuster award for the fourth consecutive year really shows that recycling remains a big focus for everyone across the community. If you would like to recycle your old mobile phones, batteries, chargers and accessories, there are several local collection points on offer including at the Recycling Centre Balcatta, the City’s Administration Centre and all six libraries. Please click here for a full list of collection points.

Another important environmental topic is the City’s Sustainable Energy Action Plan. Currently open for public comment, the plan aims to reduce corporate carbon emissions and increase renewable energy use. The plan sets ambitious but achievable targets towards these goals and will help us play our part in global efforts to limit the impacts of climate change. We would love your thoughts and ideas on how we can make this happen.

A look at solar panels on the City’s Administration Building

A key focus of the plan is to reduce the corporate consumption of grid powered electricity or replace it with renewable sources to decrease carbon emissions. Please click here for a snapshot of the plan and to have your say. Submissions close this Friday 19 June 2020.