All systems go for Stephenson Avenue Extension Project

Breaking ground on the Stephenson Avenue Extension late last month was a turning point for a project set to benefit residents, workers and commuters into the future. A joint initiative between the City, the State Government and the Federal Government, the $125 million project will ultimately extend Stephenson Avenue from Scarborough Beach Road to Cedric Street and will include a new freeway interchange.

Speaking at the Stephenson Avenue Extension launch

Getting to the point of turning the first sod alongside WA Premier Mark McGowan and fellow supporters of the two-stage project was the culmination of years of planning. On completion, the extension will open large areas of land for development, offer better access to the Mitchell Freeway and reduce traffic along Scarborough Beach Road. Importantly, this vital infrastructure project is central to our vision for the Stirling City Centre.

Turning the first sod on the Stephenson Avenue Extension project

Phase one works will extend Stephenson Avenue from Scarborough Beach Road through to Sarich Court in Osborne Park. We anticipate these works will be completed in October 2021. Follow up works in phase two will extend Sarich Court through to Cedric Street – parallel to the freeway – and deliver a new interchange at the Mitchell Freeway. It is anticipated these works will get underway in 2021, subject to all relevant approvals. The project is expected to create 800 jobs across both stages.

As everyone continues to navigate the COVID-19 recovery phase, we recently launched new grant programs to support the local community, the arts sector and sport and recreation clubs. The programs are part of the City’s $43.7 million Economic Stimulus and Community Recovery Package, which was a key component of the 2020/21 budget adopted by Council in June. 

The Community Groups Assistance Fund offers support to individuals, groups and small business to deliver big and small projects that can bring the community together. When it comes to sport and recreation, clubs can apply for assistance packages where they can clearly demonstrate that they have been directly impacted by COVID-19. In addition, the Community Creativity Fund is getting behind projects that enable local art and cultural industries to share their creativity with the local community.

So, whether you’re a local artist looking for your next project, are part of a sport or recreation club that has experienced hardship or would like to organise a community get-together to help lift our spirits, I’d really encourage you to apply for a grant. Visit our website for more details about available grants.

Every community has local heroes, the people who make your community a better place. If you know of an individual or a group that has made an outstanding contribution to your community, I’d encourage you to nominate them for a Community Citizen of the Year Award.

With 2020 Community Citizen of the Year winner Ken Shorto

Held in conjunction with Auspire - The Australia Day Council WA, the awards offer four categories to recognise the dedicated people out there making a difference. More information about nominations and selection criteria is available on the City’s website. Applications close on Saturday 31 October 2020.

With small business accounting for 98 per cent of the 22,000 businesses across the City, it’s incredibly timely that we all get behind them as much as possible. As a way of supporting local businesses, we have partnered with the federally funded Go Local First program. The national program highlights the vital role of small businesses in our economic recovery.

Dianella café Pimlott & Strand features in our Go Local First campaign

To put a mix of small businesses in the spotlight, we recently created a series of short videos that showcase everything from local cafés and restaurants to picture framers and optometrists. The videos will be featured on our social media channels or you can view them all right now via the City’s dedicated Youtube channel. If you have supported a local business recently, remember to pop it on social media and add #golocalfirst to your post.

It’s that time of year when magpies are nesting and the native birds may swoop to protect their young. As magpies can swoop from above or from ground level through until November, we are encouraging everyone to take extra care while outdoors during this time.

To help remind the community about swooping season, we recently placed signage at several popular local parks including Clarko Reserve, Jackadder Lake Reserve, Yokine Regional Open Space and Dianella Regional Open Space. We also have several safety tips on the City’s website to help you continue enjoying the outdoors during nesting season.