Pop-up plaza wins PIA award

The City of Stirling and RAC have been awarded for excellence in the delivery of the Gnalla Nollamara Pop-up Plaza last year.

The award for Community Wellbeing and Diversity was presented to the City and representatives from RAC at the 2022 Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) Awards for Planning Excellence earlier this month.

'Gnalla’ is the Nyoongar word for ‘our’, and is the name of the pop-up plaza that was created under the trees at Nollamara Shopping Centre in 2021. The project was delivered in partnership with the RAC through a matched $50,000 grant from their ‘Reconnect WA’ initiative, which aims to create vibrant streets and public spaces for Western Australians to interact and connect with each other.

RAC members were involved in deciding which community projects were funded through the Connecting Communities Fund and the Reconnect WA initiative. According to the RAC’s 2020/21 Social and Community Impact Report, 3,372 members voted to approve $550,000 in funding, with Subiaco and Nollamara named as favourites for the Reconnect WA initiative.

The pop-up plaza opened in March 2021 as a low-cost and inclusive space in the Nollamara Shopping Centre carpark to support an improved neighbourhood activity centre.

Mayor Mark Irwin said one of the key priorities for the City’s Better Suburbs Strategy was to create sector-leading economic development and local employment opportunities, and the recognition from the PIA was appreciated.

“The RAC and the City wanted to create a space where locals could connect and socialise, bringing more activity and vibrancy to our diverse Nollamara community,” he said.

“Through this partnership the City was able to host pop-up events with activities for families and young people including roving performers, Easter fun, a movie night and Ramadan night market. Free market spaces for local community and businesses were also available for booking online.

The PIA award citation stated that project demonstrated how low-cost infrastructure and place activation can build local social connections and enterprise.

“This award recognises the consideration given to the cultural attributes and preferences of the diverse Nollamara community, and the opportunity for residents and local traders to make the space their own, while addressing issues of community safety and inclusivity,” the Institute said.

“Importantly, the project has led to longer term planning outcomes for people including zoning changes in the neighbourhood centre, and the securing of $300,000 State funding for a permanent plaza.”

The City's Better Suburbs Strategy identified new retail tenancies surrounding a new town square, which was a key component of the plan for the Nollamara Shopping Centre.

The Gnalla Nollamara Pop-up Plaza project contributed to the City obtaining a State Government commitment of $300,000 for the upgrades of the Nollamara Shopping Centre.

Local business owners, stall holders, residents, community groups and MercyCare attended the soft launch of the Gnalla Nollamara Pop-up Plaza on 12 March 2021, which kicked off the four-month pilot project.