Reconnect WA: The projects so far

13 July, 2021   By: Fleur Bainger

In 2020, more than 1700 RAC members helped select a number of community projects, including pop-up town squares, markets, street art and beautified walkways, to be created in neighbourhoods across WA.

The projects were chosen as part of RAC’s Reconnect WA initiative, which supports councils and shires in revitalising streets and public spaces by delivering projects such as these. The initiative works in tandem with RAC’s Connecting Communities Fund, which supports community-led groups driving change in their local areas. Between them, great things are happening.

Sarah Macaulay, RAC acting general manager Social Impact, says the response has been inspiring.

“It’s been fantastic to see how well the projects currently on the ground have been embraced by local residents and businesses.

“We really wanted to see communities being inspired to get involved and help drive positive change in their local areas.”

The big picture goal is to create more people-friendly streets and public spaces and ultimately to support better connected communities across WA. Here are just some of the ways RAC is helping to do that in 2021.

RELATED: How we're connecting WA communities »

Subiaco Pop-up Square

Mini golf greens, a seesaw, colourful tassel bunting and light projections took the place of bitumen and cars for six playful weeks in Subiaco’s Churchill Avenue earlier this year.

Subiaco Pop-up Square reimagined a section of the street as a people-friendly, thriving place. A program of free events ran for most of the period (disrupted only by a COVID-19 lockdown), with live music, circus workshops and herb gardening tutorials, along with face painting, library story time and recycling tips.

The idea was to create an urban oasis that would remind residents how special Subiaco is, and help draw customers to local businesses.

It worked: early data suggests visitation to the town centre increased by nearly 30 per cent during the pop-up, and a survey of visitors showed more than 80 per cent of respondents enjoyed spending time and relaxing in the space. The same percentage would like to see more local projects that reclaim the streets for people.

Of all the activities, mini golf got the biggest thumbs up, with people generally valuing free, community-based, outdoor activities. The City of Subiaco says the information collected during the project will inform future projects in the town centre.

Gnalla Pop-up Plaza in Nollamara

Often, road closures create controversy but in this instance, the Nollamara community welcomed the change so enthusiastically that the City is exploring extending the duration of the trial.

Back in March, one of the entrance roads into Nollamara Shopping Centre was reclaimed for public use. A whole lot of artificial turf was laid and planter boxes filled with frangipanis, citrus trees and Chinese tallows were made by class 4 at West Coast Steiner School, transforming the space into the Gnalla Pop-up Plaza.

Initial community surveys, that helped to inform the final design, found 40 per cent of residents were eager for more public plazas where market vendors could do business and locals could spend time.

The name ‘Gnalla’ was chosen because it means ‘our’ in Nyoongar. In April, the plaza hosted night markets, soccer clinics, an open-air movie night and an Easter egg hunt.

Designated spaces have been provided for food trucks and stalls and the City has worked to enable members of the community to set up stalls themselves and sell goods.

So far, the temporary town square pilot has been a success, paving the way for similar community plazas in other parts of Stirling.

Merredin Pop-up Plaza

Merredin’s shop-lined Barrack Street buzzed more than usual last summer. From late December until late March, a section of it was transformed into a public piazza.

Like a mini pedestrian mall, the stretch was jazzed up with string lighting, street art, greenery and parklets that hosted alfresco dining and seating, as well as a nature playground, to the delight of local children.

The result was a 20 per cent jump in pedestrian movement across the entire day through the area.

The piazza was motivated by a strong community desire for a reinvigorated town centre to inspire communal gatherings and increase shop patronage. Locals liked the idea of a pedestrian mall, picnic areas and public art, so the Shire with RAC’s support set out to test numerous ways to revitalise Merredin’s CBD.

Since the trial ended, the piazza’s public assets have been placed around town. The Shire is reviewing community feedback as it decides what permanent moves to make in the future. With more than 600 responses to the community survey, it has been the most successful project consultation in recent Merredin history.

Colours of Mandurah Walkway

Mandurah may now boast one of WA’s most colourful walkways. The wide path between Ormsby Terrace and Keith Holmes Reserve is made up of 250 coloured strips formed from 125 different colours.

Each shade represents a piece of Mandurah, almost like a portrait of the city, be it the ocean, native plants, local people or landmarks.

The pathway was created in December 2020 to boost foot traffic and vibrancy between Mandjar Square and the Mandurah Ocean Marina.

Hannay Lane, Dunsborough

A new, 328sqm pavement mural running the entire length of Hannay Lane in the heart of Dunsborough is transforming the thoroughfare in more ways than one. It’s part of a 12-month trial to create a safer, more inviting shared space for pedestrians and low-speed traffic.

Originally it was proposed to make the laneway one-way for traffic but following consultation with residents and the business community, the design was modified to allow two-way movements while still seeking to create a more people-focused environment.

Work to revitalise the bendy laneway tucked off Naturaliste Terrace began in May. Artist Sam Allen painted a long, art deco-style piece on the path, and concrete drainage pipes were repurposed as pot plants. Hannay Lane is shifting from a bland expanse of windowless shop sides, service bins and bitumen and transforming into a vibrant space that draws people in as they walk, cycle and linger at one of the local cafes.

Healy Road cycling connection, Hamilton Hill

Low-cost treatments to create a more cyclist and pedestrian friendly corridor along the western end of Healy Road in Hamilton Hill will make it a safer and more appealing stretch for those heading to the southern end of South Beach.

The aim is to improve the functionality and attractiveness of the 1.6km section between Rockingham Road and Carrington Street using temporary slow points, road markings and painted intersections as it nears the coast. It’s hoped the redesign will allay residents’ concerns that traffic speed and volumes had been increasing along Healy Road.

The treatments will remain for one year as part of a pilot project. Once complete, traffic monitoring and community surveys will be undertaken to assess the project’s impact. If results are positive, the City will consider making permanent changes in the future.

Chapman Road, Geraldton

This year, people will take precedence over cars for the first time along part of Geraldton’s Chapman Road. The stretch in the centre of town will be reconfigured for a 12-month trial in response to community feedback describing it as “tired and empty” and concerns that it was unsafe for cyclists and pedestrians.

To decide how to reinvigorate it, a competition was held, generating 131 responses. Most community members were keen to create a sense of fun.

Plans were still being finalised at the time of writing, but there was enthusiasm for the creation of ‘Insta-selfie’ art murals, as well as social hubs where seating, shade and lighting would be placed. There was also support for reducing the roadway to single lanes of traffic, slowing traffic speeds, adding new space for people to ride bikes and lining the road with tree planters.

Local school students will help monitor the one-year trial, recording existing user behaviour prior to the changes, and then again at the project’s end.

Northam suspension bridge and precinct

The iconic suspension bridge crossing the Avon River will be adorned with attractive lighting to improve safety for those using it to go to and from the town centre.

The project will also feature Aboriginal cultural messages integrated into the bridge and new community spaces near the Bilya Koort Boodja (the Northam Visitor Centre), which will include art co-designed by local people and influenced by local culture.