Projects that have transformed under-utilised public places into vibrant spaces for local communities have been recognised at the second annual WA Minister for Local Government’s Place Innovation Awards.
The awards announced during WALGA’s annual convention today celebrate innovative place-related projects, policies and activities involving local governments across the State.
“The great response to the awards this year demonstrates there is a lot of amazing work being carried out in our local communities to improve our public spaces and add value to our lives,” said Local Government Minister, Hannah Beazley.
“The awards, which are only in their second year, provide a fantastic forum to showcase and promote innovative place-related projects, policies and activities throughout Western Australia.
“Thank you to those who submitted a nomination and congratulations to the winners.
“I am thrilled to have this opportunity to recognise the projects that are enhancing our local communities and are having a positive impact on local residents and businesses,” she said.
The winners in the three award categories were:
- Outstanding Achievement: City of Melville
- Metropolitan Perth and Peel: City of Subiaco
- Regional Western Australia: Shire of Carnarvon
The City of Melville Council was recognised for its Canning Bridge Place Grants program which uses revenue from parking fines to fund activities and building improvements to make the area more appealing.
The City of Subiaco Council was awarded for its transformation of Walmsley Lane, off Rokeby Road, into a welcoming space that boosted foot traffic and the overall appeal of the town centre.
Two youth art projects, part of the Shire of Carnarvon Council’s The Future is Me program, were honoured for turning a degraded and graffiti-riddled part of Carnarvon into an attractive public space, fit with a skatepark, which has had a positive impact on youth engagement in town.
“I congratulate the winners of the 2024 Place Innovation Awards who were recognised at WALGA’s Local Government Convention,” said WALGA State President, Councillor Karen Chappel AM.
“The high quality of applications received from regional WA and the metropolitan area is a great reflection of the local government sector’s commitment to working with the community to create engaging places to live, work and play.
“I am very proud to see local governments leading the way in place innovation.”
The annual awards are administered by Town Team Movement (TTM) in partnership with the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC).
They are designed to highlight how innovative placemaking can activate local spaces, build community connections and foster greater collaboration within local governments.
“It’s great to see these local governments recognised for their innovative approaches to placemaking and for working hand in hand with their community and stakeholders to create better places,” said Town Team Movement co-founder and executive director, Jimmy Murphy.
“At Town Team Movement we celebrate new ways of thinking and doing.
“We love showcasing the brilliant ideas and different methods being used by local governments and the communities turning those ideas into reality.
“That’s why the Minister for Local Government’s Place Innovation Awards are so special to us,” he said.
The winning projects:
Outstanding Achievement: City of Melville – The Canning Bridge Place Grants program
The Canning Bridge Place Grants program was designed by the City of Melville to reinvest paid parking revenue from the Canning Bridge Activity Centre back into the local community.
Funding from the program is available for applicants to deliver activations or events and improve shopfronts to add value and attract people to the Canning Bridge precinct.
This project could be replicated across other local governments as an innovative way to turn a negative, such as a parking fine, into a positive for the community.
Metropolitan Perth and Peel: The City of Subiaco – The Subi Greenwalks – Walmsley Lane project
The Subi Greenwalks – Walmsley Lane project demonstrated a high level of collaboration and engagement with the community and had a positive impact on local businesses.
Subi Greenwalks addressed a decline in foot traffic and community engagement in Subiaco’s town centre, transforming a perceived unsafe laneway into a welcoming space.
The council initiated a structural change in the thoroughfare, transforming it into a vibrant space, with the community and local businesses taking the lead on further changes.
The project also fostered innovative collaboration within the City of Subiaco, decentralising decision-making and enhancing responsiveness to new ideas.
Finalist in this category: City of Rockingham – Mural Place-Making for Change.
Regional Western Australia: The Shire of Carnarvon – The Future is Me project
The Future is Me project demonstrated exceptional innovation and used an evidence-based approach to co-design the program with the community to address rising crime rates and youth disengagement.
It included significant engagement and co-operation across many government agencies, communities and schools.
Early engagement with local young people revealed a preference for art-related projects as the most effective medium to address the community’s challenges.
Two major art projects have now been delivered through The Future is Me program, the result being the revitalisation and beautification of a degraded area in the centre of town.
Finalists in this category: The City of Albany – Albany Kinjarling Connect: Mokare Mia Boodja Trail; and Shire of Goomalling – Anstey Park Revitalisation.
