A major change to the master plan will be the relocation of the playground to a more visible area of the site and the City will also examine whether to retain two buildings on the site, which have been subject to vandalism.

The City of Melville purchased the primary school site, on the corner Kitchener and Curtin roads, from the State Government in 2006 for $5.5 million to make sure it was retained for use by the community. In collaboration with the community, the City is turning the site into a community hub, comprising extensive parkland and community facilities.

Mayor Russell Aubrey said the original site master plan was developed following extensive community consultation and incorporated most of the community’s wishes. “However, it has since been determined that there are a number of safety issues at the site due to the size, contours and existing vegetation, which obscure its visibility from the street and make it susceptible to antisocial behaviour,” he said. “As a result, we carried out a CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) evaluation of the site and have determined that the master plan needs to be honed to in the best interests of the community.”

Acting Technical and Development Services Director John Cameron said a major change would be the relocation of the playground from the lower section of the site to the upper north-west corner so it was more visible from the street. “Additionally, two buildings that were retained on the lower level of the site for community use have been vandalised repeatedly,” he said. “As such, we are deciding whether to upgrade or demolish these buildings and develop alternative uses for the area.”

Mr Cameron said the revised master plan would be completed by September. “We are installing two community noticeboards on the site to indicate concept plans, project stages and progress of the development,” he said.

The City of Melville has already made significant progress on the redevelopment of the former Melville Primary School site, including overseeing the demolition of a number of buildings and construction of a new sewer, water services and power connections. The City has also designed a path network and path lighting. Additionally, the MORE Community Group has been given the keys to the former library building, which has been upgraded to operate as a community learning centre.

Mayor Aubrey said the redevelopment of the old Melville Primary School site was an exciting, long-term project for the City of Melville as a whole. “It has been long awaited by the community and will deliver much-needed and desired open space to the community,” he said. “We understand that some community members may be frustrated by delays in finding contactors to carry out works and the need to revise the plans. However, this is a project that can’t be rushed. We want to make sure we get the redevelopment right so it becomes an attractive, accessible and safe venue for the local community and a great landmark for the City of Melville.”