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Public Open Space to be Centrepiece of Carawatha Redevelopment

Published Date: 17 July 2008, 12:00 AM

Willagee residents will be able to enjoy more than 1.6 hectares of public open space as part of the redevelopment of the former Carawatha Primary School site.

The City of Melville has set aside the section of land for community use and is now seeking expressions of interest for the development of the remaining 2.2 hectares of the site.

The City bought the site, on the corner of North Lake Road and Archibald Street, from the State Government for $5.187 million in 2006 to meet a shortfall in local public open space and create a community hub.

Mayor Russell Aubrey said one of the City’s prime objectives for the site was to ensure that sufficient and appropriately designed open space was provided for residents and visitors. “We have a great opportunity here to develop the site as a focal point for the local community,” he said.  “We are now looking for suitably qualified and experienced developers to develop the remaining part of the former primary school site either under a long-term ground lease or by purchasing part of the site.”

Expressions of Interest (EOI) for developing the remaining 2.2ha of the Carawatha site will be advertised in the next month.

Urban Planning Director Craig McClure said the types of uses permitted for the site included offices, aged persons’ accommodation, consulting rooms, a retirement village, child minding centre, corner store, garden centre, lunch bar, cafe, service station, shop or vet clinic. “The Council could also consider residential housing and educational establishments,” he said.

Mr McClure said development proposals would be assessed under an outline development plan and urban design guidelines that aimed to protect and enhance the amenity of existing and future residents; promote economic growth and diversity of use; and promote best practice urban design. “We also want to encourage mixed-use development that complements and supports the nearby local centre in Archibald Street; and supports environmentally sustainable design and crime prevention through environmental design principles.”

Mayor Aubrey said once the EOI period closed, the City would carefully examine the submissions received and then go out to public comment to get the community’s view on the development proposals. “We want the Carawatha site to be a place that the community supports, is keen to use, and of which residents can be proud,” he said. “Residents can be assured that 1.6ha of the site will be maintained as public open space.”

Carawatha Public Open Space

Posted by Kim Dravnieks at 18 July 2008, 08:52 AM
It is important that the 1.6ha that will remain public open space has as much as possible of the natural bush that was once predominant here. A unique piece of this bush was lost when Braemar was built. Recreating this will take resources and long term management but is vital for the health of the community and the environment.