Students Bring Greenery to Kadidjiny Park

The site, on the corner of Curtis and Kitchener Roads in Melville, is under construction as a playscape and parklands area and was the former Melville Primary School. Eleven teachers will supervise the students - City of Melville employees, together with landscapers, will assist students with the planting.

Mayor Russell Aubrey said the planting had been organised by the City of Melville, to celebrate the connection between the students and the parklands.

“The students remember Kadidjiny Park as the location of their former school. Now, as the children excitedly watch the parklands take shape, the children will plant gardens that will grow as they grow,” he said.

“The City purchased native species of plants to ensure they are drought tolerant and offer a food source to the native wildlife. Of course, the plants have also been selected for their striking beauty.”

Melville Primary School Principal Betty McNeill said the school community was proud to be involved in Kadidjiny Park’s final stages of development.

“Appropriately, Kadidjiny is a Noongar word which means ‘learning’ and, as the next door neighbour, Melville Primary School has a special connection to the park. The students and parents are looking forward to enjoying the parklands when they open in a few months time and we intend to use the natural bushland as part of our learning experiences,” she said.

The native species to be planted include: Verticordia nitens (Morrison);Conostylis aculeata (Prickly Conostylis); Conostylis setigero (Bristly cottonhead); Hypocalymma robustum (Swan River Myrtle); Patersonia occidentalis (Purple Fig); and Verticordia plumosa.

Once the plants are established, irrigation will be removed to encourage a more natural growing condition for the native species.

The park name ‘Kadidjiny’ was approved by Landgate this week. The park is expected to officially open in late spring.