Carawatha Revitalisation Project

In 2006, the City of Melville made a commitment to the community of Willagee and purchased the former Carawatha Primary School site from the State Government, recognising the opportunity it presented to enhance and invigorate the suburb.

City of Melville Staff and Councillors worked very closely with Willagee residents, school children and businesses to develop the Carawatha Improvement Plan, setting a clear vision for invigorating the suburb including the whole of the Carawatha site. Through the extensive community consultation, a new residential development that complements the local character and natural surroundings of the area was identified as being needed to ensure the community would be delivered more variety and diversity of housing choices in the suburb suitable for new residents and for existing local residents considering downsizing and wanting to stay in the local area. The community said they wanted this on the Carawatha site in addition to parkland and bushland

When the Willagee Structure Plan was adopted in 2013, it ensured the community’s aspirations and dreams for Willagee would be realised and the suburb has been transforming ever since.

• The award-winning 1.2 hectare Carawatha Park was completed in 2016 and included two stages for firstly a bushland then parkland development. The intergenerational park has played a key role in the transformation of the suburb, revitalising an area of the former Carawatha Primary School site, a place the community feel very connected to, and providing a place for them to come together, socialize, play and be active.
• The third and final stage of this revitalisation project will see Satterley deliver The Gallery, a housing development with a variety of housing choices to meet residents’ needs and which complement the local character and natural surroundings of the area, which the local community said they wished to see retained.

The City is managing the development of the site to ensure a high-quality and sustainable product is delivered.

The City made a commitment to the community of Willagee in 2006, when it purchased the former Carawatha Primary School site and worked with them to create a vision, which was then formally adopted by Council as the Willagee Structure Plan.

In line with the community’s wishes, the first two stages of the Carawatha site have already been completed delivering the award-winning 1.2 hectare Carawatha Park which comprises two areas including parkland and natural bushland area.

The third and final stage of this revitalisation project will see Satterley deliver The Gallery, a housing development with a variety of housing choices to meet resident’s needs, and which complement the local character and natural surroundings of the area which the community said they wished to retain.

This revitalisation project will deliver numerous social and economic benefits to the community, which were recognised through the community consultation process.

The housing development also strategically aligns with the principles and objectives stated within the City’s Land Asset Management Plan in the following ways:

• Supports community and social needs
• Generates economic value
• Delivers planning outcomes
• Creates additional revenue streams
• Supports intergenerational equity by delivering long term financial, social and environmental value to the community

In line with the new vibrancy of the suburb and future needs of Willagee, the City is seeking a high quality urban design outcome to cater for Willagee’s anticipated changes into the future.

Better housing choices for a growing changing population

The new development will respond to a changing population specifically by delivering improved housing diversity and affordability options for:

• Young, single professionals who want to live close to local employment centres (Fremantle, Murdoch University, Fiona Stanley Hospital, etc.)
• Single parent households who want more affordable living options
• Mid-life couples and younger familieswho are looking for a lifestyle closer to facilities than imight be offered by a conventional suburban fringe location
• Older couples (empty nesters) who are ready to down size but want to stay in the local area they know and love
• Retirees who want and need housing that is well suited to ageing in place and close to local community facilities and amenities

Social benefits and opportunities

As well as providing housing diversity and encouraging affordability, the residential development will deliver a number of additional  benefits that align with the community's aspirations and the City’s strategic community goals.

• The community will benefit from a quality outcome that aligns with what they want
• Enriching community life and shared experiences
• Encouraging a sense of belonging and place
• The sustainable development will complement the character and natural surrounds of the suburb

Economic benefits and opportunities

• Any surplus economic returns generated from the development will be reinvested into local community infrastructure and projects
• New residents and visitors to the area in the longer term will help stimulate vibrancy and economic activity, helping to create employment and more jobs

From the City’s perspective the development also strategically aligns with the principles and  objectives stated within the City’s Land Asset Management Plan in the following ways:

• Supports community and social needs
• Generates economic value
• Delivers planning outcomes
• Creates additional revenue streams
• Supports intergenerational equity by delivering long term financial, social and environmental value to the community

Sustainable urban development, building and design initiatives, public open space, extensive landscaping and public art will all help deliver a built form residential development that is consistent with the vision for Willagee to create a vibrant community consistent with the Local Design Guidelines and Design WA.

Sustainable urban development is a key objective of the project, and the project will apply sustainability principles contained within the Urban Development Institute of Australia’s Sustainable Urban Development Index.

The design of infrastructure, urban planning and building design will give strong consideration to consumer awareness and behaviours with regards to ecosystems, waste, energy and comfort, materials, water, community, economy, transport and affordability.

From the outset, the City has worked to maintain as much of the vegetation on the former Carawatha Primary School site as possible and has sought to retain, relocate or replace trees wherever possible. 

The plan set out for the site to be developed in three stages; 1) Bushland 2) Carawatha Park and 3) Residential housing.

While it is recognised that the stage three site has been vacant for some time, the area has always designated for residential development and not “Public Open Space”, under the Council approved Willagee Structure Plan, which was developed in part, in consultation with the community.

A good deal of care has been taken to ensure that significant trees have been preserved within the design of the site, and all of the vegetation within stages one and two have not been impacted in any way.

Stage three will deliver Willagee a high-quality residential development which is an important aspect of the Willagee Structure Plan in the context of a growing population, and will provide housing choice and revitalise the suburb in a way that complements the local character and natural surrounds of the area. The new development will also increase confidence in the suburb and attracting new residents and businesses. 

Before commencing works on site, Satterley engaged a professional arborist to determine which trees could be safely and successfully retained. A number of existing trees were not deemed suitable for built-up areas due to their structural form and associated fall risks (both people and structures), as well as for their potential to cope with changes to the soil and surrounding environment (even if it’s just landscaping around them).

A great deal of effort has also gone into repurposing trees that cannot remain on the site. 49 grass trees were successfully removed for replanting at locations across the City and a number of professional and community based organisations (Men’s Shed and woodturners) will be collecting timber for reuse in public art, and furniture.

At the completion of the development, there will be more trees on balance with over 100 new plantings

A Notice to Residents was distributed  to homeowners and/or residents living nearby the Carawatha Residential Development Site on Archibald Street, Willagee notifying them of the commencement of civil works.

The works commenced in August 2019 and are programmed to continue for approximately 24 weeks. All construction work will be carried out between the hours 7.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday. The working day will be shortened to 3.00pm on Saturdays (when weekend work is necessary) and there will be no works on Sundays or on public holidays.

For queries regarding the civil works, please contact the Croker Construction Manager, Brendan Hurrell on 0419 948 202.

More information on the broader plans for the Carawatha Residential Development Site can be found on the Satterley website – https://satterley.com.au/gallery-estate