Mandjar Sqaure facelift a drawcard : Mandurah councillor

He said the redevelopment’s master plan, which was given preliminary approval at council’s Joint Development Committee Meeting on December 2, would provide an important gathering place for activities and public interactions.

“This area is not necessarily about the place but the space in between them,” cr Rogers said.

“This really is the cultural centre for Mandurah and I think the most important word we can use here is the activation.

“We need to activate this area.

“If you’ve been here during Stretch Fest or Crab Fest you can see what potential this place has.

“If you remove the bollards and the lights you would get that impact.”

The key proposals in the redevelopment included the replacement of the existing pavement with an open, shared pedestrian and service vehicle paved space and a catenary cable lighting system suspended between the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre and cinema buildings.

It also includes a grassed area in the central space, the retention of the Gary Aitken artworks, a small performance stage and the enhancement of the cinema building façade which will allow the opportunity for urban artwork murals, projection and vertical garden elements.

Cr Rogers said the open space would act as a backdrop to enhance the public artwork which will be in the area.

“As this is the cultural centre we want to see as many feet flow through the street as possible,” he said.

“This would not only bring people into the city centre and engaging with it, but also it would have possible flow-on to the businesses and shops.

“The master plan also mentions a small stage; think of what sort of possibilities that would have.

“And I think it’s important, as mentioned in the plan, that we do involve our local Indigenous people, the original custodians of this land, as this is such an important piece of land to them.”

The Mandjar Square redevelopment will be up for full approval at next week’s council meeting.