THE Novara Foreshore Reserve redevelopment master plan was adopted for advertising at Tuesday’s Mandurah council meeting.
Novara Foreshore Reserve, adjacent to Dampier Avenue in Falcon, was described as falling “short of the standard expected for key foreshore reserves” in a report prepared by City of Mandurah officers.
The council will advertise two proposed redevelopments, which have an estimated cost between $1.6 million and $1.9m.
Councillor Fred Riebeling said the redevelopment offered an opportunity for community involvement if it progressed to the construction stage.
“The process should engage the community in the act of developing the site,” he said. “It’s a great project which would be even better if the community was actively engaged by it. It’s a very expensive project but I’m sure it can be done at significantly less cost with a keen engaged community.”
Both plans include additional overflow trailer/bus parking bays, a boardwalk with a lookout, a renovated amenity block, a nature playground, barbecue facilities, the stabilisation of erosion at the bank edge, a community gathering shade structure and a fitness circuit.
The second, more expensive development includes a larger community nature playground and fitness circuit, additional paths, extra interpretive signs and artwork, additional park furniture and path lighting and a sealed verge for car parking.
“The objective of this project is to produce a plan that encompasses an overall vision for the foreshore reserve that illustrates the ultimate arrangement of uses and elements in the foreshore area, which will guide further improvements and management of the reserve,” the report read. “The plan includes elements such as public amenities, opportunities for informal recreation, safe access to the foreshore, shoreline protection, paths, seating, interpretive installations and play facilities.”
The master plan was also included in the Parks/Reserves 10 Year Capital Plan, which was adopted without discussion at Tuesday’s council meeting.
The Parks/Reserve 10 Year Capital Plan identified Falcon Bay Foreshore Reserve, Halls Head Foreshore Reserve, Novara Foreshore Reserve, Dawesville Foreshore Reserve, Coodanup Foreshore Reserve, Henry Sutton Grove, Calypso Reserve, Woodlands Reserve, Hermitage Reserve and Blue Bay Foreshore Reserve as “appropriate and worthy of targeted funding”.
“As the City continues to grow and develop, there is increasing pressure to upgrade and redevelop key parks and reserves within the local authority,” a report by City officers read. “Where such projects have been proposed in the past, the funding has had to be staged in order to fit in with the annual allocation of moneys.”
The report, which indicated which reserves would be redeveloped, is the first step in the strategic approach.
Council will now take steps to see how the redevelopments will be funded.
