PLANS REVEALED FOR RENEWAL OF GOOLUGATUP LOWERLANDS

The City of Melville has revealed that it has been working with Whadjuk Traditional Owners and Elders to develop a plan to revitalise Goolugatup Lowerlands into a space that celebrates the cultural significance of the site.

The City marked a major milestone in the revitalisation of Goolugatup Lowerlands, with the Whadjuk community, City staff, residents and wider community coming together for a smoking ceremony, storytelling, music and design reveal on 20 May 2023.

More than 250 people attended Karla Boodja Bilya Djinda (Fire Land Water Stars), which kicked off a public program of exhibitions and talks throughout May and June.

City of Melville previewed designs to transform Goolugatup Lowerlands from an under-used foreshore site into a community, recreation, and natural space that brings reconciliation into focus by celebrating the culturally significant site and its heritage.

The designs are a culmination of more than 12 years of work and consultation with Traditional Owners and Elders, heritage site informants, the community and key stakeholders.

The revitalisation will reconnect and unite Goolugatup Lowerlands with the cultural and heritage precinct Goolugatup Heathcote through landscape and interpretation design.

The upgrades include new barbecues, an outdoor kitchen, a large stairway with landing lookouts, seating, toilets, lighting, planting and cultural storytelling through signage and trails.

City of Melville Mayor, the Hon. George Gear JP, said the Goolugatup Lowerlands renewal project is an exciting community driven initiative with a long history of consultation.

“This is a project that has reconciliation at its heart, with the Whadjuk Traditional Owners and Elders collaborating and guiding its development,” Mayor Gear said.

“It is an example of how we’re working to meaningfully support reconciliation in action well beyond one week a year.

“As this project develops, we are looking forward to creating new places for families and friends to gather and cook barbecues, learn about the history and culture of the site, and enjoy our unique plants and animals on the banks of the river.

“We are delighted to be a step closer in the revitalisation of this special site to fulfil its enormous potential.”