After an eight-week community consultation period, Council voted in favour of an 18-hole mini-golf course, a licensed restaurant/microbrewery, a cafe and chocolate factory to be built on the iconic site, currently leased by King Carnival.  Mayor Rhys Williams said while there was still a long way to go, this was a significant milestone. “Last night’s decision by Council marks a crucial step forward in this transformative project and ultimately, once completed, this will represent the largest private investment in Mandurah’s City Centre in decades, coupled with enhanced public amenities that the whole community can enjoy,” Mayor Williams said.   In their proposal, operators of Shelter Brewing Co in Busselton, Left Coast Leisure Group Pty Ltd (LCLG), said their development will be a "family-friendly, inclusive and accessible entertainment precinct for locals and visitors, activated from day to night, seven days per week, while creating accessible and welcoming venues that take in the incredible waterfront views". “The next phase involves detailed planning to address necessary road network changes and the land excision process with the State Government,” Mayor Williams said.   “This project is part of Council’s strategic vision for revitalising our City Centre, which is essential for reshaping our local economy and enhancing attractions for residents and visitors. Importantly, this project is expected to create over 400 hospitality jobs and provide training pathways in partnership with TAFE.  “This Council is ambitious for Mandurah’s future. We’ve built strong momentum and projects like this are vital to ensuring Mandurah is a vibrant and thriving city.”   The City of Mandurah will now begin the process of seeking a land excision from the State Government to allocate a portion of the existing reserve for commercial use. If approved by Parliament, the Department of Planning Lands and Heritage will then consider leasing the site to the City of Mandurah. Following these steps, a Development Application from Left Coast Leisure Group will be reviewed by the WA Planning Commission.   Mr Williams said Council received over 1000 submissions during the feedback period. "There was some opposition to the project...but the consultation we had back was very balanced," he told West Coast Radio. "When you're making a decision that's different and ambitious, there's always going to be some opposition to it. "We're really confident that we've got the right project on the right site, and also that we can work with those that are opposed to it to look at how we can mitigate some of the people's concerns to get a really good outcome." Mandurah’s significant transformation in recent years has given way to a multitude of possibilities for the future of the coastal city With a clear vision for the future in sight Australia’s 2023 Top Tourism Town just an hour’s drive south of Perth natural beauty and endless possibilities creating an ideal mix for a bright future and big-picture thinking is driving direction planning and decisions of what Mandurah will look like over the coming decades The city is currently harnessing a wave of momentum and bringing major game-changing projects to the fore to create an even better Mandurah for all and it’s set to transform the city in line with a shared vision and aspirations for a bright future health care and enhancing the enviable lifestyle it’s known for One major part of this robust agenda is Council’s City Centre Master Plan which sets a high-level direction and design outcomes for Mandurah’s iconic City Centre focusing on a mix of private development and targeted public investment projects.  The City’s aspirations for the City Centre Master Plan are to capitalise on Mandurah’s lifestyle offerings and increase the base of professional workers in the city These ambitions imply significant job growth in key areas over and above the natural growth Mandurah will experience over this period The number of FTE in aged care and health is planned to increase by 1100 (+31 percent) 520 (+33 percent) in recreation and hospitalities and 500 (+26 percent) in business services this equates to around 10,000sqm of office floor space and 15,000sqm of retail and hospitality space the Plan aims to build upon established and distinguished characteristics of four City Centre precinct areas – City Centre Core challenges and opportunities have been identified for each precinct including beachfront development opportunities at the Marina and strengthening the City Centre’s heritage and culture to create and enhanced visitor experience The City’s new Integrated Transport Strategy sets the foundations to ensure a safe and accessible transport network to connect each precinct building on Mandurah’s award-winning recognition as WA’s most accessible community it’s about creating a City Centre that not only celebrates its rich history and character but looks to the future and the multitude of opportunities a thriving centre provides for locals and visitors alike Mandurah Mayor Rhys Williams says Mandurah offers a city with greater economic diversity “Mandurah is at a pivotal moment of transformation after having evolved over the decades to become the biggest population centre in the state outside of Perth,” Mayor Williams said “It’s projected that Mandurah’s population will reach 120,000 by 2036 plus we’ll remain the main service centre to the Peel region which is projected to reach a population of 444,000 by 2050 These projections make it crucial for us to have a planned approach to how we grow our city’s best-loved places and spaces A plan that allows us to evolve in a way that retains what we value most yet amplifies what we love about Mandurah “This journey of growth has been remarkable and we know that now is the right time to set our ambitious drive into motion to reform our City Centre “There is momentum and growth in Mandurah right now lead  by a series of projects that are having a huge positive effect on our city such as $22m Waterfront Project and significant private developments in the pipeline.” Mayor Williams explained the City had been focused on delivering major improvements and capital works in the City Centre over the past decade to create vibrant and welcoming spaces “Our City Centre is a place like no other; built around a pristine Careful planning and protection have gone into enhancing the City Centre’s prime waterfront location making the most of our most valued natural asset and showing the world our point of difference “The heart of our city has evolved over the years to feature some incredible public works a new estuary wall and walkway along the Eastern Foreshore world-class recreation spaces on the Western Foreshore and a new impressive circular estuary pool “These works have transformed our popular public spaces and have been pivotal in attracting private interest and investment to Mandurah “With the recent release of our City Centre Master Plan we’re setting a bold agenda which will shape the future of Mandurah’s City Centre for years to come It will also clearly guide our advocacy for funding to State and Federal Governments as well as the investment of public funds.” The City has also released a City Centre Parking Plan for public comment which looks at Mandurah’s parking supply and management over the next decade To find out more about the City Centre Master Plan and provide feedback go to  www.mandurahmatters.com.au/citycentremasterplan Public feedback will be open until 26 February To discuss and explore opportunities in the City Centre please contact the team at TransformMandurahTeam@mandurah.wa.gov.au The meeting is an opportunity for residents to have their say on local matters the proposed Western Foreshore development mini-golf course and chocolate factory built on the current King Carnival site The meeting begins at 5.30pm at the Mandurah Seniors Centre but residents are encouraged to arrive 30 minutes prior to allow time for registration The location was changed from the City's Council chambers due to an expected high number of attendees 03 Jun 2024 • 5m read • View Author Kal-City-Centre-Redevelopment-1.jpgKal-City-Centre-Redevelopment-1 A playground at Perth Zoo designed by Hassell, a unique estuary pool in the City of Mandurah, and a housing development in Perth with landscaped streetscapes and dedicated public open space are among the winning projects at the 2024 WA State Awards announced by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) at an event held recently at Perth Zoo. The jury honoured 23 winners from 35 entries across 11 categories. Jury chair Bel Foster said this year’s winners created beautiful and engaging places that are also clearly successful in their community, ecological and environmental outcomes. Hassell won the top Award of Excellence in the Play Spaces category for its design of the new Perth Zoo Playground, which aimed to create a bold new visitor experience. The playground, which also supports the Zoo’s groundbreaking conservation work, is already delivering results in terms of visitor numbers. “This is play space design at its best: functional, fun and just that little bit magical too. The design is strongly linked with the character of the site, celebrates local fauna and offers moments of delight, intrigue, danger and pause,” the jury said. Kwillena Gabi Pool by the City of Mandurah took out an Award of Excellence in the Tourism category. An iconic feature of Mandurah’s City Centre redevelopment, this unique swimming area featuring a curved floating walkway embraces the Djilba (estuary) and creates a circular pool with an access ramp. “This nuanced and inclusive project works as an iconic attraction for tourists, but also adds significant local benefits. The design response to the tidal environment and minimal below-water infrastructure is coupled with the incorporation of Indigenous culture, attention to safety and accessibility, and preservation of the site’s public use through creative, inclusive and thoughtful planning,” the jury said. Josh Byrne & Associates and Development WA’s OneOneFive Hamilton Hill won an Award of Excellence in Landscape Planning. Spread across 12 hectares, the development will offer 244 lots of diverse housing options along with two hectares of public open space, retained Banksia woodland, and landscaped streetscapes to create a thriving community. “This is a benchmark project for future development across Perth. OneOneFive Hamilton Hill is an exemplary project showcasing the pivotal role landscape architects play in the planning and design of our urban and suburban landscapes. The project directly embraces the issue of Perth’s drying climate and responds with best practice sustainability strategies that can be tested, measured, and replicated across a diverse range of applications,” the jury said. Bulwer Avenue Garden by banksia & lime won the top Award of Excellence in the Gardens category. The homeowners’ vision of "a quirky bush garden with a homestead feel” was delivered by mirroring house utility areas in the garden and strategically placing diverse native trees and shrubs to create a woodland feeling of being surrounded by nature. “banksia & lime has crafted a project that has a reach beyond an expression of client taste or nostalgia, giving back to not only the family, but also the street and urban ecosystem, with potential to give residents and neighbours ongoing amenity and delight over future years,” the jury said. All winners at the State Awards level will proceed to the National Landscape Architecture Awards to be held later this year. Kal City Centre Redevelopment | ASPECT Studios with Iredale pedersen hook, ETC Solutions, TABEC, Terpkos and CADsult | Landscape Architecture Award Didaalamaap – Western Foreshore | City of Mandurah | Landscape Architecture Award Merredin CBD Stage 1A | PLACE Laboratory | Landscape Architecture Award Perth Zoo Playground | Hassell | Award of Excellence Koolaanga Waabiny Playground | City of Mandurah + PLAN E | Landscape Architecture Award Cecil Avenue | PLACE Laboratory Landscape Architect in collaboration with City of Canning | Landscape Architecture Award Kwillena Gabi Pool | City of Mandurah | Award of Excellence SubiPOP – Postal Walk | Propagule | Landscape Architecture Award Manatj Park | PLAN E | Landscape Architecture Award OneOneFive Hamilton Hill | Josh Byrne & Associates and Development WA | Award of Excellence City of Perth Urban Greening Strategy - developing an integrated planning framework for a greener city | City of Perth | Landscape Architecture Award City of Vincent ‘Link and Place’ Guidelines | UDLA, with Hames Sharley and ARUP | Landscape Architecture Award Fremantle Prison Heritage Landscapes Strategy | UDLA | Landscape Architecture Award My Home, North Fremantle (Whadjuk Noongar Country) | LD Total | Landscape Architecture Award Bulwer Avenue Garden | banksia & lime | Award of Excellence Victoria House | PLACE Laboratory | Landscape Architecture Award From Sumps to Micro Parks: Vic Park’s Green Basins Program | Town of Victoria Park | Landscape Architecture Award Kal City Centre Redevelopment | ASPECT Studios with Iredale pedersen hook, ETC Solutions, TABEC, Terpkos and CADsult | Regional Achievement Award Margaret Knoll Lookout | NewScape Design | Regional Achievement Award Cecil Avenue | PLACE Laboratory Landscape Architects in collaboration with City of Canning Mandurah Foreshore Redevelopment Projects | City of Mandurah Rooted, resilient, resonant: Off-grid family living amongst the rugged Australian landscape Using DecoBatten®’s latest profile on The Seaside Sanctuary Solid Nordic softwood in interior design: Sustainable solutions for joinery, flooring and wall panelling Construction of resort-style clubhouse begins at AVID’s over 50s lifestyle precinct in Fraser Coast Sign up to our newsletter for the latest industry news, products and inspiration. Mandurah Mayor Caroline Knight said the City of Mandurah was busy behind the scenes to present another action-packed Crab Fest weekend “Whether you’re a thrill seeker or after a more relaxed vibe you’ll be spoilt for choice during Crab Fest weekend with many ways to get involved and enjoy Mandurah’s waterways and popular spaces including our newly refreshed Eastern Foreshore,” Mayor Knight said.  “The Mandurah Action Sports Games on the Western Foreshore will be a highlight of the weekend showcasing our beautiful Peel Harvey Estuary There's an exciting line up of action both on and off the water with some of Australia’s best action sports athletes competing for cash and prizes over three days expect all the Crab Fest favourites including a great line-up of local and national acts on the Seaside Estate Music Stage celebrities and cooking demonstrations on the Spudshed Cooking Stage a fantastic fireworks display on Saturday night and the Alcoa Family Zone with heaps of activities.”   The Alcoa Family Zone in Mandjar Square will be the perfect spot for families and children with a range of free and low-cost activities including the dedicated Children’s Stage with live performances all weekend.  There will also be more than 20 free activities including mermaid meet and greets plus the newly opened fenced playground on the Eastern Foreshore Homegrown stars Ricki-Lee Coulter and the Rogue Traders DJ set with Natalie Bassingthwaighte will perform on the Music Stage plus Crab Fest will feature a range of pop-up food stalls licensed bars and ticketed experiences Keith Holmes Reserve and the Marina Beach will serve up relaxed family fun during the weekend with activities and music and leisure and lifestyle displays Take a walk down memory lane with Crab Tales: A Festival’s Journey Through Time at the Mandurah Museum Dive into the story of how the much-loved local pastime of crabbing sparked a unique festival that has captured hearts for generations featuring photos videos and an art display by local artist Emma Blyth The exhibition is open now through to April 4 and will be open during Crab Fest weekend.  Crab Fest attracted more than 100,000 visitors in 2024 throughout Mandurah’s city centre with a full program of events and experiences for the whole family.  The 2025 event footprint will stretch from the city centre and along Mandurah’s Eastern and Western Foreshores Mandjar Square and over to the Mandurah Ocean Marina For more information, go to www.crabfest.com.au   The City of Mandurah and Wanneroo Aquamotion have taken top honours at the 2024 Waterwise Recognition Awards. For the second time in seven years, the City of Mandurah has won Platinum Waterwise Council of the Year for its innovation and leadership in embedding waterwise principles into their operations. Part of the Waterwise Council Program, this is a joint Water Corporation and Department of Water and Environmental Regulation initiative to encourage waterwise practices among local governments as we face climate change and declining rainfall across WA. The City of Mandurah, which previously won in 2017, has in-depth oversight of its water use, leaks and trends through its in-house centralised digital metering system, informing its operational practices. It has a new 10-year environmental strategy, uses recycled water on its transformed naturescape park, and held workshops to encourage residents to care for the 20 urban lakes within the city. Throughout WA 47 councils are now endorsed through the Waterwise Councils Program, including the Shire of Northam which has newly achieved Gold status, and the cities of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Vincent and shires of Merredin and Murray which marked 10 years in the program. Participants in Water Corporation's Waterwise Aquatic Centre Program, created in partnership with the Leisure Institute of WA Aquatics (LIWA), were also celebrated at the event. Endorsed in the program just five years ago, Wanneroo Aquamotion was crowned Waterwise Aquatic Centre of the Year. Aquamotion has focused on saving water through installing waterwise fittings, including water-saving drink fountains and top-rated sinks, showers, and toilets. The programs also support the WA Government's Kep Katitjin-Gabi Kaadadjan (Waterwise Perth Action Plan 2) to establish leading waterwise communities for Boorloo (Perth) and Bindjareb (Peel) by 2030. To find out more about the Waterwise Council and Aquatic Centre Programs, visit www.watercorporation.com.au/Waterwise/Waterwise-programs "The unseasonal warmer and drier weather reminds us it has never been more important for local governments to build climate-resilient and waterwise communities. "Through the Waterwise Council and Aquatic Centre programs, local governments and recreation centres, with support from Water Corporation and the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, are saving millions of litres of water a year. "The 57 waterwise aquatic centres in WA have collectively saved 1.59 billion litres of water since the program began - that's the equivalent of 707 Olympic sized swimming pools." Platinum Waterwise Council of the Year - Awarded to a Local Government Authority (LGA) demonstrating innovation and achievements over and above Gold requirements. To be eligible, the Local Government Authority must be an endorsed Gold Waterwise Council. New Gold Waterwise Councils - Awarded to Local Government Authorities for demonstrating actions across all Water Sensitive City goal areas.  Newly Endorsed Waterwise Council - Local Government Authorities that have met endorsement requirements. Platinum Waterwise Aquatic Centre of the Year - Awarded to the aquatic centre demonstrating innovation and achievements over and above Gold requirements. Gold Waterwise Aquatic Centres - Awarded for demonstrating best practice water management in an Aquatic Centre.  Mandurah’s iconic event is back on the city’s foreshore and waterfront spaces, dishing up a varied program for everyone to immerse themselves in a true Mandurah experience.  Mayor Rhys Williams said Mandurah is pumped to have its signature event back for 2023.  marina and foreshores are buzzing this week as we put the finishing touches on preparing for an epic weekend of fun food and festivities,” Mayor Williams said.  “We’re busy making the final arrangements throughout the festival footprint ready to welcome visitors back to Crab Fest with a bang!  “Crab Fest is a significant and iconic part of the Mandurah story and it is an important economic driver for our City providing a major injection into the local community We are thrilled to have the event return this year.  “Mandurah has been a hive of activity over the past 12 months with the completion of our waterfront redevelopment and huge visitor numbers for the Giants of Mandurah There’s no better time to welcome back Crab Fest and the excitement is certainly building.  “I’m looking forward to hitting the cooking stage and cook up a feast with celebrity chefs I look forward to welcoming visitors from near and far to our beautiful city to enjoy everything Mandurah has to offer.”  Program highlights include headline acts Vanessa Amorosi Gretta Ray and Electric Fields – plus talented local acts – on the Seaside Estate Music Stage talented chefs Paul West and Fast Ed Halmagyi teaming up with Channel 7 celebrities to cook up a storm on the Spudshed Cooking Stage all the thrills and spills of the Mandurah Mazda Action Sports Games and a smorgasbord of food and drinks with close to 50 vendors.  Kick off your Crab Fest weekend early at this Friday night’s Street Party starting at 4pm along Mandurah Terrace The Street Party will be an evening of good vibes as Mandurah Terrace is transformed with popup bars and an awesome line-up of music and roving entertainment at the top of the terrace (near Mandurah Bridge) There will be amusements and rides (located near Tod’s Café) and Mandurah’s local businesses will be serving up the best food and drink for Crab Fest weekend.  The 2023 Crab Fest footprint will stretch from the City Centre and along Mandurah’s Eastern and Western Foreshores Mandjar Square and over to the award-winning Mandurah Ocean Marina.  To secure a spot at the ticketed events, the event program plus planning your trip to Crab Fest, go to www.crabfest.com.au Mandurah has been at the forefront of retirement destinations for generations setting a high bar with its idyllic lifestyle picture-perfect waterfront spaces and endless options for leisure and relaxation Mandurah’s population has been fuelled by an influx of retirement-aged people looking to take life a little slower but still enjoy the perks of vibrant city life 45 percent of people who relocated to the area were aged over 65 years Close to 27 percent of Australia’s population – or 8.1 million people – are expected to be aged over 60 years by 20401 and by 2058 the number of Australians aged 85 and above will have tripled coupled with significant gaps in the national aged care workforce expected in the future present a number of challenges and opportunities for the aged-care industry in years to come According to the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) unless urgent action is taken to boost the workforce within the next decade there will be a shortage of at least 110,000 direct aged-care workers nationally.2 In Western Australia it is forecasted over 24,000 additional workers will be required by 2031.3  Mandurah residents aged over 60 years is forecast to make up 33 percent of the city’s total resident population While this creates a significant need for aged care services in the region there is a unique opportunity for Mandurah to take a leading role in building the nation’s aged care workforce of the future “As we continue to address Mandurah’s structural challenges of the past 20 to 30 years several opportunities have come to the fore all designed to increase economic growth over the next 10 years “One of the key opportunities we’ve embraced is to build the capacity of the aged-care workforce “We want to lead the way in aged-care training helping to address forecast shortages of skilled labour and creating an even better life for our residents Our high population of older residents coupled with our existing aged care providers means we are perfectly positioned to do this.” The milestone Transform Mandurah Economic Opportunities report identified that Mandurah’s unique position as a regional centre with a growing over-55 population positioned the city as an ideal pilot site for creative and innovative models of aged care it makes natural sense that Mandurah positions itself to be part of the solution in a WA context we’re working with industry partners and training providers on establishing WA’s first aged care Centre of Innovation,” Mayor Williams said “Our ambition is for this centre to be at the cutting edge of aged care innovation and to train the aged care workforce of the future here in Western Australia “The current demand for residential aged care places is surpassing the available supply We have a problem now and we want to find a solution so we’d be looking to partner with industry to establish a centre that delivers innovative training to alleviate staff and bed supply shortages in the sector “The centre would also focus on meaningful ageing making sure older people have the services programs and tools they need to live a happy and fulfilled life “Mandurah has a lot to offer in terms of development potential education and training and existing health facilities to become a hub for aged care training and service delivery.”  The City is already leading the way in accessibility having recently claimed WA’s Most Accessible Community title for a second time plus its popular Seniors Centre helped clinch the Age-Friendly Local Government Award in 2023 The City and the WA Government through the Peel Development Commission recently commissioned a needs analysis and feasibility study for a potential Centre of Innovation which shows Mandurah is currently short more than 400 residential aged care beds for its population and demographic by 2031 this shortage could reach 1000 beds Mandurah will need an additional 2000 workers to meet this demand and growth in the aged care sector.4 The feasibility study has shown dramatic cost savings to the government if older people were supported within aged care facilities as opposed to long-stay patients in hospitals where many older people may find themselves as the lack of available residential aged care beds delays patient discharge lower ratio of workers and the challenges we will face as the demand for services increases we are already above the curve compared to the rest of the state,” Mayor Williams said “Mandurah is an indication of what may come in other areas so we would make an ideal testing ground to see what’s possible with the model able to be scaled accordingly “Our ageing population presents critical challenges for our communities but they’re also challenges that meet us at a personal level in some way or another and the massive opportunity that’s before us as a local government.” For more information and to view the reports including Transform Mandurah Economic Opportunities Report, and the Aged Care Training and Workforce Centre of Innovation needs analysis and feasibility study go to www.mandurah.wa.gov.au/transform-mandurah  Get in touch with the team via transformmandurahteam@mandurah.wa.gov.au (June 2022) Transform Mandurah stage 2 Mandurah’s Economic Opportunities2 Committee for Economic Development of Australia (August 2021) Australia’s Dire Shortage of Aged-Care Workers Requires Immediate Action: CEDAI3. Faircloth McNair & Associates (December 2023) Needs Analysis Report WA Aged Care Training Centre of Excellence4. Faircloth McNair & Associates (December 2023) Needs Analysis Report WA Aged Care Training Centre of Excellence and Faircloth McNair & Associates (March 2024) Feasibility Study Report WA Aged Care Training and Workforce Centre of Excellence Centuria has snapped up Halls Head Central – its third major shopping centre at Mandurah with 247 metres frontage to Old Coast Road – the main arterial between Bunbury and Rockingham – the fully occupied 19,373 square metre complex is trading for $70 million just shy of its $72m mid-2023 valuation which assumed a 7.25 per cent capitalisation rate The pair also upsized the asset from 6000 sqm at a cost of c$45m between 2014-2016 64pc of income is collected from non-discretionary tenants The weighted average lease expiry is 3.3 years nowadays attracts some 2.4 million annual visitors CBRE’s Simon Rooney and James Douglas were the agents Vicinity is also selling Perth’s Maddington Central to Realside for $107m which would demonstrate an 8.8pc return (story continues below) Centuria said it is buying Halls Head Central at 40pc below an independently assessed replacement cost It will be held by a single asset fund now seeking wholesale investors to the tune of $41m forecasting an eight per cent starting distribution yield ad 13.5pc internal rate of return over an initial five years counter-cyclical investment opportunity within Western Australia’s second largest city “The centre benefits from a high proportion of non-discretionary retailers while presenting value-add opportunities through tenant remixing or potential redevelopment,” he added “Western Australia remains a standout state for retail property….Greater Perth’s population has increased by 3.6pc throughout the previous 12 months and when coupled with low forecast retail supply and vacancy it provides compelling fundamentals for the retail sector,” according to the executive Centuria also holds in the area the Erskine Shopping Centre and Mandurah Greenfields Shopping Centre Following settlement in July of Halls Head Central – which is passed by some 40,500 vehicles a day – it will control assets worth $3.2 billion – a diversified mix also including agricultural, including a Victorian tomato growing facility, purchased this week Subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of this page A former property analyst and print journalist Marc is the publisher of realestatesource.com.au Forgot your password? You will receive mail with link to set new password Back to login You can now click/tap WATCH to start the live stream. You can now click/tap LISTEN to start the live stream. You can now click/tap LATEST NEWS to start the live stream. City of Mandurah CEO, Casey Milhovich joined 6PR’s Perth Today following feedback from a 6PR listener that foreshore construction is impacting nearby businesses and that business owners were not consulted.  Casey Milhovich told Simon Beaumont,”We definitely consulted. I was in many meetings in relation to the northern business owners on the eastern foreshore and we were holding fortnightly meetings in relation to the consultation around the proposed works…”  When asked as to whether the City had changed its mind on compensating businesses, Milhovich responded, “No, we have not changed our mind. What’s important to recognise is that we are significantly investing in our city centre and our foreshores for it to be a destination.” these are just some of the highlights of this West Australian coastal getaway photo by Duncan Wright courtesy of FORM.By Max VeenhuyzenUpdated April 11 Danish sculptor Thomas Dambo's open-air art project that launched in November Comprising five wooden statues hidden across Mandurah - a coastal getaway 70 kilometres south of Perth - Giants of Mandurah is as much about Dambo's thrifty upcycling (all the statues are made from recycled or foraged timber and wood) as it is encouraging people to explore the region's great outdoors Little Lui is one of the sculptures built by Thomas Dambo "The plants and animals in Australia are totally different to what you find in Europe together with a team of friends and 75 volunteers spent nine weeks building these towering sculptures "It feels like you've stepped out onto another planet Coming to Mandurah was a great adventure and really inspired me." I can appreciate where Dambo is coming from my parents picked up our lives in Indonesia and relocated to Mandurah it was the area's natural beauty that caught mum and dad's attention In an era where life was lived largely outdoors wide open spaces and myriad waterways were constants in my childhood Mandurah's population of 100,000 makes it Western Australia's second-largest city Despite Mandurah's distance from the capital statisticians consider it a part of the Perth metropolitan area not least because it has been connected to Perth via the train line since late 2007 While many residents make the 50-minute Mandurah-Perth commute daily to work and study barefoot optimism synonymous with holiday destinations: in particular many of life's good bits revolve around the local Peel-Harvey estuary Mandurah foreshore is a popular family destinationSpread across 134 square kilometres Mandurah's network of estuarine and saline brackish and freshwater lakes is twice as big as Sydney Harbour and has approximately a million per cent fewer passenger ferries criss-crossing the water: reassuring news for those exploring the region via kayak Mandurah's other major water-based attraction is its coastline Both nature and man have chiselled myriad beaches and bays from the region's 100 kilometres of coast meaning visitors and locals are spoiled when it comes to places to swim (you can't beat Blue Bay in Halls Head or Falcon Bay) fishing and crabbing (try your luck around the Estuary Place bridge in Wannanup) taking photos (go directly to the Dawesville Jetty) Three different pods of dolphins fraternise in local waterways READ ALSO: It's moments like these Even if the time of year isn't summer, Mandurah's state-of-mind is perpetually sunny. Beer is the locals' beverage of choice, as demonstrated by a burgeoning microbrewery scene comprising names such as Three Rivers Brewing Company and Thorny Devil Brewery. Boundary Island Brewery meaning thirsty skippers can pull up in their boat then duck in for pizzas and paddles of crisp beers Not that Mandurah only deals in predictable Dig around and you'll find signs of a local food scene starting to pick up steam Producers from throughout the region gather at the Peel Produce Market on Saturday mornings to sell goods and connect with like-minded eaters. Local coffee shop Groundswell Drivethru Coffee & Eats not only roasts its own beans staff roast and temper their own chocolate and serve fresh guernsey milk from a steel vat Mandurah is home to a population of 100 wild bottlenose dolphinsThen there's Flics Kitchen the eponymous restaurant of veteran local chef Felicity Edwards and generally regarded to be the city's best place to eat Edwards works hard to track global food trends Her au courant menu stars brioche toasts freighting lobster and prawn and crab croquettes made with the region's famous blue swimmer crabs Cocktails use local spirits including vodka from nearby micro-distillery, Little Stiller; West Australian names rule the beer list; and the wine list is a snapshot of contemporary styles Wooden giants aren't the only Mandurah surprise waiting to be discovered Getting there: Mandurah is 70 kilometres south of Perth and is a 50-minute drive from the Perth CBD and about two hours from Margaret River Although there is public transport in Mandurah hiring a car allows you to explore the area at your own pace While street-side parking is free throughout all of Mandurah Getting around: The Bike Kiosk (thebikekiosk.com.au) offers bike hire and bike tours, while Mandurah Boat Hire (mandurahboathire.com.au) hires boats and other watercraft Staying there: The Sebel Mandurah hotel (sebelmandurah.com.au) is a short walk from the Boardwalk and eastern foreshore Explore more: For details of the Giants of Mandurah exhibition and maps ShareTravel's Top PicksHungry TravellerThe West Hollywood power move isn't booze - it's a healthy breakfast by the poolCelebrities are flocking to it in big numbers. 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In southern Spain time slows down - and the tapas keeps comingSlow travel is on the rise; here's where to experience it Australian electronic pop/rock band Rogue Traders featuring Natalie Bassingthwaighte on vocals will take to the Seaside Estate Music Stage on the evening of Saturday performing some of their biggest hits the band has achieved local and international success with seven top 20 hits on the ARIA Singles Chart Their most successful single Voodoo Child peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart and number four in Australia and their 2005 album Here Come the Drums achieved four times platinum on the ARIA albums chart.  Rogue Traders will take to the stage at the 2025 Mandurah Crab Fest Following the Rogue Traders’ performance there will be a fireworks display over the Peel-Harvey Estuary Multi-platinum selling ARIA nominated singer songwriter and popular TV host Ricki-Lee Coulter will bring her much-loved hits to Crab Fest crowds on the Sunday afternoon Since she was discovered on Australian Idol in 2004 Ricki-Lee has become a household name and is one of Australia’s most loved popstars She has sold over a million records globally and had almost 100 million streams of her music with four number ones on the ARIA Dance Chart and UK Club Chart Crab Fest attracted more than 100,000 visitors this year throughout Mandurah’s city centre waterfront spaces and through to the Mandurah Ocean Marina with a full program of events and experiences for the whole family including delicious food highlighting the iconic blue swimmer crab.  Mayor Rhys Williams said the City was busy preparing to deliver Mandurah’s signature annual event in March for the community and visitors to enjoy “The Channel 7 Mandurah Crab Fest perfectly showcases everything people love about Mandurah ,” Mayor Williams said.  “Crab Fest is an absolute highlight of Mandurah’s busy events calendar and every year we look forward to providing a family friendly event where we get to highlight our beautiful city and enjoy everything we have to offer.  businesses and tourism operators have worked hard and achieved great heights again this year in promoting Mandurah as a premier destination and Crab Fest is a great opportunity for us to showcase this to thousands of people.  “Crab Fest is cherished statewide and beyond and I have been so proud to be involved over the years We are thrilled to continue our long-standing partnership with Channel 7 to bring the festival to life.”  Highlights of the 2025 Crab Fest include the Seaside Estate Music Stage with headline acts fireworks plus pop-up food stalls and licensed bars For more information, go to www.crabfest.com.au   Mayor Rhys Williams said the $22million Mandurah Waterfront Project would change the face of Mandurah’s City Centre and deliver iconic foreshore spaces for people to meet “It’s really great to see the works starting on this major project as not only does it help our plans to Restart Mandurah after the COVID-19 pandemic but it will support local tourism and jobs for the future,” Mayor Williams said “This redevelopment will rejuvenate our city and enhance the ways we interact with our waterfront precinct as well as sending a clear message to potential investors that the time to invest in Mandurah is now “Projects like this also go a long way towards increasing tourism and visitation which will help in boosting our local economy from the damage that’s been done by COVID but this project has come just at the right time.” The Mandurah Waterfront Project includes a number of components and stages; the Western Foreshore Recreation Precinct and the Eastern Foreshore North Boardwalk Precinct the existing skate park has been demolished designed and to be constructed by Convic Designs There will also be state-of-the-art recreation and activity spaces for families “This project was shaped by more than 1,000 Mandurah citizens including our seniors and kids in our local schools We’ve worked really hard with our community the project team and designers to make this project something really special and it is great to see it get underway,” Mayor Williams said “Thanks to the State and Federal Governments who are our Mandurah Waterfront funding partners for helping to make this project a reality.” said: “The Morrison Government’s $7million investment in the waterfront development has always been about supporting local jobs and businesses by making Mandurah an even more attractive place for tourists and visitors as even more people are choosing to visit our city due to the COVID travel restrictions “The development of the Western Foreshore is also going to be a hit for locals – I know I’m looking forward to another play space to take the kids!” Mr Hastie said said: “The $10million investment from the McGowan Government into the foreshore redevelopment was a major election commitment of mine “I am pleased that these works are now underway creating jobs and providing a boost to our local economy at this critical time,” Mr Templeman said “I am excited to see this project progress and the new spaces and facilities will be a fantastic addition for our community.” said the Mandurah Waterfront Project is an important piece in the future vision of Mandurah and Peel region “Mandurah is a major drawcard for attracting residents visitors and investors to the region and with Federal State and local government support to the tune of $22m this project will provide significant benefits not only to the Mandurah community jobs and the sense of a bright and prosperous future for the Peel is what projects like these are all about,” Ms Creevey said will include three skate zones for different skills BMX and scooter riders of all skill levels will be able to enjoy There will also be power provisions at the site for events and competitions Adjoining social spaces and facilities include grassed areas a basketball half-court and pedestrian connections to the wider area A new destination-level play space will also be constructed on the Western Foreshore as well as new toilets to replace the existing outdated facilities the local community helped to inform what the skate park and activity space would look like Mayor Williams encouraged local contractors to tender for works during the wider Mandurah Waterfront Project to inject money back into the local economy “There will be opportunities for local businesses and suppliers to get involved in delivering the Waterfront plans and lead contractors are also being encouraged to engage local content and subcontractors as part of their works.” For more information on the Skate and Activity Space development and the overall Mandurah Waterfront Project, go to www.mandurahmatters.com.au with the city centre a big part of the plans our city has grown from its roots as a quiet fishing village to the largest West Australian population centre outside of Perth running on fast forward as the fastest growing City in Australia we have the opportunity to put the foundations in place to ensure the next phase of Mandurah's evolving story is deliberate and well planned for This strategic work is focused primarily on restructuring our economy so that we can cater for our current and future workforce and most importantly recognising that Mandurah's key strengths must be retained if we are to reach our potential as WA's southern City Imperative to this is a strong city centre which is why we've focused our energy on reshaping our public spaces supporting our businesses to be successful and casting our minds forward to the future redevelopment opportunities that will cater for our future residents We've started this journey with two key focus areas: placemaking and activation including the complete redevelopment of our Smart Street Mall Our city centre team is working with businesses to ensure the heart of Mandurah is a vibrant We're supporting businesses to run new events and activations to help residents and visitors alike enjoy our city centre working with land-owners on ensuring we are getting the right business mix in our city centre and rolled out a public security patrol program to ensure our city is a safe and friendly place to be Mandurah's waterfront redevelopment will be a game changer for us Thanks to support of all three levels of government we are investing $22 million into the eastern and western foreshores This work has been shaped by more than 1000 local Mandurah residents but they will all contribute to shaping our new economy and ensuring that Mandurah reaches its potential Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy. City of Mandurah has taken out the 7NEWS Top Tourism Town Award for the second year in a row The accolades come after two epic tourism years for Mandurah - with 2022 seeing the City take home both Top Tourism Town and Mandurah Visitor Centre winning gold at the Perth Airport Tourism Awards A spokesperson for Visit Mandurah posted to Facebook that they were "delighted" to announce the win "The success story of tourism in Mandurah in 2022 was the delivery of the 'Giants of Mandurah' outdoor exhibition by world renowned artist Thomas Dambo," they said "The Australian-first exhibition has proven to be a global drawcard and has been a giant success for tourism in Mandurah." Mayor Rhys Williams previously told the Mail there had been 86,000 people come through Mandurah Visitors Centre since the launch of the Giants Mayor Williams posted his own celebratory message to Facebook to mark the milestone "Huge congrats to everyone who has played a part in this awesome achievement," he wrote City of Mandurah's award wasn't the only recognition for the Peel with Dwellingup taking home the gold medal in the category of Tiny Tourism Town Shire president David Bolt said he was excited about the win and "the wider implications for the Shire of Murray" "We've been working with the community for many years to deliver the vision of Dwellingup's businesses and residents They asked us to focus on promoting Dwellingup's natural beauty and assets and its authentic country charm," Mr Bolt said "This award recognises yet again that visitors seek out Dwellingup because it is the State's best trails and adventure destination Samantha Ferguson is a journalist at the Mandurah Mail. She is an entertainment, sport, crime, community and education journalist with a special interest in investigative pieces and human interest stories. science and education together in one space Photo: Supplied.Mandurah could be home to a waterways centre of excellence in the future as part of the City's long-term Transform Mandurah plan science and education together in one space with university courses run from the centre and local technology available to help Mandurah's waterways Mandurah mayor Rhys Williams said the City's waterways would revitalise and diversify the economy "Our focus is on targeting specific industries focused on Mandurah's competitive advantage "The research centre itself will be combination of interpretive centre co-located businesses as well as the research being conducted "We have an economy focused only around tourism and hospitality and we need to change that." Mandurah mayor Rhys Williams says the waterways centre of excellence will diversify the economy and be an asset for research Photo: File image.Mr Williams also said the City's waterways would be an "incredible asset for tourism and research" "The Peel-Harvey Estuary system is twice the size of Sydney Harbour - It's really unique and really susceptible to tidal changes as a result of climate changes," he said "The reality is kids in Mandurah are growing up here knowing they are living in the place that is the best in Australia to study water science "We intend to work right from grassroots level with primary school right through to tertiary education courses run out of the water sciences centre." The City have begun discussions with universities to establish beginnings of community engagement City of Mandurah councillors also unanimously endorsed a business case for advanced technology which will monitor the health of the Peel-Harvey estuary The monitoring technology will act as a catalyst for attracting the water science industry to Mandurah The Mandurah Mail will continue to explore the four components of the Transform Mandurah plan in more detail over the coming weeks The next article will look into the third key part of the agenda - a tourism precinct linking the Mandurah Ocean Marina to the city centre including an "international standard" hotel and convention centre We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy As the tree turns we move from one season to another Taken through the end of winter and into spring OPENING NIGHT: 9 August 2024 from 6pm - 8pm $75 gets you beer (OG /Lager / Pale) or wine siren-to-siren and a cheeseburger Catch all the action on the big screens or on the jumbo screen in the beer garden thanks to City West Centre and Harvey Norman Developer Coles Group Property Developments (CGPD) is planning a Coles supermarket with other shops and services including a liquor store While the council has approved for the shopping centre on the site it said the current design was not consistent with the Florida Neighbourhood Centre Structure Plan frontage to Dandaragan Drive and the location of the servicing dock The council at its Tuesday meeting recommended requesting for the plan to be changed Council calls for Dawesville shopping centre plans to be sent back to drawing boardBecause the proposed development is valued at close to $20million and is outside the metropolitan area CGPD was able to lodge its application directly with the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) A report to the council on Tuesday said if the WAPC intended to approve plans it should require that shops adjoining Dandaragan Drive 'front' the street so pedestrians had better access Read also: New plans released for Dawesville shopping hub The report also called for the proposed roundabout at the intersection of Dandaragan Drive and Balladonia Parade to be removed Further it said proposed one-way entries and exits be scrapped allowing two-way movements at the rear of the child care centre Council calls for Dawesville shopping centre plans to be sent back to drawing boardThe council report also said the developer had proposed too much signage and not enough footpaths or street trees The report went to the council after a public consultation period which ended last month Mayor Rhys Williams told the council: "People have been waiting for a long time for this shopping centre so let's do it properly and give them a good shopping centre Deputy mayor Caroline Knight said the current design was not suitable because the council wanted "walkable catchments" Council calls for Dawesville shopping centre plans to be sent back to drawing boardShe queried why the proposed building was black and red "How is this palette in keeping with our coastal region?" she said But City of Mandurah officers said they were "comfortable" with the architectural side of the development "[The developer] has already changed the colour palette and materials from the first proposal and the panel is more comfortable with the current one; there's been an improvement," a City officer said CGPD's report states the centre would create about 250 jobs during construction more than 120 ongoing operational jobs through the supermarket and additional opportunities within the specialty retail stores An artist's impression of the new retail precinct.Construction was scheduled to start around the middle of this year - but now looks likely to be delayed - and was expected to be finished in April 2022 Situated at 71 Dandaragan Drive near the Caltex service station, the Crown Reserve lot to the northwest of the site has been identified for a future community centre to be operated by the City of Mandurah. Related: Dawesville community centre set to provide health services The report to the council said the Dawesville precinct was "the last remaining retail centre to be developed within the suburban areas of Mandurah" it will have a catchment in the order of 12,000 people and is the smallest in population of each of our 'district' catchments," the report stated "Centres of a similar scale at Meadow Springs and Erskine clearly lack this main street focus and integration with their surrounds particularly to surroundings streets (note Pebble Beach Boulevard in Meadow Springs and Wattleglen Avenue in Erskine) and do not achieve the walkable catchments recommended in state policy." Photo: Paul Smyth.Mandurah Action Sports Games will now be held over two weekends Due to heavy rain forecasted for this weekend the organiser has made the decision to reschedule the skate and freestyle motocross competition to May 14 -15 will see some of WA's best men and women wakeboarders take to Mandjar Bay for the wakeboard tournament The reigning wakeboard champion and local hero Riley Middleton (Secret Harbour WA) will face off against the likes of WA champion Callan Starr and Ben Heatly Professional female wakeboarder Charlie Shore (Qld) and Mackenzie McCarthy (Qld) will be making the journey west to compete in the open wakeboard women's event Related: Mandurah Action Sports Games given the green light Action Sports events manager Tim Thirsk said he was excited to be hosting the event in Mandurah "The City of Mandurah is blessed with amazing waterways and a world class skatepark right in the heart of the Mandurah's City centre and it is undoubtedly one of the best locations in Australia to run this style of competition," he said "It is unfortunate that the forecast is not in our favour the weather is perfect for the wakeboard tournament scooter and freestyle motocross coming back in May." There will be a 500-person capacity within each event space and there are measures that will be put in place for the event: Wakeboard WA will be streaming live heat scores and results, www.liveheats.com/wakeboardwa councillors are recommended to endorse a plan that would see two takeaway facilities Set to be built on the current Cobaki Brace site the city centre would be bordered by new through roads including Banksiadale Gate (current intersection with Madora Beach Road) and through the yet to be built Lake Valley Drive closer south to Mandurah Both intersections would be controlled by traffic lights given Main Roads' approval Under the proposal set to be endorsed by councillors the plans are just a footprint for the future works.  Further applications would need to be made and approved by councillors before the work would go ahead on individual businesses valued at $30million would be built in two stages with a ‘main street’ and ‘town square’ a retail centre to include a 6000sqm supermarket, a 1500sqm ‘mini major’, 4500sqm of additional retail tenancies a 1500sqm restaurant or potential tavern a service station, two fast food outlets, more than 1000 car parking bays and associated servicing and landscaping to be completed in stage one According to a report entered to councillors stage two would encompass further development of the retail centre to include another ‘anchor’ in the form of a discount department store a medical component and additional specialty retail as well as offices a community centre and other mixed use It would also include extensions to the parking areas.  the works would need to be "substantially commenced" within two years for the proposed approval to be valid.  no future operators of the site have been identified but given the expected endorsement by councillors on Tuesday applications can be made to the City after approval is granted Given there will be five Woolworths supermarkets in the area when Manduah's Central Park development is completed and a potential four Coles in the region should the expected Progressive Supa IGA takeover in Halls Head go ahead it is not known if either supermarket giant will take up residency in the Lakelands development.  on the plans is a Lakelands Train Station at the rear of the suburb but no official announcement has been made in regards to any second Peel station Lakelands approval for a central hub New Woolworths for Mandurah Coles takeover faces opposition Coles takeover decision delayed Major infrastructure changes marked for Mandurah's waterfront and CBD teamed with the competition of the city's upgraded CCTV network has the potential to spell out a different image for the Smart Street Mall This week Mail journalist Caitlyn Rintoul discusses the future one of Mandurah’s most well-known streets. Smart Street Mall.  What do you think of when you hear that name?  the centrally-located Mandurah strip has copped some media attention for being a place of brawls late-night troublesome behaviour and a drawcard for the city’s homeless community.  I have reported on some high-profile incidents along the mall.  These included the brick attack on a young couple in April and the sickening punch that knocked a woman to the ground in July.  local police and government representatives expressed their frustrations over the situation and tried to reassure the community that things were being done to mitigate these incidents.  some big changes have been announced for Smart Street Mall.  I believe these changes have the potential to significantly change the future image of the area.  the local government’s City Centre Waterfront project was presented to elected representatives.  The project aims to reshape the city’s central entertaining area including the eastern and western foreshore.  Among the areas targeted in the project is the Smart Street Mall After receiving strong community response to a consultation process undertaken by the City of Mandurah the team behind the project selected several ideas and turned them into a series of concept designs The concepts revealed by the City of Mandurah give the public three options for Smart Street Mall the first involves keeping the layout as it is but include interactive and flexible elements The second involves removing the small section of one-way traffic access Both options would also encourage increased alfresco dining facilities along the street.  While Mandurah mayor Rhys Williams revealed it wasn’t the ideal choice for the council the last option would involve creating one-way traffic access along the whole street teamed with the competition of the CCTV network would hopefully see more people out and about “enjoying their city”.  While I’ve already heard the project labelled as “exciting” several times we’ll have to wait until 2021 to find out for ourselves.  we’ll do our best to keep you informed of the project’s development.  What’s your thoughts on the Smart Street Mall? To share your opinion get in touch with the Mandurah Mail team via editor.mandurahmail@fairfaxmedia.com Mandurah has implemented moving floor technology at its Waste Management Centre to cater for future rubbish volumes as the region’s population increases The centre was built in 1997 as the waste management hub for the City of Mandurah receiving a diverse range of waste and recyclable materials each day is a hydraulically driven floor conveyance system for moving large volumes of waste material automatically which is made up of a series of metal planks it is taken to a compactor and then loaded into specially designed trailers The process eliminates the need to use front end loaders to push waste into the compaction system City of Mandurah mayor Rhys Williams said the local government decided to investigate the new technology when the existing concrete pit was showing serious signs of deterioration and needed to be repaired or replaced “The infrastructure will enable the city’s Waste Management Centre to manage existing waste streams more efficiently and safely and also manage future waste volumes as the population increases “Moving floor infrastructure is used at a number of waste management centres in Hobart and Melbourne,” Mr Williams said separating commercial and residential waste A large metal deck is located at the end of the residential moving floor to allow for the recovery of recyclable material including scrap metal The Shire of Murray approved the allocation of funding towards several powerline and landscaping works in the town centre on Thursday last week The works will include the undergrounding of overhead powerlines in Murray Street between Pinjarra road and James Street and in James Street between George Street and Murray Street.  the Shire will also complete streetscaping works along Murray Street’s western verge and associated roadworks Landscaping and associated road works in the area adjacent to AutoOne will also be undertaken It is anticipated that the Shire will engage a private contractor to carry out the works which are estimated to cost the Shire $265,000.  The Shire of Murray’s Pinjarra Town Centre Revitalisation Strategy aims at guiding the nature form and extent of developments within Pinjarra’s town centre to encourage walkability and transform the town centre into a vibrant retail hub The Activity Centre Plan hopes to guide structural planning and land use within Pinjarra’s town centre and to identify the necessary services and infrastructure to support a sustainable town centre Optus Stadium will play host to the biggest AFL Grand Final Day events in Perth Enjoy a delicious sit-down buffet lunch in the River View Room host your own party in a private suite or get amongst the action with your mates in the Sports Lounge There's no better place to watch the final AFL game of the year than WA's home of football Photo: City of Mandurah.The next step in the Transform Mandurah project is taking shape with the Smart Street Mall's facelift well underway paving works started and in the coming weeks the main central construction site with fencing and signage will be established Demolition in the area will then proceed and preparation for new road base pre-cast concrete planter installation and paving will take place According to a spokesperson for the City of Mandurah all works have been programmed around business opening hours to minimise disruption and pedestrian access will be maintained at all times It will be an "amazing pedestrian strip...think alfresco dining parades and activations" the spokesperson said Activation: Design drawing of the finished Smart St mall redevelopment Image: City of Mandurah.Mayor Rhys Williams said the Smart Street Mall was an important part of the bigger $22million Waterfront redevelopment which will help reactivate the City Centre and help to stimulate new opportunities for Mandurah's economy "The Smart Street Mall upgrade is much more than a simple lick of paint," Mayor Williams said "It is a significant reimagination of the space with the aim to release the potential of the central mall "With increased opportunities for alfresco dining Smart Street will once again be an iconic Mandurah meeting place "In addition to the infrastructure upgrade we are working on a range of initiatives in conjunction with property owners and businesses to re-energise the economy alfresco dining initiatives and activation programs including a street performer program The expected completion date of the groundworks for the Smart Street redevelopment is October 2021 with the shelter installation potentially delayed into the new year Image: City of Mandurah.The $2.5m Smart Street upgrade is part of the City's broader Mandurah Waterfront Project which is being delivered as a joint initiative between City of Mandurah The State Government has committed $10m as part of its Plan for Peel and there is a further $7m from the Federal Government Home / Events if by “know how to do” you mean stick to the indoors and hide away until the sun shines again But times are a’changin and as more bold West Aussies stray from their suburban shelters regions around Perth are opening their arms wide to embrace winter And we’re not talking about that quick awkward you-do-it-because-you-have-to kind of embrace We’re talking a full-on wintery bear hug A no-holds barred embrace of all-things-winter We’re talking drag queens skating on ice and marsh mellow toasting (wait for it) at sea Indulging in this next-level chill and inevitably becoming a “winter person” doesn’t take a trip across the world or even the country It’s all right under your frosty nose Mums the word when it comes to Secret Sounds of the City Each Tuesday night local artists will perform a secret gig in an undisclosed location Each event includes 3 different local musicians singing and jamming in an intimate and unique setting Paired with a free drink on arrival and great food and drinks available for purchase throughout the night it will be the best 3 hours you’ve spent on a Tuesday night and beats a lazy Netflix binge So next Tuesday night instead of rugging up on the couch – warm your soul with some local tunes instead Roasting marsh mellows by a camp fire is so last season You might find yourself wondering who on earth looked at people toasting marsh mellows and just thought to themselves “You know what they need donut-shaped boat floating on the ocean.” Rather than wasting time asking these questions some drinks and get roasting n’ floating The whole experience goes for about 90 minutes plenty of time to chow down on the marsh mellows (provided to you with the necessary roasting sticks) while listening to tunes through the Bluetooth speakers aboard no skipper’s license is required to pilot these marsh mellow-laden vessels.  Book here: ecobbqboats.com/book-now/marshmallow-roast-n-float/ If Drag Queens on ice weren’t entertaining enough there are a whole lot of other events sure to pull a smile from even the frostiest of ice-queens From tribute nights paying homage to the likes of Abba to stand up comedy or burlesque at Piper’s Inn there’s plenty of entertainment to warm the soul over winter But for those especially keen on the tunes there are some events in particular to look out for mostly because they’re a kept bit on the secret side And they’re being served up at the Midway Farm Stall just South East of the Mandurah city centre While checking out just what kind of hipster dogs are indulging in their Sunday morning puppychinos would be a good enough reason on its own to visit there’s also amazing local produce and human food and drink served up on the quint farm property.  There’s few winter meals that could rival a Pinjarra pie enjoyed with a piping hot coffee except maybe for that Sunday roast you can now finally cook like you promised with some darn good grass-fed beef The Mandurah and Peel region is absolutely bursting with gorgeous trails through forest and bush you’ve got one less reason not to give hiking a go and take in the heady aromas that burst from the forests as they finally get their long-awaited drink from intermittent winter rains take in a bit of green as a break from the cement city-scape there’s more at this time of year than any other If you want to take in the whole region in one go, without moving a muscle (we get it, we all get lazy), you can take to the skies in a plane from Murrayfield aerodome, just 15 minutes from the Mandurah city centre Scenic flights range from 30 to 60 minutes with a chance of head-spinning aerobatics in some planes For the less adventurous, but equally-lazy, you can steam through the Dwellingup forests – literally. The Hotham Valley Tourist Railway is a special way to see the Peel region with a dash of history to the experience and even serves five course meals on Friday and Saturday nights It’s one thing to take a breath from it all somewhere in Perth but even just that hour between you and the hustle and bustle makes all the difference There are plenty of options to book a luxurious getaway from it all in Mandurah whether it’s for a romantic weekend or a family holiday many of accommodation providers offer up a little something extra over winter to draw the average Perthian out of hiding staying close to a fire is what keeps them warm it’s seeing a bit of the rough coastline that makes them feel all toasty inside Breathe in the salty air and listen to the waves thunder into one of the many beaches around Mandurah Of course the canals within the city centre offer a calmer way to get your oceanic fix with the added bonus of potentially seeing a few much-loved locals dolphins don’t shy away from showing their face during winter and as ever remain frequent visitors to the marina.  There’s no escaping the known reality of the season – wintertime is chow time There’s plenty of time to focus on the “summer bod” but put that to the back of your mind as you embrace one of the best things about winter – the food Flic’s Kitchen is turning up the heat over the winter festival, with events like a “food lab”, five course vegan degustation and an incredible native dinner series it’s time to get back amongst the reds and the cheeses that have been waiting all year to be truly enjoyed at Oceanic Bar and Grill’s wine and cheese night Redmanna Waterfront Restaurant is also making the most of the season with an insane six-course truffle dinner Oyster Bar Mandurah is hosting a BBQ every Sunday during winter with beer-marinated sirloins to get you drooling Speaking of beer, if you haven’t yet cottoned onto Peel’s craft beer scene, now’s the time, before the next summer brings an even greater wave of clued-on visitors. From Three Rivers Brewing Co, to King Road you can easily get together a DIY beer tour.  Otherwise, Skipworth, Drakesbrook, Millbrook and Peel Estate are where you can taste some of the region’s fine wine If this is all sounding a bit too overwhelming – particularly in deciding who’s going to play taxi in this boozy tour – you can always book in with Mandurah Wine Tours, who are offering a free spot when you buy two on their bus during winter There are those who are content on the ground looking up at the towering trees above them and there are those who feel the need to get up amongst those trees then hurry up and get out of the city and live your best life in the branches of the lush pine and jarrah forests of the Lane Pool Reserve There you will find a high-ropes course to finally satisfy your inner monkey From the flying fox to the airborne skateboard Trees Adventure offers an obstacle course high above the ground for the inner thrill seeker of us all Book here: https://treetopsadventure.com.au/location/wa-dwellingup/ If you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at one of WA’s best courses on a day without the sun burning a hole through your hat and at half price The Cut Golf Course in renowned across the State but for the views over the roaring coastline (before you ask it’s much too far off for you to sink your ball into the waves) Through winter they’re offering a two for one deal so you and a mate can rug up and enjoy an afternoon of spectacular views from one of those much-loved buggies… oh and of course play a spot of golf too Book here: https://thecutgolf.com.au/ For more winter fun in the Mandurah and Peel region visit https://visitmandurah.com/ This is a sponsored post for Visit Mandurah – endorsed by So Perth. We value your feedback so please contact us with any thoughts in regards to our sponsored post Thank you for supporting So Perth and our sponsors Your Guide to the Best of Perth and WA — From the best events and dining spots to travel tips and lifestyle news we’re your trusted source for discovering the very best our city and state have to offer according to Coastal Ward councillor Fred Riebeling.  Despite being placed in their 10 year plan the build has been labelled a “priority project” by the local government.  Mr Riebeling said he was keen to see the project in full-swing as soon as possible.  Read more: City of Mandurah plans to build a new community centre in Dawesville “It’s in the 10 years plan but we don’t want it to be in 10 years time we want it to be in the next few,” he said.  “It really is a vital piece of infrastructure so the community can have to same access to halls and meeting places – the same as the rest of Mandurah.  “It's something that is well overdue.”  The proposed centre will address the existing need for more affordable space for community meetings programs and human services in the southern suburbs The project falls under the City of Mandurah’s Social Infrastructure Plan 2013-2043, which was endorsed by council in September 2013.  Concept designs for the proposed Dawesville Community Centre presented to councillors at the City of Mandurah’s September meeting Mr Riebeling said himself and his fellow Coastal Ward councillors Tahlia Jones and Merv Darcy would continue their push for the major infrastructure project.  “The other Coastal Ward councillors and I will be working to achieve that. We’ll be moving heaven and earth to bring [the project] forward as quickly as possible “The population growth is expected to be more that sufficient to justify that investment.” With Dawesville’s residents forecasted to grow from 7,500 to 15,000 by 2036 the centre would also cater for the area’s fast-growing population.  The centre was originally tipped to be constructed between 2018/2020 however the timing was revised 2021/22 “It’s really just a matter of getting our finances in order so that the community can have a… centre they will be proud of,” Mr Riebeling said.  We’ll be moving heaven and earth to bring [the project] forward as quickly as possible The future centre will be built on the north-western corner of the Florida Neighbourhood Centre on Dandaragan Drive and Woodstock Avenue a location Mr Riebeling labelled as “ideal”.  The site will be located on 0.2 of a hectare of land owned by the City of Mandurah.  Concept designs for the future centre’s development have been released by the City of Mandurah in a report at the council’s September meeting.  Mr Riebeling moved the report’s recommendations which was then seconded by Ms Jones.  councillors will vote again on recommendations to acknowledge the estimated costs and timing as well as endorse the proposed ‘Dawesville Community Centre Concept Plan’ What’s your opinion on the proposed centre? Do you agree with the design and location? Share your views with us via editor.mandurahmail@fairfaxmedia.com.au Follow Caitlyn Rintoul on Twitter via @caitlynrintoul The centre was created as a business incubator in 2003 in an attempt to provide affordable office space to businesses starting out in the area and assist them in developing their commercial capability the City of Mandurah had to take over the lease of the facility after manager Mandurah Enterprise Centre Management Committee relinquished their lease The City is now hoping to pass on the management of the facility to an external not-for-profit that can demonstrate the necessary business management skills and is familiar with the small business scenario in Mandurah and Peel “Part of supporting local business may include providing a not for profit organistion which has a focus on local business with the opportunity to mange the centre,” City of Mandurah sustainable development director Tony Free wrote in a report “Such an organisation is likely to be closer to small business and able to respond to their changing needs more quickly than the City.” a main office for the centre manager and a conference room only eight of the offices are currently leased “Currently with the level of vacancies and the underutilisation of the conference room if the City continues to manage the centre there will be a net cost to the City perhaps without maximising the benefits to the small business community of Mandurah,” Mr Free wrote According to Mr Free, City resources were also believed to be better spent on 21st century projects such as entrepreneurial programs and digital initiatives instead of brick and mortar facilities following a 1970-1980’s approach The City of Mandurah will put an expression of interest out in the near future FUNDING for the Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre has been delivered in the 2014-15 Federal Budget Canning MP Don Randall said $10million provided for the redevelopment of the centre represented one of the largest amounts of funding going to a specific region in the country “The funds will support much needed infrastructure in the growing City of Mandurah,” Mr Randall said boost our local economy and deliver health and recreation services to people of all ages in the local community “Projects like this will relieve pressure on existing infrastructure and unlock the economic capacity of Mandurah making it an even better place to live and do business.” The $38million redevelopment will be completed in two stages focusing on an aquatic and a 'dry' component.   Mr Randall thanked Senator Michaelia Cash and former Liberal candidate for Brand Donna Gordin for their hard work in helping to secure funding for the centre.  Funding for the entre is part of the Government’s Economic Action Strategy to invest a record $4.7 billion in productivity-enhancing infrastructure in Western Australia Mr Randall said the Abbott Government’s infrastructure package would drive growth and create jobs in Canning.  with $5m from the City and a further $10m in grant funding appears to be about $4.5m short after a cost estimate was obtained on the project which included all facilities identified as on a ‘need basis’ This includes an additional two multi-purpose sports courts with one as a show court new administration facilities for the Mandurah Basketball Association (MBA) café and reception and an extension to the crèche Those items come to $19.48m in the cost estimate with a further unbudgeted $650,000 required for carpark upgrades The MBA contacted the City to request a further two courts but the cost estimate found those courts would required an additional unbudgeted $4m “Given the project budget of $15m for stage two the officers consider that [the $23.6m option with four additional courts instead of two] is not financially viable,” the report read Mayor Marina Vergone said the recommended redevelopment plan met the needs of the community and would provide a “modern Under the new proposal approved by council last week the project will be advertised to the market with a target price of $15m A maximum three proposals will be shortlisted and a preferred proponent will be selected to deliver the design and construction contract the contract period would then run from June 2015 to the scheduled March 2017 completion date.  The development is part of a two-stage redevelopment of the aquatic centre with stage one already well under way Stage one includes the complex’s new pools and upgraded changing facilities Geothermal heating is currently being installed as part of stage one It is expected stage one will be completed in late 2015 At an ordinary council meeting on Tuesday night City of Mandurah councillors voted in favour of allocating $175,000 towards the $375,000 project which is part of stage five of the City’s Solar Plan It is anticipated that the 200kw solar panel system will result in a reduction of 243 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions and cover 20 per cent of the MARC’s energy demand The City of Mandurah will also be able to register the MARC as a renewable energy power station under Australia’s Renewable Energy Target (RET), the centre would be able to generate tradable certificates for every megawatt hour Each certificate would then be sold in an open market for approximately $85 generating an income stream for the City of Mandurah of more than $27,000 a year MARC goes greener with new solar power systemThe City of Mandurah’s Solar Plan has already seen the installation of solar panels in nine council-owned buildings including the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre the Marina Operations Centre and the Falcon eLibrary among others.  the system has resulted in a combined reduction of 543 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions and an estimated cost saving of $183,790.  Solar panels have also been installed by the City in two leased buildings Rushton Park and the Mandurah Bowling and Recreation Club resulting in a reduction of 303 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions and savings of $117,630.  City of Mandurah officer Karin Wittwer said the Solar Pan was the best option to reduce building operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions to reach the 2020 target of becoming carbon neutral “The implementation of this project will also demonstrate the City’s commitment to reduce its carbon footprint by driving and sustaining action on climate change,” she said “It will also help mitigate against probable future increases in the cost of conventional electricity supply.”