Latest news with #GregStocks
West Australian
30-05-2025
- General
- West Australian
Middleton Beach foreshore designers earn award of excellence from Australian Institute of Architects
Marrying natural beauty with pragmatic place making has earned the designers of the Middleton Beach Foreshore an award of excellence from the WA Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects. The project, designed by the City of Albany and See Design, was successful in the civic landscape category and honoured at a ceremony held at the Royal Perth Yacht Club on Friday. 'Binalup / Middleton Beach is one of Western Australia's most iconic and cherished coastal destinations, and this award is a testament to what's possible when good design is grounded in community, culture and care for the environment,' Mayor Greg Stocks said. 'The Foreshore Enhancement Project has transformed Binalup into a more resilient, functional and beautiful public space, and we're proud to have worked in close partnership with See Design Studio to design and deliver it. 'To receive this recognition from the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects reinforces how important this project is — not just for Albany, but as an example of civic landscape done well.' See Design director Eoin Gladish said the project had a personal significance for him. 'I have wonderful childhood memories of Middleton Beach and I relished the opportunity to create a design to reinvigorate this cherished coastline,' he said. 'First and foremost, we design for people. 'It's really exciting to see the local community embracing and engaging with the waterfront — whether they're cycling, walking, exercising, picnicking or just relaxing. 'That's my greatest reward.' The Middleton Beach foreshore was praised for the designers' selection of materials and their response to erosion of the coastline. 'The design leverages the site's natural beauty and applies a restrained, elegant material palette to shape a series of multifunctional public spaces that improve beach access and amenity,' the jury said. It was also applauded for the way it recognised the area's cultural significance to the Menang Noongar people. 'The project respects its deep history while supporting Middleton Beach as a shared and enduring public space,' the jury said. The foreshore also received a regional achievement award. The design incorporated a buried seawall to protect against erosion and featured upgraded pathways, seating and gathering spaces. 'Middleton Beach foreshore is one of Albany's most cherished coastal destinations, valued for its community, cultural, and environmental significance,' the jury said. 'The renewal enhances public access, coastal protection, and ecological resilience while preserving its role as a gathering place.' Other winners on the night were Bunbury's Maidens Reserve which took home the most prestigious award, the WA Medal. Perth's Oval at Subi East earned an award of excellence in the category of cultural heritage as well as two landscape architecture awards in the civic landscape, and parks and open spaces sections.
West Australian
20-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Biannual MARKYT community scorecard reveals City of Albany as sixth-best performing regional LGA
A scorecard filled out by City of Albany residents has revealed that despite a dire housing situation, the city is the sixth-best-performing regional local government. Conducted every two years, the MARKYT community scorecard report benchmarks the city's performance against other WA local governments and informs the review of the city's strategic community plan. The report released last Wednesday revealed a score of 68/100 in overall performance and 81/100 as a place to live. Both scores are above the industry averages of 63 and 74 respectively, and an increase from the 2023 survey results. Albany placed sixth in overall performance out of 32 regional LGAs, and 15th overall. Particularly high-scoring amenities included library and sporting/recreation facilities and services, as well as community engagement, tourism offerings, community buildings and marine facilities. City of Albany mayor Greg Stocks said he was pleased to see the city staff's hard work reflected in the results. 'Albany continues to shine as a place to live, work and visit,' he said. 'Not only did we see solid performance across most services, but nearly all of them rated at or above the industry average when benchmarked against councils across the State. 'Our library services, sport and recreation facilities, and destination marketing were all stand-out performers, and we saw positive gains in areas like community engagement, communication and local roads. 'We're incredibly grateful to the more than 2500 people who took the time to share their thoughts, as this feedback helps build the foundation of our strategic plans and ensures we stay focused on what matters most to our community.' The scorecard was open from March 10-28, 2025 and was the best answered in terms of numbers, with a record 2524 people filling out the form. Housing stood out as a clear area for improvement, rating 'weak and declining'. Actions recommended by the community to solve the crisis included lobbying the State and Federal governments to increase supply, repurposing existing buildings, simplifying planning approvals and increasing social and crisis accommodation. Health services also performed low, with residents asking for increased hospital capacity, mental health and rehabilitation support, more aged care facilities and the installation of a hydrotherapy pool. Other priority areas outlined included building more footpaths, trails and cycleways, improving local roads and bridges, and boosting economic development and job creation. 'Community expectations are clear — housing, healthcare access, economic development, local roads and footpaths are key priorities,' Mr Stocks said. 'These are issues affecting regional communities across Australia, and we'll continue to advocate strongly alongside our partners in government.' Results from the 2021 scorecard revealed Albany to be the best-performing regional local government in the State with a score of 75/100, before the 2023 survey saw a drop to 66/100, still two points above the average of 64. The results will feed directly into the city's review of its strategic community plan and help shape future budget decisions and advocacy efforts.
West Australian
20-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Albany Surf Life Saving Club reopens at Middleton Beach after $3.3m refurbishments
Albany's freshly refurbished Surf Living Saving Club officially reopened its doors last week, with its $3.35 million spruce-up expected to improve the vital beach patrol service's capacity for years to come. Located pride of place on Middleton Beach, the club has been closed since February 2024 for renovations that included adding a new beach patrol centre with a dedicated first aid room, patrol briefing area and lookout, training rooms and boardrooms as well as an overhaul of weathered infrastructure. Thursday saw Albany mayor Greg Stocks joined by the Premier's Secretary and Cockburn MLA David Scaife, ASLSC president Sarah Bowles and the Jack Family Trust's David Moss to cut the ribbon on the new building. Mr Stocks said the new facility would help the club meet growing demand at Middleton Beach. 'This is a club that's been part of Albany's story for a long time — it's where generations have learnt to read the ocean, how to look after each other, and how to step up in moments of need,' he said. 'This redevelopment ensures the club can keep doing what it does best — but even better. 'There's now safer, more practical storage for equipment, a proper hub for lifesaving operations, and spaces for training and community events.' Ms Bowles echoed the mayor's sentiment, saying the renovation represents an 'investment in the future'. 'From improved safety across our lifesaving and surf sports areas to more weather-protected spaces for swimmers and beachgoers, this redevelopment allows us to meet growing demand while giving back to the community that supports us.' The renovation was jointly funded by State Government contributions of $2.8m, $350,000 from the City of Albany and $200,000 from the ASLSC. First born as the Naval & Military Sea Bathing Club in 1917, the club has since grown to have more than 500 members in the following 108 years. Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti labelled the new facilities 'fantastic', while Great Southern Minister Reece Whitby called them a 'major win' for the club's members and the community. 'I commend everyone involved in this project for their hard work and dedication in bringing their vision for this facility to life, and I look forward to seeing the newly refurbished club's continued positive impact on our community,' Mr Whitby said.
West Australian
19-05-2025
- Climate
- West Australian
IN PICTURES: Patricia Piccinini's Skywhales Across Australia take off at Albany's Retravision Stadium
Patricia Piccinini's Skywhales Around Australia exhibition took over Retravision Stadium on Saturday night, drawing a crowd of thousands to see the massive spectacle. City of Albany mayor Greg Stocks said the city had registered more than 5000 people for the free family event, which was postponed from Saturday morning due to unfavourable weather. Albany residents and visitors poured into the stadium just before sunset to see Skywhale and Skywhalepapa inflate above the grass, and were treated to an atmospheric show on a cool but cloudless night, with whale song and natural sounds played around the stadium to set the scene. Menang elder Aunty Averil Dean welcomed the gathered masses to Menang country, and spoke about the importance of looking after our natural world, particularly the beloved whales that migrate past Albany each year. Mr Stocks made his own welcome on behalf of the City of Albany, before a recorded message from the artist Patricia Piccinini played over the stadium speakers. Piccinini thanked everyone for coming, and echoed Ms Dean's message about our integral role in looking after our natural world and its animals.
West Australian
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Welcome to Great Southern sign on Muir Highway graffitied with vile anti-LGBTQIA hate message
A shocking piece of anti-LGBTQIA+ graffiti defacing a sign welcoming tourists into the Great Southern has been slammed as 'deeply disappointing' and 'repulsive' by the Albany mayor and Pride representatives. The welcome to the Great Southern sign, located on Muir Highway in the Shire of Plantagenet, was seen to have the words 'Deport Queers' written out in red spray paint on Friday. A crew from Main Roads WA attended to paint over the offensive graffiti later that day. City of Albany mayor Greg Stocks condemned the graffiti, saying the city, as the Great Southern's most populous local government, was proud to be an 'inclusive and welcoming community'. 'We do not condone hateful or discriminatory language in any form, and the graffiti on this sign is deeply disappointing,' he said. 'Albany is home to one of regional Western Australia's largest Pride festivals, and we are committed to celebrating diversity and standing with our LGBTIQA+ community. 'We are committed to ensuring this region is a place where everyone can live and belong without fear of discrimination.' Albany Pride spokesperson Tiger Bird labelled the message as 'awful' but also 'naive'. 'Obviously this sentiment is malicious and really repulsive but also just ridiculous and stupid,' they said. 'It just shows there's not a lot of intellect behind that sort of ideology because where are you going to deport them to? 'I don't think the person knows how deportation works or what it means.' The spokesperson said they were grateful that Mr Stocks 'succinctly' and 'forthrightly' condemned the message, noting it did not give the town a good reputation for incoming tourists. 'If (tourists) are coming down that highway cause they've been on the West Coast or from Adelaide what are they going to think?' they said. 'They're just going to say bloody hell, it's the town from (the film) Deliverance — it's just not doing anyone any favours. 'You don't want to see swastikas or swearing as you're driving, and no one should want that for our town either, even if you might agree with the sentiment.' The Shire of Plantagenet declined to comment.
