Latest news with #MarkIrwin
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
UNVEILED: $200k glow-up for Perth suburb's iconic street
Beaufort Street is shining like never before with a $200,000 lighting upgrade that has brought extra colour and vibrancy to the heart of Mt Lawley. A canopy of 750 colour-changing LED bulbs now stretches across Beaufort Street near Walcott Street, creating a striking overhead entry statement for the City of Stirling. The feature lighting was officially unveiled on Thursday evening by City of Stirling mayor Mark Irwin and Perth MHR Patrick Gorman. It is designed to strengthen Beaufort Street's village-style character, attract more visitors to the area and boost the local economy. The city partnered with Perth-based companies Sage Consulting Engineers, Aura Lighting and Greenlite Electrical to deliver a programmable lighting display capable of colour blending and motion effects. The suspended light feature was one of the recommendations from the Mt Lawley Streetscape Study, which was adopted by the city in July 2020. The Federal Government contributed $200,000 toward the project ahead of the 2022 Federal Election. Mr Gorman said the project would encourage more people to visit Beaufort Street, helping local businesses thrive. 'Beaufort Street sits at the heart of the Perth community and is an iconic part of our streetscape,' he said. 'This is a central spot for Perth locals and visitors alike to gather and support some fantastic local businesses. 'Local families know that making our streets safe and bright at night opens up a world of possibility when it comes to family-friendly participation in our community's nightlife.' Mr Irwin said the feature lighting had multiple benefits, from supporting traders to creating a flexible space that could be themed for local and global events. The upgrade follows a series of other streetscape improvements in the area, including new lighting and CCTV in Astor Lane and Beaucott Lane, a parklet, murals, custom light pole designs and tree planting along the Beaufort Street median. 'This is another positive outcome for the Mt Lawley town centre after the city's streetscape improvements along Beaufort Street in recent years,' Mr Irwin said. 'Our community is passionate about this area retaining its unique sense of place — and this project only adds to its creative and vibrant charm.' Visitors can catch the lights in action every night, with shows scheduled at 7pm, 8pm and 9pm.
Perth Now
6 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
The Perth leisure centre recognised as one of the best
City of Stirling's leisure centre in Inglewood has been crowned facility of the year at the 2025 WA Aquatic Recreation Industry awards. The award was presented at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre during the Leisure Institute of WA's annual Aquatic and Recreation Conference and Trade Show. The win follows the completion of a two-stage $14.5 million redevelopment of Stirling Leisure last year, supported by $1m in State Government funding. The project included the construction of the largest public outdoor lap pool in the southern hemisphere, holding 2.5 million litres of water across 14 lanes. The facility underwent a $14.5 million redevelopment last year. Credit: Facebook It also has a submersible swim wall that enables the 50m pool to be split into two 25m pools, which enables a range of activities to run simultaneously. In a WA-first, the upgrade also introduced Lynxight aquatic safety technology, powered by artificial intelligence. The system alerts lifeguards in real time via smartwatches when it detects a potential safety risk in the pool. The city plans to roll out the system at Stirling Leisure in Balga next year. Mayor Mark Irwin said being the inaugural winner of the award was an honour for the city and everyone involved with Stirling Leisure. 'Innovation was at the core of the redevelopment, which transformed an ageing aquatic centre into a first-rate facility that will serve the community for many years to come,' he said. 'A lot of effort has gone into making this a high-performing and inclusive centre and that effort has led to a significant increase in membership.' This award is the second year the facility has been recognised at the WA Aquatic Recreation Industry Awards after winning the aquatic facility safety award in 2024. The award was introduced as a new category in 2025 to recognise aquatic centres that deliver strong community impact and innovation in design, development and operation. The City of Stirling also received a highly commended award, with senior operations officer Shelby Hyde acknowledged in the aquatic technical operator of the year category.
Perth Now
30-07-2025
- Perth Now
$18.5m ambitious Scarborough-Trigg Boardwalk design revealed
Concept plans for an $18.5 million Scarborough-to-Trigg boardwalk have been released, featuring a humpback whale tail-shaped shade shelter as the centrepiece. The City of Stirling is now seeking public opinion on the plans after months of heated debate over the project. It is planning to deliver an iconic attraction for residents and visitors that showcases the city's 'world-class coastline' and fosters a connection to nature and culture. Corresponding to the six Nyoongar seasons, the design features six key nodes that include interactive cultural displays, public artworks, and a shade shelter shaped like a humpback whale tail. The proposed boardwalk has been a hot topic amongst community members for months, drawing both strong criticism and enthusiastic support since the city first began exploring the idea. Some local residents and environmentalists have raised concerns about the boardwalk's potential impact on the beach dunes and ecosystems, as well as the estimated costs of construction and ongoing maintenance, while supporters argue it would improve pedestrian safety along the West Coast Highway, create a unique coastal experience and boost tourism. Concept plans for the $18.5 million Scarborough-to-Trigg boardwalk. Credit: City of Stirling Mayor Mark Irwin said the boardwalk had to be carefully designed and worthwhile, given the area's significant environmental value. 'A coastal boardwalk between Scarborough and Trigg is an idea that has been talked about in our community for at least 20 years — the aim of this feasibility study is to find out if it's a good idea,' Mr Irwin said. 'A boardwalk in this location shouldn't just be another way to get from A to B. It should be something that creates an experience, encourages a greater appreciation of our coastal environment and has significant benefits for our community.' The city believes the proposed boardwalk would improve pedestrian safety by diverting foot traffic away from vehicles on West Coast Highway and separating walkers from cyclists and others using the busy principal shared path. The current design has been developed in collaboration with members of the Ngalang Maya Wangkiny working group. A shade shelter shaped like a humpback whale tail is the centrepiece of the boardwalk's design. Credit: City of Stirling The city previously considered a proposal to construct a coastal boardwalk between Scarborough and Trigg beaches in 2005 and 2013, but neither progressed to the stage that the current proposal has reached. This latest proposal was launched last July after the council allocated $500,000 for a feasibility study in its 2024-2028 corporate business plan, prompting a fresh review of the boardwalk's potential environmental, social and economic benefits. The outcomes of this study, including the concept design and independent environmental and economic reports, have also now been released. The proposed boardwalk is in an A Class Reserve and Bush Forever site, and part of it is home to a threatened ecological community of Rottnest Island pine. Given the environmentally sensitive nature of the area, the City of Stirling said it had taken a 'light touch approach' to protect the site's natural integrity and biodiversity. According to the current concept design, the boardwalk will be slightly elevated and follow a route through degraded vegetation, staying at least 15 metres from the threatened ecological area. Community consultation on the concept is open until August 30. Credit: City of Stirling The city said the boardwalk was 'largely' situated to the east of the 70-year erosion vulnerability line identified by the its coastal hazard risk management and adaptation planning. According to the economic impact assessment, every dollar invested in the proposed boardwalk is expected to return $3.30, generating around $100 million in benefits over 30 years. Community consultation is now open until August 30 and is the final phase of the feasibility study. After community consultation, the Stirling council will then consider whether to progress with the proposal.
Perth Now
21-05-2025
- General
- Perth Now
Bid to save owls from rat bait poisoning
The City of Stirling has shown it gives a hoot by joining WA's growing 'owl-friendly' movement. Its council voted last month to become an owl-friendly city and has started to eliminate some rodent poisons from its operations and contracts. Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides, or SAGR, are common off-the-shelf baits that contain powerful but slow-acting poisons that can take days to kill rodents that have ingested them. Your local paper, whenever you want it. The rodents become easy meals for pets or native species, such as owls, which can also be harmed or killed by the poison. A report at the April meeting said the city had received at least 20 unprompted requests to stop using SAGR. The city is now promoting the use of responsible rodent controls, including at food premises, commercial properties, building sites and at home. The change is expected to cost the city about an extra $6000 per year. 'It's well known that these rodent baits can be harmful to non-target species, including our pets and native wildlife,' mayor Mark Irwin said. 'This is a simple step the city can take to protect those animals and share the message with the community.' Information about owl-friendly rodent controls and what people can do to keep rodents away from their homes is available on the city's website. This includes using physical barriers to prevent rats entering, picking up fallen fruit and making aviaries rat-proof. The city aims to promote this educational material and its free rodent bait sample packs, as well as collaborate with Birdlife Australia and other local governments to support the owl-friendly movement.
Perth Now
13-05-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
How one Perth council is making Facebook Marketplace exchanges safer
The City of Stirling has rolled out a 12-month trial aiming to give people a safer place to exchange items purchased and sold online. It intends to provide a more secure option for people using online selling platforms, such as Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree, through having CCTV surveillance and passive public surveillance in a public space. The site at 679 Beaufort Street in Mt Lawley was chosen as it was deemed the most suitable location without the need for 'significant investment'. Your local paper, whenever you want it. The city believes the site has most of the key features for a good exchange location: free parking, accessible seating, good lighting, a public toilet and access to public transport. Mayor Mark Irwin said this was an emerging safety issue that was only going to become more prominent. The Mt Lawley location was considered the most appropriate site for the trial. Credit: Google Maps 'A lot of people who use these online platforms are happy to make exchanges at their house or at someone else's house — and that's fine,' he said. 'A safer exchange site just gives members of our community another option and allows them to meet in a public place where they may feel more comfortable. 'If this trial is successful, we will look at the possibility of creating safer exchange sites in other areas of the city.' Last year Victoria police created 35 exchange sites outside police stations after a trial in 2022. There are currently no plans announced to replicate the Victorian model in WA, so this would be the first of its kind in the State. The area is now fitted with signage and the city is encouraging community members and local businesses to share their feedback. The trial was proposed by deputy mayor Suzanne Migdale and will run for 12 months from May 6, with support from WA Police.
