Prepare for winter storms ⚡ beach path improvements 🚶 parks & verge tree pruning 🌳 & more
Soundings eNews JUNE 2022 | View this in your browser
Matt Willson is Quintessentially Cockburn, but do you know why?
The Black Dog on a Lead Inc chairperson knows how that small town 'community' feel can promote good mental health. And there's an abundance to be found here in Cockburn! Matt is the subject of our next Quintessentially Cockburn instalment. Read his story in the City's online Latest News section and discover your own close-knit community (hint - it's in your own backyard).
Voting in the upcoming Extraordinary Election East Ward on Friday 8 July, 2022 is by post. Voting packages are mailed out by the Western Australian Electoral Commission via Australia Post from Thursday 9 June. Completed postal packages may be returned via the instructions in the package or delivered to the ballot box at the City of Cockburn administration building, 9 Coleville Crescent, Monday - Friday from 8.30am - 4.30pm and Friday 8 July from 8.30am - 6pm. Voting packages must be received by the Returning Officer by 6pm on Friday 8 July, 2022.
Time to clean your gutters and trim your trees – storms are imminent! Every year storms, including rain, tornadoes, lightning, hail, flash flooding and gale force winds, cause major destruction across WA. You can reduce the risk of damage to your property by preparing ahead of time. Here are some helpful tips courtesy of our friends at the Department of Fire and Emergency Services:Trim branches around your home to prevent them falling on your roof or carClear gutters and downpipes so they do not overflow Store or weigh down loose objects around your home or work, such as outdoor furniture and trampolines, that could be picked up and thrown by strong winds, causing damage or injuryPrepare an emergency kit with a battery operated radio, torch, spare batteries and first aid kit.Remember, if a storm has badly damaged your home and you can't safely fix it yourself, SES volunteers are there to help. If you need assistance call 132 500.
The City is responsible for pruning all trees in parks and on verges in Cockburn. We follow the Australian Standards for pruning, which determines whether a tree should be pruned or not and the type of pruning we do.
When will the City prune a tree?
Following Australian Standards, the City will prune a tree if it:
Improves the safety, structure and health of the tree Provides clearance for people moving belowPrevents branches from overhanging a property boundary and park infrastructureMaintains safe clearance zones from powerlinesMaintains a clear line of sight for vehicles and cyclists.
The City will not prune trees due to allergies experienced by residents, if the tree is dropping leaves or nuts or it is shading solar panels.
We are lucky to have many beautiful trees in Cockburn, including the deciduous kind that drop leaves in autumn to conserve resources and stop them from being blown over in windy weather. If you have these trees around your property, remember you can compost or mulch the fallen leaves, or put them in your green bin for collection on bin day.
We are replenishing (or depositing) sand at the popular Coogee and C.Y. O’Connor beaches to manage erosion and maintain beach amenities and access. This year, the sand will look darker as we access sediment from the seabed using a floating dredge as the water is too deep for land-based excavators.
Within weeks the sand deposited will naturally bleach and lighten to match the existing beach sand. The sand and sediment have been tested and are clean and safe for use on the two beaches.
The process should begin next week and be completed by July 2022. For a more detailed explanation on the sand replenishment process, view the video below.
With winter storms upon us, we are taking down 449 shade sails across the City's playgrounds to clean and repair them in time to put them all up again in spring.
Looking for a new playground to visit in Cockburn, or one that is fenced and suitable for toddlers for when the sun comes back out? Click the link below.
We've launched a customised search tool on our website for people looking to volunteer locally. There are currently around 80 positions advertised in Cockburn, including driving mentors for Cockburn RYDE (youth driver education) program, kitchen hands, and animal carers. Make a positive difference in your community and reap the benefits of giving back, such as building relationships and maintaining positive mental health.
The upgrade and extension to the clubrooms at Goodchild Park in Hamilton Hill is coming along nicely, with completion due mid-late 2022. The upgrades include two new unisex change rooms, an umpire and first aid rooms, improved storage, and upgrades to the kitchen facilities and clubroom space. There will also be new lighting and CCTV so the community can use the reserve at night.
We’ve been busy along the coast, in sections from South Beach to Woodman Point, improving our path network. The improvements make the network wider, safer, and more accessible, and now you can safely use the path along Chelydra Point to admire — from a safe distance — the iconic South Fremantle Power Station and coastline towards Fremantle.
What improvements have we made?
A new section of path along Chelydra Point in North Coogee
Trimmed vegetation so path users can see better and moved bins and bike racks to allow more space
Installed slow down rumble strips near the tennis courts to reduce user conflict
Installed path signage to encourage people to be courteous
Installed two permanent bike and walking counters between South Beach and Coogee Beach to monitor its use and inform further improvements. This project was fully funded by the Australian Government, committing $100,000 through the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.
Hamilton Hill school crossing upgrade
We’ve upgraded the school crossing at Winterfold Road and Greenslade Street in Hamilton Hill to the latest road safety standards. It allows kids and residents, including those from the nearby retirement village, to safely cross to school and the nearby shops. We also extended the bike lane on Winterfold Rd to improve safety for cyclists. This project was fully funded by the Australian Government, committing $256,000 through the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.
Cockburn Council has deferred any decision on trails in Manning Park until it can consider the costs and timing of detailed environmental evaluations and heritage assessments of the upland area of the highly valued 117ha regional park. These costs and timings will be presented to the City’s Expenditure Review Committee for consideration by this September at the latest, when the Council will again consider the matter.
