The City of Gosnells Town Centre Revitalisation Scheme is a remarkable success story. Commenced in 1997, it is a unique strategy to generate sustainable revitalisation of the City’s declining town centre and ageing suburbs. Chief Executive Officer, Stuart Jardine, said for the first time a Council became the driver responsible for a major revitalisation, rather than simply passenger in a State Government driven initiative.
The City of Gosnells is 17 kms south east of Perth’s central business district. Serving a population of more than 88,000, the City is known for its great climate, pleasant residential living, markets, bush walks, wildlife parks and winery.
While it was well positioned, a survey of business lettings showed that the town centre had a vacancy rate of 49 per cent. Council stepped in to halt further decline. Working with businesses and the local community, it came up with an International design award winning scheme to create a fresh, vibrant town centre that would encourage economic growth and attract visitors.
Beginning with the development of Mainstreet, to create a natural commercial hub linking both sides of the Albany Highway, the revitalisation scheme has tackled roadworks, streetscapes and slip lanes, put in extensive public art and community artworks, drawn up a master plan to integrate the town centre with the adjacent Pioneer Park and is well on the way to completing the City’s biggest ever single building project.
The flagship, multi purpose civic complex, The Agonis, will open its doors to the community later this year. The Agonis building represents the highest standards in universal access, sustainable development and environmental efficiency. It is the first commercial construction project in Western Australia to meet the environmentally sustainable design principles of the Australian Building Greenhouse Rating (ABGR) Scheme, having achieved a 4.5 star rating.
In partnership with the State Government’s Public Transport Authority, the City is part funding relocation of the existing railway station to provide easy access to the town centre, with development of a new transport interchange and principal shared pathway system that will link into a paths network that’s won Council an award for being the most bicycle friendly Local Government authority in the nation.
Another exciting project is the construction of a new town square, currently out to tender. This will be located directly adjacent to The Agonis and ensure that the town centre has a civic heart for all its users.
While there is still some way to go before the City completes the scheme, it is abundantly clear that businesses and the community are already beginning to reap the rewards. The revitalisation scheme is on target to deliver significant benefits to the community.
An independent retail survey of Gosnells town centre completed recently by commercial and industrial agency, Porter Matthews, shows there is clear evidence the Gosnells Town Centre Revitalisation Scheme has triggered a major revival. Managing Director, Bruce Porter, said preliminary findings have shown the town centre retail vacancy rate has dropped to a low of 10.5 per cent, compared with 49 per cent five years ago, with more development applications in the pipeline.
City of Gosnells Mayor, Councillor Patricia Morris, said increased interest in investment and value in commercial property was great news for the city.
“One of the most remarkable aspects is that the Gosnells Revitalisation Scheme has only been partially completed,” she said. “The City is confident that as other initiatives within the scheme come on stream there will be continuing improvement in the economy of the Gosnells Town Centre and significant further private capital investment within the area.”
CEO, Stuart Jardine, pointed out that the success of the project did not happen by chance but involved a dedicated passionate team committed to ensuring a major transformation actually happened on the ground and that doesn’t come easy.
