If you’ve ever flown into Perth and wondered at those vast tracts of forest on the city’s doorstep, you’ve already discovered the Shire of Kalamunda and Perth Hills. The Shire of Kalamunda is located 24 kilometres to the east of Perth. It has a land area of 349 square kilometres, an elected Council of 12, employs 170 staff and has a population of 50,000 people. The semi rural/forest theme of the community is reflected in the gumnuts entry statements used in the town of Kalamunda and Forrestfield village precincts.
Quality aged and seniors services
The Shire of Kalamunda offers an extensive range of varied services to its seniors from a number of convenient first class facilities located within the Shire boundaries.
Two dedicated Senior Citizens Centres provide a variety of educational, social and minor health services for residents that are moderately ambulant and able to arrange their own attendance. Light snacks and lunch meals at a moderate cost are provided at the Jack Healy Centre, which is centrally located and adjacent to the bus station. This centre also provides computer classes, hairdressing, podiatry and meals on wheels.
The Woodlupine Family and Community Centre offers a full range of senior’s services plus an innovative coffee lounge, where for a gold coin donation, seniors, their families and friends can relax and chat over a fresh cuppa and a snack. The centre also provides computer classes, free Tai Chi classes plus a variety of other social and recreational opportunities.
For those eligible seniors who might require additional support the Peter Anderton Respite Centre provides centre based respite on a daily basis. Clients who receive this service are transported from and to their own homes to a modern and comfortable centre where a team of dedicated staff and volunteers deliver a diverse program of activities that includes crafts, entertainers, information sessions, outings, men in their sheds and sing alongs.
All services are offered at a significantly subsidised cost. Provision is made for those seniors who are unable to attend a formal social group by offering in home respite services and social support services.
Information relating to significant events, such as Seniors Week, and other services is distributed to residents thoughout the year. A range of exciting and informative events have been developed by the Seniors Week Working Party to encourage positive images of ageing and provide opportunities for seniors to celebrate life and seniority.
Seniors from the Shire of Kalamunda and beyond look forward to celebrating during the last week in October. The largest occasion is the Expo, which is an intergenerational event. The purpose of the Expo is to present a showcase of energies, achievements, services, programs and opportunities for seniors. Over 600 schoolchildren entertain on the day and view the exhibitions. This provides a wonderful opportunity for seniors, children and youth to meet and socialise.
Youth initiatives extend student skills
In response to a new Job Link initiative introduced throughout high schools in Western Australia, Lesmurdie Senior High School approached Council for a suitable project. The project required students to apply and extend their maths and english skills, in addition to meeting the comprehensive Duke of Edinburgh program requirements. Students who successfully meet all requirements of the initiative will receive a TAFE Certificate, a Duke of Edinburgh Award, a First Aid Certificate and a report from the school outlining Curriculum Council subjects achieved.
Council’s Youth Development Officer recommended the Anderson Road Community Centre in Forrestfield for this project. The centre currently provides a unique traditional blacksmithing workshop funded by the Shire and is the home to the Foothills Information and Referral Service – a not for profit organisation providing financial counselling and a parenting playgroup. The centre grounds are currently being upgraded through the efforts of a Westnet Employment Services Work For The Dole project. The project aims to make the centre an aesthetically pleasing and vibrant hub of activity and opportunity for young people and families.
To complement the work for the dole project, the first project designed by Lesmurdie Senior High School students is the creation of a lawn area surrounded by rose bushes and bonsai plants. Students have already levelled the lawn area and constructed a retaining wall. The other project involves the design and construction of skate ramps at Lesmurdie Senior High School, which are to be stored at the centre for community use.
Other proposed activities at the centre include the design and erection of BMX dirt jumps and establishing a permanent youth space. In addition, increasing employment, apprenticeship and training options for young people is planned through the expansion of the workshop area for private training providers to instruct in areas of skills shortages, such as welding.
Redevelopment program expands facilities
The Shire of Kalamunda has a redevelopment program to support the continuing growth and expansion of existing facilities. These include three recreation centres, two seniors’ centres, a performing arts centre, a theatre, four libraries, 21 municipal halls and meeting rooms.
As part of its social inclusion program, the Shire recently installed a liberty swing suitable for children with a disability at Stirk Park. The 42 sports clubs and community groups are well catered for within the Shire with six regional sporting reserves. In addition, the Shire manages 57 passive recreation reserves and 174 bush reserves. Many of these have walk trails making the Shire a popular destination for bushwalking.
The strong arts and culture groups in the Shire are catered for through a number of learning centres. Similarly, people within the Shire with requirements in the area of performing arts are accommodated within the Town Square Community Theatre and the Kalamunda Performing Arts centre. The Shire is currently considering a major development to incorporate visitor servicing and cultural activities, located around a precinct comprising Kalamunda History Village and Kalamunda Library. This library houses a stained glass window of 84 panels that stretches 12 metres across the west wall of the building to a height of four metres. Approximately 400 members of community and professional artists completed this community art project in 1988.
Environmental project
The Shire of Kalamunda contains more than 24,000 hectares of remnant native vegetation as well as many wetlands and waterways on state owned land, land owned by the Shire and on private property. To ensure a strategic and sustainable approach to the retention, protection and management of bushland, wetlands and other natural areas, Council is developing a Local Biodiversity Strategy.
The strategy aims to secure the Shire’s biodiversity at a level that will ensure Kalamunda’s current diverse environment is maintained long into the future. As the first step in developing the Strategy, the Shire is currently in the process of producing a discussion paper. This will identify areas of local biodiversity, with objectives and targets developed for the level of biodiversity retention, protection and management.
This information will then be used to prepare a Local Planning Policy for land use decisions and a plan for the management of Shire reserves to preserve biodiversity, and assist in the protection of significant local natural areas.
More than just nature
Geographically, Kalamunda has three distinct areas – the Foothills/Plains, the Escarpment, and the Eastern Rural District. Tourist attractions include the Kalamunda History Village, Lesmurdie Falls, The Zig Zag, Stirk Cottage, Perth Observatory, walk trails, orchards and vineyards.
The Shire has three national parks, over 30 well marked walk trails and many scenic lookouts and picnic spots. The northern terminus for the world famous Bibbulmun Track is a two minute walk from the Kalamunda CBD. At its closest point, the Darling Scarp lies just 20 kilometres from the City. Rising to a height of 400 meters, it offers fantastic views across the Swan and Canning Rivers, Perth and Fremantle. One of the best places to enjoy this panoramic vista is at Lesmurdie Falls, which sits right on the edge of the scarp. This has been a popular picnic spot since early settlers discovered the region over a century ago.
But Kalamunda is about more than just nature. Some of Western Australia’s most acclaimed restaurants and cafes are to be found here, along with a growing range of luxury boutique style accommodation and cosy B&Bs perfect for weekend getaways. The Shire also encompasses rapidly growing urban areas in the foothills, such as Forrestfield, High Wycombe, Maida Vale, Wattle Grove and an expanding industrial and transport hub adjacent to Perth airport.
