New heart of Dardanup underway thanks to RAC!

Published on Tuesday, 15 February 2022 at 3:34:00 PM

New heart of Dardanup underway thanks to RAC!

Have you attended one of the recent Summer In Your Park Events held in Dardanup?

Picture this for next time in December, 2022.

Special outdoor community events like a Movies by Moonlight or Summer Sounds being held in the ambience of a freshly landscaped open area made especially picturesque by its outdoor art gallery, where little ones entertain themselves within earshot on the nature play trail and brand new pathways connect the entire centrally-located area to nearby streets.

That very picture is about to become a reality with a $250,000 transformation starting soon through creation of a Civic Precinct for Dardanup. This Dardanup Depot Revitalisation project is being delivered in partnership with RAC, through its Reconnect WA initiative, which aims to create vibrant streets and public spaces for Western Australians to interact and connect with each other.

The new Civic Precinct will connect the main street, town and hall to Carramar Park by creating a new link through the former volunteer fire brigade depot site.

This will create safe pathways for pedestrians to walk between the facilities, a vibrant and flexible new outdoor space for the community and extend Dardanup’s emergent art scene with community co-created artworks.

Dardanup Shire President Mick Bennett said the project concept was loosely based around the idea of urban laneway renewals often seen in big cities but reimagined for our more rural and regional setting.

The beginning of works at the site later this month with removal of the old depot building marks culmination of almost five years of community consultation and planning.

“The opportunity to create innovative community space which facilitates new connections was one of the key themes to come out of community workshops held in 2017,” Cr Bennett said.

“The lack of existing pedestrian networks and the opportunity presented by the depot site was formally noted in the Dardanup Community Facilities Plan 2018.

“And we’ve been working towards getting all of our ducks in a row to achieve this vision ever since.”

RAC Group Executive Social and Community Impact Patrick Walker said RAC was proud to support projects which changed the look and feel of streets and public spaces.

“We’re very excited to continue Reconnect WA for a second year and partner with more local governments to deliver projects which will breathe new life and colour into our communities,” Mr Walker said.

“Pop-up activation spaces, public artwork, slower speed and more pedestrian-friendly streets are just some examples of the exciting projects receiving funding this year.

“By trialling new ways of using our streets and outdoor public spaces for people to safely come together, these projects will help lay the foundations for longer term changes that support RAC’s vision for a safer, sustainable and connected WA.”

Stay tuned for further updates as this project takes shape…

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