FAQs

The City of Kalamunda wants to know your vision for Cambridge Street Reserve, with the goal being to provide a safe, accessible and improved open space that retains the integrity of the Reserve’s natural vegetation.

Consultation seeks to:

• Understand the community’s expectations and vision for Cambridge Street Reserve
• Engage a range of stakeholders and community members that have an interest in the Reserve
• Understand if the community is leaning toward Concept A or Concept B, and the reasoning behind the preference

Obtaining feedback from the community is an important part of this process, to help us understand what the community’s vision and expectations are for this Reserve. We are seeking feedback from a wide variety of people who enjoy the reserve, from bush walkers, dog walkers, those who use the reserve for fitness, families who use the playground, elderly members of our community considering or currently residing in a retirement village and many more. If you have an interest in the reserve, or live in the area, we want to hear what you have to say.

Cambridge Street Reserve is a nine hectare reserve, located on 12 Cambridge Road and Mallow Way in Forrestfield. The reserve is classified as a passive open reserve and currently features a car park and small playground. The reserve is also known for its natural vegetation and bushland.

Following the public comment period, the strategic planning team will review the community feedback and prepare a report to Council on the outcomes of the consultation. The results of all the feedback will also be used to guide the development of the Cambridge Reserve Enhancement Project.

The Cambridge Reserve Enhancement Project (the Project) proposes to transform Cambridge Reserve (currently classified as a passive open reserve) into improved public open space, with a portion proposed to be rezoned for residential development and aged care purposes. We currently have two concepts for the community to consider and vote on.

Public open space delivers a combination of social, economic and environmental benefits to the community. Public open space provides open and accessible social spaces for group activities ranging from ‘active’ activities such as organised sports, family picnics and barbecues, a place for children to play, and passive activities such as bushwalking and walking with pets.

Traditionally, aged resident housing has been separated from community, however there is a high demand for aged housing. There is an opportunity to reconnect the elderly with the community, and transform the Reserve into a place for the young and the elderly to come together, and to move the City towards a more inclusive community.

All funding from the development of sections of the reserve will be directly invested back into the Reserve and surrounding open space facilities.

The City of Kalamunda went out to the community in early 2018, asking for their vision, thoughts and ideas for Cambridge Reserve. We collated the information we received from the community and used it to develop the original Concept Design for Cambridge Reserve. 

The original plan has since been revised as key environmental considerations were flagged with the 2018 Concept Plan. Development of the revised Concept Design is now complete and we are seeking your feedback.

A copy of both of the Concept Design can be found online at engage.kalamunda.wa.gov.au. A hard copy can be obtained by contacting the City of Kalamunda’s Planning Team on 9257 9999 or enquiries@kalamunda.wa.gov.au.

The Concept Design has been developed to incorporate community feedback.

The key difference between the two plans (Concept Plan A, and Concept Plan B) is the size of the proposed aged care facility. In Concept Plan A the aged care facility takes up the entire 1.5Ha space. In Concept Plan B the aged care facility takes up 1Ha, allowing for an optional road connecting through to Mallow Way, and some additional housing lots.

Key features of both plans include:

·  Activity hub/playground (with provision for amenities such as half basketball court, barbeque area, etc.)

·  Stormwater catchment improvements

·  Fenced bushland

·  Shade structure/seating nodes

·  Board walk/wetland

·  Living stream – realigned drain

·  Open managed parkland

·  Fenced dog park

·  Pedestrian path network

·  Bush re-vegetation

·  Managed bushland

·  Potential parking areas

·  Development areas (residential, over 55’s and aged care)

The upgrades will be funded through the sale of sections of the reserve. These sections have been proposed for residential and aged care development. All funding from the development will be directly invested in the reserve itself and surrounding reserves / facilities in the locality.

The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage administrative policy allows local governments to transfer their reservations to alternative land uses and purchase the land from the Crown in free hold for 5% of the land value. 

Transfer process criteria:

• Proposal does not reduce POS below 10%
• Clear benefit to community
• Community consultation
• Capital works improvements to the site and surrounds

Funds from selling the land will go directly into landscaping improvements onsite and if there is any excess it will likely be put in a fund for another community purpose in Forrestfield.  

The key difference between the two plans is the size of the proposed aged care facility. In Concept Plan A the aged care facility takes up the entire 1.5Ha space. In Concept Plan B the aged care facility takes up 1Ha, allowing for an option road connecting through to Mallow Way, and some additional housing lots.

The City of Kalamunda is encouraging residents to provide feedback.

Online:  engage.kalamunda.wa.gov.au

Hard copies are available from City Administration (2 Railway Road, Kalamunda), and at any of our City libraries and recreation centres.

Alternative to the survey, written submissions can be submitted:

By Post:   City of Kalamunda, PO Box 42, Kalamunda WA 6926
 In Person:   2 Railway Road, Kalamunda WA 6076

By Email:   enquiries@kalamunda.wa.gov.au

The public comment period closes on 9 November 2020.