Published on Friday, 14 June 2019 at 4:43:30 PM
We will officially open North Perth Common on 15 June with the lighting centrepiece turned on at a free event for the local community.
“It has been two years in the making, so it is really exciting to welcome everyone to the opening of the North Perth Common to experience it for themselves and to see the circular artwork light up.”
“The location and key elements of North Perth Common were chosen by our local community. We asked: where should we create this heart of North Perth? And what do you want to see in this space? Our community asked for the Common to be on View Street, for to be lit up at night, to be a shady place to sit and meet, a fun space for events with public art and a focus on people not cars,” said Mayor Cole.
“The striking circular artwork created by artist Stephen Pennock, along with a growing tree canopy, helps define the space as people-friendly and as a landmark for North Perth.”
Parliamentary Secretary John Carey MLA will represent the State Government which contributed $250,000 towards the cost of the $741,000 project.
“North Perth Common is about enhancing Fitzgerald Street as a town centre, providing a public space and central focus for community events, markets or any idea that local businesses and residents want to develop,” he said.
'We need to be constantly looking at how we can make our retail and cafe strips more pedestrian friendly, to attract more people, encourage foot traffic to support small business and foster a sense of local community."
The opening event will include Elder Doolann-Leisha Eatts and Sam Kickett who will conduct the Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony, free children’s activities from Cirquest and Boxville, Pop Up Play Parkour, John Carey MLA’s Lego Stall, live art, a local band and food vendors.
Art is central to the theme of the opening event. The circular lighting will project images into the event space, as well as providing lighting to the event. Artist Matthew Wong will create a live art painting to the backs of the bench seats during the event. Students from North Perth Primary School will also be acknowledged for their contribution of 70 tiles of local flora and fauna created by year 6 students and are featured in retaining walls.
The design for North Perth Common was developed by Emerge Associates with help from the North Perth Common Working Group which included Mayor Emma Cole, Councillor Josh Topelberg, John Carey MLA, Ida Smithwick (North Perth Local), Andrew Ryan (North Perth Local) and Munira Mackay (City’s Design Review Panel). BOS Civil was the lead contractor for the construction of the project.
Construction started in late January and finished in late May. The final touch was connecting power to the circular lighting which finished last week.
“Our aim with North Perth Common was to create a new heart for the North Perth town centre - a meeting place that is iconic, flexible, inclusive and fun. I hope this opening event is the first of many in our newest public open space” said Mayor Cole.
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