FAQs

For this strategy, the public realm includes land that is publicly owned or managed by the State or Local Government with specific focus on:

• streets
• verges
• reserves
• and natural public assets

The purpose of this workshop is To gather local insight that will help shape the preparation of a Public Realm Strategy and identify enhancements to the public tree canopy, landscaping, shade provision and other improvements within road reserves and publicly managed spaces.

The workshop will include:

• A short presentation on the purpose of the Strategy and the specific precincts that will be investigated.
• Brief discussion on cost-benefit and delivery constraints.
• Interactive discussion stations for each precinct
• Time for questions and suggestions

It is informal, collaborative, and designed to encourage conversation so that the City can hear and take on the community’s concerns and ideas.

No. The Public Realm Strategy does not assess or propose changes to private land, individual development sites, or future built form on privately owned lots.
 Its scope is strictly limited to:

• Road reserves and verges
• State owned public landholdings
• Local public landholdings and reserves managed by the City, including parks and the Canning River interface

This ensures the strategy focuses on areas that serve the whole community and can be planned holistically.

Examples of what can be explored:

• Tree canopy along verges and key pedestrian corridors
• Street landscaping in underutilised road reserve areas
• Street lighting improvements
• Improved pedestrian linkages within road reserves
• Irrigation planning for public green infrastructure
• Protection of public view corridors to the hills
• Enhancements around the train station on public land only
• Public art locations
• Increasing verge planting widths within local road reserves.

Examples of what cannot be explored:

• Private building design or heights
• Landscaping inside private lots and private car parking areas
• Land use changes on privately owned land
• Specific development or subdivision outcomes
  

Kelmscott experiences notable urban heat impacts, influenced by extensive bitumen within public road reserves and older commercial areas where large expanses of car parks are located close to street edges, increasing heat absorption and reducing shade. 

Recent METRONET works, including the lowering of Denny Avenue, also resulted in the removal of many established trees along Albany Highway and other road networks, further reducing canopy cover in the public realm.

Increasing tree canopy and connected shade corridors will help improve pedestrian comfort, enhance local character and visual quality, support urban ecology, and reduce ambient temperatures, making streets and public spaces more pleasant to walk through and spend time in.

Yes. Public art opportunities may be explored, including potential murals where appropriate and subject to future phase investigation.

All community members, local business owners, students, and anyone who lives, works, or visits Kelmscott.

No prior preparation is required. If you wish, you may bring photos, notes, or examples of places in Kelmscott you would like improved (e.g., streets needing more shade, improving pedestrian access)

Your input will:

• Help prioritise greening, shade, and pedestrian corridors
• Influence design opportunities along key streets
• Inform improvements to public spaces
• Highlight local constraints that must be considered in future planning

Not final decisions. This session helps inform future design phases. Outcomes will be reviewed and incorporated into the Kelmscott District Centre Public Realm Strategy and presented to Council for review.

Next steps include:

1. Collating community feedback
2. Refining strategy content and maps (e.g., reserve lines, vegetation, corridors, POIs)
3. Using information gathered to help inform the final draft Strategy.
4. Presenting the draft Strategy to Council for consent to advertise.
5. The Draft Strategy will be advertised for  public comment
6. Comments from the public will be collated and any changes required will be presented to Council for their final adoption of the Strategy.
7. Cost-benefit and delivery constraints will be prepared based on the final adopted Strategy ready for the City to begin to prioritise what gets delivered.