In a bold move the City of Bayswater is seeking locals with expertise in the areas of built form and the natural environment to collaborate with them on the development of an Environment and Liveability Framework that will guide the City’s actions over the next 25 years.
The idea for an Environment and Liveability Framework stemmed from Council’s desire to become more strategic in projects delivered under its key commitment areas of ‘natural environment’ and ‘built environment’.
Mayor Dan Bull believes the new framework will set a clear direction for the City.
“We can no longer think of buildings and streetscapes as distinct from our green spaces. There is a real need for us to merge our thinking in these areas and look for innovative ways to approach projects over a longer period.
“We already have some runs on the board with the award winning Russell Street Park project which saw an inaccessible drainage site, located in the heart of the Morley City Centre, transformed into a recreational space for the whole community.
“The development of a robust framework that maps out our actions for the next 25 years is a logical next step. It will also ensure we are best placed to advocate for funding from other levels of government.
“Once complete, the framework will assist us in embedding the principles of sustainability into everything we do. It will enable us to focus our resources on areas of greatest impact and tackle big issues such as climate change at a local level.
“We are inviting local experts to assist in its development by nominating themselves as ‘expert writers’ and selecting one or more of the themes to write about. The 12 themes cover everything climate change adaption to sustainable building design, and groundwater.
“We recognise the wealth of knowledge we have on our doorstep, with a number of technical experts living right here in Bayswater.
“From the City’s perspective we get to tap into a wealth of technical knowledge from individuals who have a vested interest in the success of the project. For professionals who give up their time to assist in writing the framework, it presents a unique opportunity to shape the future of the City’s built form and natural environment. It’s a win-win situation.
Mayor Dan Bull is confident the experience will be a rewarding one.
“I encourage professionals with a connection to the City to come forward and actively contribute to making our community a greener more sustainable one.
“We are offering individuals a seat at the table; participants will have the opportunity to guide the development of the City’s Environment and Liveability Framework.
“I am hopeful this project will culminate in the development of a Framework that is owned by the community.
“As part of its commitment to innovation, the City is partnering with Curtin University on the project to ensure new approaches are investigated.
Expressions of interest are open until 10 January. To find out more about the scope of the project, selection criteria, timeframes or to download a nomination form, visit Engage Bayswater.
“In developing the Environment and Liveability Framework the City is keen to protect the environment and enhance the liveability of our City into the future.