CockburnCoast - Western Australian Planning Commission

CockburnCoast
4.2 What is the
Cockburn coast
urban renaissance?
The urban renaissance of the Cockburn coast is driven by the desire
to transform an area once populated by industry to a world-class
residential and recreational precinct. The challenge is to return a
forgotten industrial coastal strip back to the community.
People are searching for communities that provide alternative
transportation options, greater street and pedestrian connectivity,
schools, public places that bring people together, a mix of
architecture and a choice of activities. Cockburn coast is that place.
The response demands creativity - embracing the Cockburn coast's
sense of place, and engaging the Indian Ocean; ensuring
connectivity, built form innovation, sustainability and public spaces
are at the forefront of design criteria, to give rise to a diverse new
community.
4.3 The challenges
Understanding the wisdom of Indigenous knowledge and practice
An important component of the creative plan is making people look at the landscape in a completely different way.
Respecting and appreciating Nyoongar experiences and knowledge of the land and seascapes will play a significant role in
defining the Cockburn coast's past, present and future.
From the draft North Coogee foreshore management plan:
“The customs and knowledge of local Aboriginal people can provide an insight into their way of life and play an
important role in the broader education on non-Aboriginal people. Ways of assisting this through the implementation
of this strategy include recognition of contemporary Aboriginal cultural and social values through interpretive facilities
and projects, protection of important vegetation and use of species with food and medicinal values, such as
quandongs, in revegetation projects, involvement of the local Aboriginal community in coastal planning and relevant
projects and providing employment opportunities in works programs where possible.”
“At North Coogee, there is potential for a ground-level viewing platform with some interpretation of the Aboriginal
links to the site at a central location to the beach, provided that the issues related to cliff safety are resolved. The
theme of the interpretation could be based on Aboriginal families meeting on the beaches, often in large groups, to
camp and fish during summer.”
A bright future
The old power station acts as a beacon for the Cockburn coast, linking people to the past. Yet it could offer a bold new
outlook on the future. Taking the idea of a beacon a step further is the idea of creating a lighting design plan to illuminate
the old building and inspire a renewed appreciation of this important coastal landmark.
Going green
Planning neighbourhoods that have zero net greenhouse gas emissions.
The key challenges identified at the project's inception were
comprehensive.
4.3.1 Uncertainty
One of the first issues confronted by the project team was the
unease landowners and local residents felt regarding the future
redevelopment of the Cockburn coast. While there was recognition
of the need for major change, the community response was initially
cautious. This caution was driven by a number of key issues,
outlined below:
• Prior to the Vision for the Cockburn coast dialogue
(May 2005), a succession of planning exercises had
encouraged the development of strategies for the
renewal of the Cockburn coast. For a number of reasons,
the vision or plans never gelled, were lost in arguments, or
simply lacked the capacity to convince people to take
action.
• On the back of South Beach and Port Coogee residential
developments, the Cockburn coast has recently been the
subject of land change speculation. Property speculators,
in anticipation of residential rezoning, began purchasing
industrial land. This has given rise to diverse expectations
among landowners; and
• Lack of confidence that the Government would commit the
resources towards turning the vision into a reality.
district structure plan
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