The Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) has approved the development plans of the Westfield Booragoon Shopping Centre, allowing the City of Melville to deliver a new cultural precinct with it.
The development approval will allow the City of Melville to continue its plans to invest in the community’s cultural vitality through the Cultural Heart Project, which will result in a new library and cultural centre in the Melville City Centre.
The Melville City Centre includes Westfield Booragoon, the City’s Civic Centre and the surrounding area bordered by Riseley, Almondbury, Marmion and Davy Streets in Booragoon, which will grow into a mixed-use centre with opportunities for people to visit, live and work in.
City of Melville Mayor, George Gear, said the Western Australian Planning Commission’s approval for the Westfield Booragoon Shopping Centre plans was a great outcome for the City.
“The expansion of the Westfield Booragoon Shopping Centre will allow us to deliver our bold vision of a future Melville City Centre, which will see the current Civic Square Library transformed into an exciting and vibrant Cultural Precinct with a new library and cultural centre,” said Mayor Gear.
“We look forward to continuing to work with Scentre Group following the development approval to ensure the future Melville City Centre will be a place for the community to enjoy and celebrate with friends and family, and connect with our diverse and vibrant community.
“Council approved a Land Exchange Agreement between the City and Scentre Group in February 2022, which makes way for the creation of a proposed High Street, along with the proposed new library and cultural centre.
“The City is currently working with Architects Christou Design Group on a revised Concept Design to be included in an updated Business Case for Council.
“Once the updated Business Case is approved, there will be further community consultation in the development of the detailed design to ensure the facility meets our community’s needs
“We are planning to open a temporary library in the foyer of our Civic Centre during the construction of the proposed new library and cultural centre.
“This will include a boutique collection of books, magazines, newspapers and audio, along with returns and checkout facilities, some reading and study spaces, public computers and WiFi.
“We recently began a $1.1million refurbishment of the Melville Main Hall, which will enable high-quality productions and events at the venue, and aligns with our vision to create a Melville City Centre that is a vibrant cultural hub.”
The investment in the shopping centre will provide encouragement for a range of commercial, retail, community and residential uses on surrounding land, adding to the attraction and range of community services at the centre.
Council plans to build a new library and cultural centre as a part of its the Cultural Heart Project and will result in exceptional learning and creative spaces for City residents and the wider community of Perth to come and enjoy, experience and learn in.
The Cultural Heart Project will deliver a new centre that will build on connections with existing libraries, galleries, museums and performance sites across the City and will include an interactive and expanded library, gallery, museum, performance, development, and flexible creative spaces.
The bold and ambitious project will increase Melville’s cultural capacity and identity, providing improved access for all to the latest resources, and new ways to interact with and discover the breadth of our arts programming, events and experiences.
The City’s Cultural Infrastructure Strategy, which was endorsed by Council in November 2022 following input from the community, recommends the new library and cultural space in the Melville City Centre include flexible spaces for artmaking, performance and general community use.
The City has been developing the Cultural Heart concept after it was identified in the Culture Plan – Creative Melville 2018-2022 which was informed by a unique community consultation event – 2017 MERGE Festival – which over 16,000 people experienced.
Following the WAPC’s decision on the Westfield Booragoon Shopping Centre expansion, the City will continue work with Scentre Group to make the City’s vision for the future Melville City Centre a reality.
