Wellington Square Masterplan

City of Perth

2017 - 2018

Issues Management, Stakeholder & Community Engagement

Wellington Square is the largest area of Public Open Space within the City of Perth. The City recognised the under utilised potential of this unique space, and engaged Louise Richardson and Associates to undertake community and stakeholder engagement to inform the development of a Masterplan for the park.

The Challenge

Wellington Square had a history of anti social behaviour which impacted negatively on local residents and businesses
It was important that the Master Plan for Wellington Square:
- Was not perceived as a ‘silver bullet’ for solving the complex social issues that contributed to the anti-social behaviour
- Did not exclude any group from the consultation process or future use of Wellington Square, particularly given the long association that Aboriginal people have with the location
- Acknowledged the very real impacts that the anti social behaviour was having on local residents and businesses

The Method

Louise Richardson was the lead consultant working with the City of Perth on the community and stakeholder engagement that informed the development of the Wellington Square Masterplan. This process included:

Developing and implementing a Community and Stakeholder Engagement Strategy, including extensive stakeholder mapping and analysis, and risk assessment and mitigation strategies
Establishing and facilitating a Community Reference Group (CRG)
Developing the format for and facilitating Stakeholder Workshops with State Government agencies and other key stakeholders
Developing content for and maintaining the Wellington Square project page on EngagePerth (Bang the Table consultation platform)
Developing an online survey and collating survey findings
Delivering a summary report of engagement activities, key themes and feedback

The following steps were taken to mitigate some of the risks associated with this project, and to address some of the challenges outlined above:

A fully inclusive Community Reference Group (CRG) that included residents, business owners and elders from the Whadjuk Working Group – this provided an opportunity for everyone to share their experiences and connections with Wellington Square in a safe and moderated space
Strong Terms of Reference and a Code of Conduct that were agreed by all CRG members at the first session – these were applied as necessary through robust facilitation of discussions; Louise Richardson used her experience to allow discussions to escalate up to a safe point, and then be diffused
While it was important that the redevelopment of Wellington Square was not seen as a ‘silver bullet’ that would resolve issues such as anti social behaviour, it was considered important to educate the community about the role that good urban design and planning can play in creating safer spaces
There was recognition that Wellington Square was an important gathering space for Aboriginal people – both historically and currently – and this connection was actively celebrated in the planning and design, with two significant pieces of public art and a Reflection Space acknowledging the experience of Stolen Generations

The Outcome

The City of Perth council endorsed the Moort-ak Waadiny / Wellington Square Masterplan in 2018.

Moort-ak Waadiny / Wellington Square’s $17.5 million upgrade has transformed the park into a hub for residents, visitors, families and friends to meet, celebrate, adventure and explore that reflects the key themes and priorities identified by the community and stakeholders during the consultation.

The star attraction is a 3000m2 intergenerational playground Koolangka Koolangka Waabiny, one of the biggest playgrounds in greater Perth.The theme for the community playground is ‘Landscape of Play’ and the design is influenced by Aboriginal themes and Western Australian iconic landforms.

Moort-ak Waadiny / Wellington Square represents cultural and spiritual significance, linking the past and the present, where Whadjuk Nyoongar people met, raised families, hunted and performed ceremonies. It also includes a place of reflection in the north-west corner to commemorate the Stolen Generations. Both the park and playground have received dual names in recognition of Moort-ak Waadiny / Wellington Square’s significance to many members of the Aboriginal community, and out of respect for the Traditional Owners and custodians of the land.

With 350 new trees and 60 per cent canopy cover, the park also features expansive shade and greenery., as well as an off-leash dog park, new footpaths and shaded picnic areas for relaxation. New lighting and CCTV also ensures the safety of the park into the evening.

“The community consultation undertaken throughout this project has been some of the most thorough in the City’s history,” City of Perth Chair Commissioner Eric Lumsden.