FAQ
- development
weed invasion
uncontrolled access
clearing and habitat fragmentation
erosion (e.g. from boat wash, uncontrolled access, clearing)
infrastructure failure (e.g. river walling).
Concept design for the landscape elements of the site
Detailed design for the river edge treatments at McCallum Park/Taylor Reserve.
Enhance the natural resources across McCallum Park/Taylor Reserve, both for long-term ecological sustainability and optimum community access and utilisation
Detail means to mitigate or minimise threatening processes to the foreshore
Detail recreation and leisure resources and provide for public use of the area where appropriate, while maintaining and enhancing natural ecosystem processes
Develop interpretational amenities consistent with the values of the area.
stakeholder workshops x2
general community workshop
adjacent resident and ratepayer stakeholder workshop
internal working group consultation
Elected Member Briefing Sessions
online engagement
advertisements in the Southern Gazette, and on the Town website, Facebook and Twitter
letter drop to adjacent residents and ratepayers
submission process.
the creation of beach areas
repair or replacement of river walls where erosion has caused damage to the bank and existing infrastructure
incorporating fringing vegetation including dense sedge plantings where possible in front of walling
continuity with upstream (Burswood) and downstream (South Perth) foreshores. Recently developed foreshore stabilisation concepts for Burswood are intended to be shared.
- Ask a question and we will respond
- Reading the information in the document library or FAQ
- Register to attend the information session
What is happening at McCallum Park and Taylor Reserve? Why is this area being redeveloped?
The Swan-Canning River system passes through the Town of Victoria Park. Several stretches of associated foreshore that occur within the Town include McCallum Park/Taylor Reserve, Belmont Park, Burswood Park and Balbuk Way. The Town’s connection to the river by land places a special need on management of water quality, vegetation, fauna and physical access to the foreshore, to enhance community benefit.
However, there are a number of threatening processes to this foreshore. These are:
In order to address these threatening processes, the need for a holistic management plan for the foreshore that is encompassed within the Town was recognised and the Foreshore Access and Management Plan was developed in 2015. The plan provides a framework to take a coordinated and consistent management approach to the long-term ecological sustainability and optimisation of access and utilisation for the community.
Working in accordance with the Foreshore Access and Management Plan, the Town is now progressing the next stage, which is focused on the design of Taylor Reserve and McCallum Park. This first stage comprises two components:
Whilst McCallum Park/Taylor Reserve is highly valued and utilised as a fitness, activity and event destination/location, the site has been highly modified over the last 60 years with little if any remnant vegetation remaining. There is a failing river wall that runs along its length, limiting access to the water and presenting a potential safety risk to reserve users.
The objectives of the Taylor Reserve and McCallum Park design are:
How was the design concept plan advertised for public comment?
1. An engagement process began in 2014/15 for the development of the overarching Foreshore Access and Management Plan and continued in 2016/17 for the development of the McCallum Park and Taylor Reserve design. It involved:
2. Review of consultation feedback.
3. Subsequent modifications made to the draft plans as a result of the content analysis from the consultation periods.
For further details of the overall consultation, visit the document library
Who makes the decision on the concept plan?
The Town of Victoria Park Council has the ultimate decision regarding the design. Feedback from the community will be provided to the Council to assist them with making their decisions.
What is the design process and timelines?
Please refer to the document library at for details of the development process and the milestone schedule.
What kinds of upgrades/improvements are being considered?
The intent of the concept plan is to address the following:
1. Greatly increase the environmental amenity of the site by providing suitable shade tree species along the foreshore, in line with a broader Swan River strategy. Reduce underutilised turf areas and replace with lower maintenance and more visually appealing low growing native plant species.
Integrate nodes of local native understorey vegetation, as appropriate, beneath established overstorey (such as in the south-western corner of McCallum Park and the north-eastern corner of Taylor Park) to rationalise the existing green space and provide a habitat for native fauna. Plantings of suitable larger shade canopy trees to provide sheltered areas from the wind and sun in more exposed areas along the foreshore, near pathways.
2. Achieving a balance between offering large areas of turf for events and recreation activities, and the reduction of underutilised areas of turf must be sought. Additionally, recreation and sporting facilities have been placed in an ad-hoc manner across the site over time, leading to an inefficient use of space and a confusing layout for users.
3. Upgrade of high demand recreation and activity facilities in a more consolidated and well-positioned area with appropriate amounts of supporting infrastructure (toilets, drink fountains etc.) that considers passive surveillance and also viewpoints from the river back to the CBD.
4. Develop a clear way finding and access network across the site, with consideration given to the needs of both pedestrians and cyclists. For consistency, this is with a view to integrating with the City of South Perth foreshore access network.
In regards to the foreshore treatments at McCallum Park and Taylor Reserve, the intent of the concept plan and detailed design is to address accessing the river’s edge for recreation. Access is currently limited due to the design of the current river wall with only one area, which is used for disabled waterskiers, offering direct access via a pontoon to the river’s edge. River edge treatment should focus on the need for river access, coupled with shoreline stabilisation and habitat creation for wildlife.
This includes:
What opportunities will I have to share my views and ideas?
Who’s paying for all of this?
The design project is a joint-funded project between the Town and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, through the Riverbank program.
What will happen to the trees at the site?
The intent is to greatly increase the environmental amenity of the site by providing suitable shade tree species along the foreshore in line with a broader Swan River strategy. It is also to reduce underutilised turf areas and replace with lower maintenance and more visually appealing low growing native plant species.
The plan is also to integrate nodes of local native understorey vegetation, as appropriate, beneath established over storey (such as in the south-western corner of McCallum Park and the north-eastern corner of Taylor Park) to rationalise the existing green space and provide a habitat for native habitat for native fauna. Suitable larger shade canopy trees will provide sheltered areas from the wind and sun in more exposed areas along the foreshore, near pathways.At the river edge, treatment will incorporate fringing vegetation including dense sedge plantings where possible in front of walling.
Where can I get more information and keep informed of progress?
Visit Your Thoughts at http://yourthoughts.victoriapark.wa.gov.au/mt-concept-plan or contact the Town Environmental Officer on 9311 8143.