Advocacy Priorities 2025 - 2026

Each year the Council to select priorities projects that we advocate for to State and Federal government to secure funds or support to deliver.

It is important to consider how the Town engages with not only government but also with the community to understand what they need from us. The Town’s Advocacy Strategy reflects honest, sincere, and thorough community engagement at a local level. This in turn will impact on how we are perceived by the State Government and local MPs.

The Town follows a three-tiered  approach to advocating for priority projects:

Building community support locally

Building State Government buy-in

Engagement with the Federal Government

The Town collaborates with local Ministers, bureaucracy, grant providers and business.

Our Elected Members act as advocates on behalf of these projects and act as partners with administration to achieve our advocacy and grant goals.  

Project 

What we are advocating for

Support to reduce rough sleeping and homelessness

The Town is seeking strategic support from the State Government to address critical community challenges and deliver meaningful outcomes for residents. This includes reducing the incidence of rough sleeping in Town parks and facilities through coordinated outreach and intervention, increasing police presence during peak summer periods to enhance public safety, and expanding State-led programs that support individuals experiencing homelessness.

These initiatives aim to foster safer, more inclusive public spaces, improve access to essential services, and strengthen partnerships between local and State agencies to address complex social issues.

Burswood Station Precinct

The Town is advocating for the redevelopment of Burswood Station as a critical component of the broader Burswood Peninsula transformation.

This initiative aligns with the METRONET program and supports the Town’s vision for a transit-oriented, mixed-use precinct that meets the needs of a growing population. The redevelopment will improve pedestrian connectivity, enhance transport efficiency, and stimulate private investment in the area.

It also complements the Town’s public realm upgrades in Burswood Station East, which aim to create inclusive, accessible, and vibrant community spaces.

Higgin Park and Playfield Reserve
 

The Higgins Park and Playfield Reserve Masterplan presents a strategic opportunity to revitalise one of the Town’s most significant public open spaces. Spanning eight hectares, the site is a key formal sporting and recreational precinct serving a growing population.

The masterplan, endorsed by Council in December 2020, outlines a staged approach to infrastructure upgrades, including redevelopment of clubroom facilities and improved lighting, accessibility, and amenity.

Funding is now sought to implement the remaining stages of the masterplan, ensuring the precinct meets future community needs and supports active recreation, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability.

Opposition to the Burswood Motorplex 

The Town is calling for the reconsideration of the Motor Racing Circuit component of the proposed Perth Entertainment and Sporting Precinct (PESP).

While the Town supports the broader vision of the precinct and its alignment with the Burswood Park Master Plan, it has formally opposed the inclusion of a motorsport street circuit due to concerns about environmental impact, community amenity, and alignment with long-term planning objectives.

The Town seeks to work collaboratively with the State Government to ensure the precinct delivers public value without compromising the integrity of Burswood Park.

Kent Street Sand Pit 

The Kent Street Sandpit Restoration Project presents a unique opportunity to transform a remediated former landfill site into a culturally and ecologically significant community asset.

Located within the Jirdarup Bushland Precinct, the site will be restored to Banksia Woodland, enhancing biodiversity and supporting endangered species such as the Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo.

The project also includes cultural restoration elements, such as yarning spaces and educational nodes to share Aboriginal stories, universal access ramps, bird waterers, and a formalised car park.

This initiative aligns with the Town’s Urban Forest Strategy and Strategic Community Plan, and will provide a valuable passive recreation space for residents and visitors while strengthening connections to Country and community.

Rutland Ave Bike Path 

The Rutland Avenue Shared Path project represents the final link in the Principal Shared Path (PSP) network connecting the Town of Victoria Park to the Perth CBD and Armadale corridor.

The Town is advocating for additional State Government funding to retain a bi-directional roadway alongside a grade-separated cycling path, rather than converting the corridor to one-way.

This approach will preserve valuable verge space, improve pedestrian and cyclist safety, and support regional commuting.

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