State Government funding boost for Dordaak Kepap

Mayor Linda Aitken said the funding from the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries would help ensure residents of the City’s southern suburbs had access to a variety of valuable services.

“Over the last year we’ve seen attendance at City libraries rise by nearly 40,000 visits, as well as a 53 per cent increase in program attendance and a 63 per cent increase in total loans,” she said.

“There’s a clear demand for these services in the City, and this state-of-the-art facility is now on track to offer everything from classic library elements, seniors activities and early childhood offerings, to youth innovation elements including STEAM programs and podcasting facilities.”

The City has also received a $3 million funding contribution under the State Government’s WA Recovery Plan to enable the delivery of the youth innovation hub.

Member for Landsdale, Margaret Quirk MLA, said she was excited the facility would provide a variety of activities for young people in the growing Landsdale area.

“I am delighted that this exciting project, dear to my heart, is finally progressing,” she said.

“On behalf of the Landsdale community, I’d like to share my gratitude with the City of Wanneroo administration and Councillors for enthusiastically supporting this important community asset.”

The funding boost coincided with the approval of a construction tender for the project at the City’s May Council meeting.

Council accepted a tender from Wangara-based Swan Group for the construction of the facility, which will feature a library with function and meeting rooms, and youth innovation spaces including a gaming room, demonstration kitchen, recording booth and studio.

The detailed design for Dordaak Kepap was completed in late-2023, with the concept artwork receiving a positive response from the local community.

“We’ve appointed local Aboriginal artist and consultancy, Peter Farmer Designs, to provide an artwork for the project and offer artistic input into the paperbark tree aesthetic on the external cladding to the facility,” Mayor Aitken said.

“The artwork will align with the Noongar name for the facility, Dordaak Kepap, meaning place of living waters, which reflects the location of the site overlooking Broadview Park.”

Construction of the facility will commence in the coming months, with completion scheduled for mid-2025.

To find out more about Dordaak Kepap, visit wanneroo.wa.gov.au