Mends Street place activation

Place Laboratory consultants have been appointed by the City of South Perth, following a tender process to provide urban design and landscape services for stage one of the Mends Street Connect South project. 

Connect South is $7.5 million major project to enhance and invigorate the Mends Street precinct and foreshore area. The project has grown from the South Perth Foreshore Strategy and Management Plan which identified Node 1: Mends Street as a key area to redevelop.

The first stage of the project focuses on Mends Street between Mill Point Road and the foreshore along with parts of the South Perth Esplanade. It will deliver a piazza on the foreshore as well as streetscape and amenity improvements, landscaping upgrades and place activation activities.

The City will also be engaging a consultant to assist retailers in the precinct with activation and stimulation initiatives during the project construction period currently happening in the Mends Street area. The City plans to have the engagement in place in the next six weeks.

“City officers and place activation consultants will work with businesses to develop activation strategies, activities and events for the area with the aim of encouraging more people to the area,” City of South Perth Mayor Sue Doherty said.

“Engagement of our community and stakeholders is a key component of this $7.5 million major project. The commercial and retail traders and property owners within the Mends Street precinct are important stakeholders and valued partners of the City. 

“City representatives have been meeting regularly with the Mends Street Traders group and are working with them on a number of initiatives to support their businesses through this period of transition.

“The City has and will soon be installing additional promotional signage in the precinct to remind shoppers that Mends Street is still open for business and encourage visitation during the construction and transition phase.”

In addition to the City’s ‘First Hour Free’ parking trial on South Perth Esplanade, the City has and is implementing measures to manage parking in the area.

New permanent wayfinding signage will soon be installed to assist visitors to locate the free short-stay parking in the area, including the one-hour free parking available in the South Shore Shopping Centre undercover car park. A dynamic sign showing the number of available parking bays at South Shore will be installed as part of the wayfinding project. 

“The introduction of wayfinding signage is vital to ensure visitors and shoppers are aware of the where parking is available,” Mayor Doherty said.

Council has also approved three new short-term parking bays on Mends Street in place of a previous loading bay.

In addition, the City has introduced parking for construction and contractor workers on Melville Parade, which will reduce the load that these vehicles have been adding to available parking in the precinct.