Latest News

You may notice some activity at the Glen Iris Estate site this week.

Our environmental consultants from Emerge Associates will be visiting to continue surveying and tagging trees and plants as part of their ongoing flora and fauna studies.

On Wednesday, 10th February, our Project Team members will be inspecting the lakes and ducks at the site in conjunction with a representative from Native Arc, who we have invited to help us monitor the waterbird population.

Tree loppers will be working across the site from 7.30am on Thursday 11th February, removing fallen branches and inspecting trees that residents have asked us to investigate from a safety perspective.

ATCO will be continuing its onsite works throughout the week for the gas main installation as part of the Metronet Thornlie-Cockburn Link.

As most Glen Iris residents will be aware, ATCO has been working along Hartwell Parade in recent weeks as part of the works associated with METRONET’s Thornlie-Cockburn Link.

This afternoon (Tuesday 2nd February) they will commence works along the easement alignment between Hartwell Parade and Dean Road, within Eastcourt’s land holding.

Acumen has advised ATCO that residents have raised concerns about dust potentially generated by on-site works, and as a result ATCO is increasing its dust management activities, as well as actively monitoring fire risks.

If residents have any concerns in relation to these works they can contact ATCO customer enquiries on 13 13 56.

The project has recently completed its latest routine and scheduled inspection of the entire lands at Glen Iris with City of Cockburn and we have been advised by the City’s Fire Management team that we remain fully compliant with the Firebreak Variation Approval issued by the City to Eastcourt in December 2020. Next inspection is planned for mid-February 2021.

Work is underway this week to clean out the dry mud from the bottom of the former lake on the corner of Dean Road and Twin Waters Pass.

This is in response to reports from nearby residents of odour emanating from the mud when it was getting wet from rainfall in November. Following those reports, we arranged for the material to be tested by environmental consultants. That testing showed it to be organic material with no measurable contaminants, allowing the material to be safely removed.

A single bobcat will scrape the dry mud from the former lake, and it will be taken by a small truck to be stockpiled on-site away from any existing homes.

We will also be removing the liner from the lake so it does not hold stormwater again next winter.

This work is expected to be completed by the end of this week (Friday 15th January 2021).

Jandakot residents will find the latest Glen Iris Estate Community Newsletter in their letterbox this week. It provides an update on various aspects of the project and an overview of the Precinct Reference Group process. It also outlines the next steps in our community engagement program. Copies of the newsletter can be downloaded here.

On Site Activity

ATCO has now completed its surveying and potholing at the Glen Iris Estate project site in the vicinity of Dean Rd and Hartwell Parade, and markers have been installed for the next phase of their works. Contractors for ATCO are expected to be back on site in mid-January 2021 to commence installing the new gas main when the required pipe boring machine becomes available. The works are part of the Metronet Thornlie-Cockburn Link.

The Glen Iris Estate Project Team’s surveyors have also been active on site and still have some boundary mapping to finalise over the coming weeks. This includes aerial surveying which is conducted by drone under a licence issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Our maintenance contractors will be on-site in the lead-up to Christmas, tidying areas and removing fallen tree limbs. This work is also part of our bushfire management plan approved by the City of Cockburn and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services.

Some regular maintenance work will continue over the Christmas/New Year period as well as our general security patrols. Our environmental consultants will also continue monitoring wildlife and the lakes on site.

Environmental Management

You may have wondered why the irrigation system at the Glen Iris Estate project site was dismantled once the golf course closed. Not only were the pumps and pipes in a state of disrepair and requiring significant capital upgrades, but the groundwater licence allowing 325 million litres of groundwater to be extracted annually could no longer be justified once the golf course was no longer operating. This means we are saving the equivalent of 130 Olympic swimming pools of water every year, making it the right overall environmental decision.

With some of the artificial lakes at the project site now empty, we are aware of an odour emanating from the dried mud with recent rain. Our contractor is waiting on soil analysis results before confirming the best way to deal with the dried mud once removed from the lakes. We apologise to any residents who are impacted by the odour and will commence the removal process as soon as possible, starting with the lake beds at Dean Road and Twin Waters Pass and the Dean Road entry.

We have kept the City of Cockburn updated on the situation regarding site management and maintenance.

The Project Team wish all Glen Iris residents a safe and happy holiday season.

We will continue to provide updates via the Have Your Say website in the New Year.

City of Cockburn and DFES officers inspected the former Glen Iris golf course site with Project team members on Wednesday 4^th November 2020 to confirm that the bushfire management works had been completed to standards that meet the requirements of City of Cockburn and DFES. The site was deemed to be compliant with the requirements of the firebreak variation notice.

Regular inspections by City Officers have been scheduled throughout Summer 2020/21.

Glen Iris Project Team Community Update

If you’ve noticed some survey and pre-construction activity recently around Glen Iris Estate project site, you may be interested to know that the works are part of the new Metronet Thornlie-Cockburn Link.

ATCO Gas Australia is preparing to carry out gas mainline construction around the Glen Iris community as part of a service relocation to make way for what will be Perth’s first east-west cross line rail connection.

The ATCO works will include the installation of a new gas mainline from Dean Road across to Hartwell Parade, before extending under the freeway and connecting to an existing main in South Lake.

Connecting the Mandurah and Armadale/Thornlie train lines, the new east-west link is designed to bring a higher level of public transport service to Perth’s southern suburbs.

People living and working in the area can look forward to direct access to employment, sporting and recreation opportunities at Canning Vale, Cannington Strategic Metropolitan Centre, Burswood Peninsula and the eastern Central Business District.

The early works and detailed design for the Metronet Thornlie-Cockburn Link have been completed and the main construction phase is now underway, with the first trains on the new line expected to run in 2023.

ATCO is expected to commence the installation of a new pipeline along Jandakot Road from Warton Road to the rail corridor west of Kwinana Freeway through Jandakot and South Lake in November 2020. For more information about the works ATCO are undertaking, please visit their website https://www.atco.com/en-au/projects/thornlie-cockburn-link-project.html.

Any enquiries in relation to this community update or any other general enquiries please contact the Community Manager, Louise Richardson via email louise@glenirisestate.com.au or by phone on 6115 6365

Scrap metal, old tools and bits of timber from the former Glen Iris Golf Course are all set to get a new lease on life thanks to the Cockburn Community Men’s Shed.

Skilled at repurposing, recycling, restoring and re-using, a group of Men’s Shed volunteers have collected a wide variety of materials and equipment from the old maintenance shed at the site.

Donated by the Glen Iris Estate project team, their haul includes a welding machine, engine crane, drop-saw, grinders, wooden rake handles and steel frames.

The 85 members of the Cockburn Community Men’s Shed will use the materials and equipment across a variety of projects and hobbies, from creating furniture, ‘junk art’ and wacky inventions, to making swings and seating for community-based initiatives.

Scott Cavanagh, from Cockburn Community Men’s Shed, said the group was delighted to have been invited to take its pick from such a large and varied selection of items.

“The wooden rake handles, for example, will likely be used in children’s swings, while the steel poles could well be turned into table legs,” Mr Cavanagh said.

“Having an extra welding machine means more members will be able to learn metalworking skills.”

There are more than 1,000 Men’s Sheds registered with the Australian Men’s Shed Association, giving men, especially those who are retired or semi-retired, a sense of purpose and self-esteem, and encouraging improved physical health and mental wellbeing.

Jarrod Rendell, Principal of Acumen Development Solutions, said the Glen Iris Estate project team was pleased to have been able to donate the tools and materials to such a worthwhile cause.

“We have no doubt that what seems like a random collection of metal, machinery, tools and timber will be put to very good use,” Mr Rendell said.

The Cockburn Community Men’s Shed has even found a home in the Wheatbelt for a 17-year-old, engine-less tractor that had been languishing in the maintenance shed.

The broken-down vehicle is set to be brought back to life by a Cuballing Men’s Shed member who restores old tractors.

Reference Group Workshop # 2 Summary

The second meeting of the Glen Iris Reference Group was held on Wednesday 21st October.

Three new members joined the group, following our call out to residents after the first workshop in September. This brings the total membership to 29 residents.

The second workshop provided the opportunity for community members to have more in depth discussions around the five key topics that were identified during the first workshop in September. Specialist consultants from the Project Team including traffic engineers, an urban designer, a town planner, a landscape architect, an environmental scientist, and civil engineers were in attendance.

The workshop has provided the Project Team with a range of ideas and possible solutions to consider as part of the overall planning of the future Glen Iris Estate. A summary of the workshop outcomes can be found here.

Reference Group Workshop # 3

At Workshop #3 in November, community members will be working with the consultants to develop high level concept planning for the proposed new development, focussing on the ideas and solutions they started to explore in Workshop #2.

The outcome of this session will be three concept plans (because we will be working in three break out groups to make it possible for everyone to have their say), which the consultant team will then further refine in time for Workshop #4 in early 2021.

Clarification of ‘confidentiality’ clause in Reference Group code of conduct

We have had feedback from two community members (one of whom is on the Reference Group) that there is a perception that the confidentiality clause in the Reference Group code of conduct prohibits members from sharing information from the sessions with their friends and neighbours.

While this clause is standard in State Government Reference Groups, it is clear that in this particular situation it has caused confusion.

We have clarified the intent of the clause with those two community members (both via email and verbally at the most recent reference group session), and we are sharing the text of that email below to clarify this situation once and for all:

“The Code of Conduct is more to do with respecting individual’s privacy (eg if a community member shares specific details relating to their property or personal situation); it doesn’t mean that members can’t share information about the discussions relating to the project. We are more than happy – indeed we would encourage - members to share information about the project and topic discussions from the workshops with their friends and neighbours.”

The full Terms of Reference and Code of Conduct can be found here.

Site maintenance

The tree loppers have now finished their latest round of works on site, removing overhanging limbs and generally making safe and/or removing trees that were identified as a risk to adjoining properties.

In line with our seasonal fire management plan which has been arranged with the City of Cockburn, mowing of the entire site is now complete. Under the plan, all grass and weeds will be maintained to 50mm, from the start of November to mid-April. Outside of the designated bushfire season, we will continue to manage grass and weeds within 20m of adjoining residents' property boundaries.

The new fence on Dean Road is now in place, and the old, damaged fencing along Prinsep Road has been repaired.

Site Investigations

In the coming weeks there will be a number of Project Team consultants on site undertaking a range of tasks as we start to build the foundation of work and investigations to prepare the specialist reports and studies to support the future planning applications for the future Glen Iris Estate.

ATCO Gas Works - METRONET Project

Construction work for the installation of a new gas main (part of the Thornlie-Cockburn Link - a METRONET project) is expected to begin this month (November). The new gas main runs from Dean Road across the former golf course to Hartwell Parade. More information about the Thornlie-Cockburn Link can be found at the METRONET project page here.

Glen Iris Project Team Community Update

It has been a busy few weeks for the Glen Iris Estate project team - here's a quick update of what's been happening.

First Reference Group workshop held

Thank you to those Glen Iris community members who nominated for our Precinct Reference Groups. We held our first meeting on Wednesday, 23rd September 2020. A summary of the meeting will be uploaded to HaveYourSayGlenIrisEstate.com.au by 9th October 2020.

We originally intended to have three Precinct Reference Groups, each with around 20 members - one for the southern area of the project, one for the central area, and one for the northern area – but only received 26 nominations.

Due to the low level of interest, we currently have just one Reference Group, rather than the three proposed.

However - it's not too late to nominate!

Feedback from participants at the first workshop was that it was helpful and informative. Some expressed disappointment that we had not received a higher degree of interest and asked if we would consider setting up a second group if we had sufficient numbers.

This is still an option. If you would like to nominate, please read the Terms of Reference and complete the Nomination Form and email it to Louise Richardson at louise@glenirisestate.com.au by 12th October 2020.

Site maintenance

Residents may have noticed tree loppers on-site in the past weeks. The tree loppers are making safe trees that are either at risk of dropping large branches onto adjacent properties or are diseased and need to be removed.

Much of this work has been done at the request of residents concerned about large trees overhanging their boundary fences.

Our seasonal fire management plan has been submitted to the City of Cockburn. It will include the mowing of all grass and weeds to an average height of 50mm.

This will be maintained annually from the start of November to mid-April. Outside of the designated bushfire season, we will continue to manage grass and weeds within 20m of adjoining residents' property boundaries.

Our contractors will commence this year's seasonal fire management works in the coming weeks and will have this completed before the end of October 2020.

A new fence will be installed along the front of the former lake on Dean Road to tidy up and make safe that area. The footpath will remain open and accessible after this new fence is installed. New fencing will also be installed along the boundary on Prinsep Road to replace the old, damaged sections in that area.

On-site activity

The project team held its first project meeting with all the appointed consultants on-site in late September.

These specialist consultants - including hydrologists, environmental scientists, landscape architects, surveyors, and engineers - will be on-site at different times over the coming months undertaking investigations for future reports.

That's a quick update for now - if you have any questions or feedback for the project team, please contact our Community Relations Manager Louise Richardson at louise@glenirisestate.com.au or on 6115 6365.