Community Connect South campaign wins commendation

The successful joint Community Connect South (CCS) campaign between the Cities of Cockburn and Armadale earned a commendation at the 2015 National Growth Areas Alliance (NGAA) Awards.

The Cities earned the prize for ‘Collaboration on building or financing of infrastructure’ for their road funding campaign prior to the Canning by-election in September 2015, which resulted in Federal and State Governments committing $145 million towards funding the widening of Armadale Road.

City of Cockburn Mayor Logan Howlett JP said the long standing record of collaboration and professional partnership between Armadale and Cockburn was a key component of the CCS campaign’s success.

“Outer growth councils across Australia continue to experience high population growth and increased business activity without the necessary infrastructure being provided resulting in issues such as traffic congestion,” Mayor Howlett said.

“We can and must do better at all levels of government, and the successful Community Connect South campaign shows how to achieve increased awareness and gain vital infrastructure funding through collaboration.

“The campaign struck a chord with local residents, community groups and businesses, who embraced the initiative in force, with more than 20,000 emails sent to both State and Federal Members of Parliament and by-election candidates.”

Armadale Mayor Henry Zelones OAM JP said the commendation highlighted the innovative approach used in the CCS campaign and believed it was a model that could be readily adopted by other councils.

“We recognised that a strategic, regional partnership approach to this dual project would achieve superior outcomes, compared to an isolated campaign by the two Cities,” he said.

“We combined resources to maintain strong and effective relationships with the community, businesses and political networks for greater advocacy, information dissemination and action in a relatively short time frame.

“What eventuated was a highly visible engagement campaign that galvanised local residents, community groups and businesses and was ultimately successful.”

The Australian Government has committed $116 million, along with $29 million from the State, for the full duplication of Armadale Road (Anstey Rd to Tapper Dr).

A future Federal Labor Government has also committed $145 million to the project, including funding to construct a bridge and freeway interchange at North Lake Road to link it with Armadale Road.

Both Mayors acknowledge that the job was still only half done, with an estimated $160 million needed to link North Lake Road with Armadale Road via a bridge and freeway interchange.

“Without this, the congestion between Armadale and Cockburn will not be solved,” Mayor Howlett said. “As we head towards a Federal election in 2016-17, the campaign will continue to ensure this second piece of vital infrastructure is on the Government agenda.”