Make your own fun these school holidays

The school holidays are here, and Joondalup Libraries have plenty of free activities to keep all family members entertained.

Make your own fun these school holidays at Joondalup Libraries where you can:

  • Take part in the treasure hunt. Available at all four branches
  • Catch up on the latest magazines online in Libby Magazines or BorrowBox
  • Listen to a great audio book in BorrowBox, Hoopa or Libby
  • Have a family board games morning at the library
  • Have a family jigsaw session at the library
  • Learn a new skill for work or as a hobby with Universal Class
  • Meet a group of friends for a chat and catchup in the library
  • Start your own book club using our book club kits
  • Catch up on the latest books with one of our quick reads.
Not yet a member?
You can take out a digital membership online for immediate access to all of our digital resources, or pop into one of our branches with your ID to take out a full membership.

It’s Biodiversity Month

Biodiversity Month banner

September is National Biodiversity Month, which is an annual celebration of the natural environment and the life it provides Biodiversity Month is about encouraging the protection, conservation and growth of biodiversity worldwide.

The City is celebrating Biodiversity Month by running events and promotions to encourage the growth and preservation of biodiversity.

National Threatened Species Day is also held on 7 September each year celebrating our threatened species, such as the Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo, priority Quenda and near-threatened Southwestern snake-necked turtle.

What is biodiversity?

Biodiversity encompasses all living things on our planet and the vast ecosystems that make up our Earth. This includes all animals, plants, fungi, micro-organisms, minerals and even water. Humans, like all animals, depend on biodiversity, and without it, we would not be able to survive.

Biodiversity Month raises awareness of some of the threats to biodiversity, which include:

  • invasive species, such as plants, animals and diseases
  • ecosystem modification caused by land clearing, global warming, natural disasters, fire management and pollution
  • human population growth.

Australia is a group of only one of 17 ‘megadiverse’ countries. The megadiverse countries cover less than 10 per cent of the world’s area but have more than 70 per cent of its biodiversity.

Many of our plants, animals and places are unique and can’t be found anywhere else in the world. We are lucky to live in such a special place, and it’s important we protect and conserve our unique biodiversity.

Celebrate Biodiversity Month

The City is running multiple events throughout the next few months to celebrate the City’s biodiversity.

Jarrah Trail Self-Guided Walk Official Launch

Jarrah Trail self-guided walk official launch
Sunday 25 August 2024, 1pm-3pm

Bring your curiosity, sense of adventure, and smartphone to this wonderful opportunity to walk through the beautiful Warwick Bushland. The Jarrah Trail self-guided walk combines education with creativity, culture, history and natural wonders.

Book online

Discovery Session – Sustainable Pest Management
Monday 16 September 2024, 6pm-7.30pm

Invertebrates such as insects and spiders are vital for healthy ecosystems. Come along to our workshop to hear entomologist and urban ecologist Dr Lizzy Lowe, alongside David Piggott from Systems Pest Management WA, talk about the important jobs that invertebrates do in our gardens and how we can tell pests from a pal.

Book online

Discovery Outbound - Photo Walk

Discovery Outbound – Herdsman Lake photography walk
Friday 20 September, 9.15am-1.30pm

City of Joondalup Libraries’ Discovery Outbound program offers a wide range of activities and excursions for adults aged 50 and older that are active, creative, educational and entertaining.

Join photographer Michael Pelusey on a walk around Herdsman Lake, snapping photos of birdlife, scenery and flora. 

Book online

Morning birdwalk at Neil Hawkins Park
Saturday 21 September, 2024 8am-10am

Join Brendan Kinsella from Birdlife WA on a guided walk around Neil Hawkins Park. Learn to spot different bird species, how to conserve the local ecosystem and how community members can get involved in protecting wildlife. Includes refreshments and a Q and A, as part of the City’s Biodiversity Month celebrations.

Book online

Jack Bromell Art trail walking tour
Sunday 22 September 2024, 10am – 11.30am

Join us on a guided walk through Western Australia artist Jack Brommell’s mural trail that features some of the unique and biodiverse species that call the City home. This interactive experience will take you on a journey through Central Park Bushland, where you can also view the native wildflowers and wildlife on display during Djilba.

Book online

Discovery Session - Birds and Backyard Biodiversity

Discovery session – Birds and backyard biodiversity
Saturday 19 October 2024, 10am-11.30am

Join the brilliant Brendan from Birdlife WA for an im-peckable workshop about supporting birds and biodiversity in your own backyard. You will learn how to attract birds to your garden, how to tell pest parrot from native birds, and how you can help threatened and endangered species.

Book online

September school holiday program

Saturday 21 September-Sunday 6 October 2024

The fun doesn’t stop there! The City is running an extensive school holiday program full of fun celebrating all things nature and biodiversity. Events include a Spider Safari, Plant Prints, Native Wildlife Encounters and Aquatic Animals. Book online via Ticketbooth from Monday 9 September 2024.

How can we improve biodiversity?

Plant native species

Go native in your garden. Native plants support native wildlife, providing them with habitat by creating a food source and home. Native gardens can also provide stepping stones for local wildlife to safely move between green spaces and create habitat corridors in the urban environment.

Stay updated about our upcoming Native Plant Giveaway 2025 by subscribing to the City’s Sustainability eNewsletter.

Visit the Growing local native plants page to access native gardening resources.

Help increase our tree canopy

Native trees (whether living or dead) support biodiversity by providing habitats, such as hollows, for wildlife, providing a food source, and cooling temperatures around our homes. You can apply by filling out the City’s online application form to plant a street tree on your verge for free.

Weed them out

Weeds and common garden escapees can cause havoc on our natural environment, impacting food sources for wildlife and some non-native species can even be poisonous to native species and our waterways. When gardening, aim to plant natives and make sure you remove weeds responsibly.

Join a Friends Group

Friends Groups protect, enhance and improve biodiversity across the City’s natural areas. By joining your local Friends Group, you can participate in large-scale conservation projects and events that will make a huge difference in your local area.

Find out more about how you can get involved by visiting our Friends groups page.

 

Explore the Joondalup City Centre

Getting around town

Joondalup has a great public transport system. You can hop on the free City Centre CAT bus to explore stops including Joondalup Library, Lakeside Joondalup, and Joondalup Station, where you can easily connect to Greater Perth on buses and trains.

Eats and drinks

Check out the Uptown Directory for local cafes, restaurants and bars.

Entertainment

Head down towards Lakeside Joondalup for shopping, Hoyts Cinema and Timezone. Catch some live music and entertainment and local bars.

Joondalup Library

Savour a takeaway coffee and browse the Joondalup Library, use public office facilities, attend workshops and events. Temporary membership is available if you’re from out of town.

Arts and Culture

From workshops and exhibitions to concerts and major festivals, there’s lots to see and do! See what’s coming up on the Event Calendar and sign up for the Arts in Focus eNews.

Central Park

Discover Central Park, an oasis in the heart of the City Centre, featuring a beautiful waterway, natural bushland, trees, sculptures, grassed areas, park benches and toilets.

Neil Hawkins Park

Escape the hustle and bustle with a leisurely stroll or picnic by Lake Joondalup in Yellagonga Regional Park. Amenities include BBQ facilities, toilets and playground. Don’t miss the free Lake Joondalup Parkrun every Saturday morning at 8am.

Discovery Outbound events for spring

Get out and about this spring with Joondalup Libraries’ Discovery Outbound program for adults aged 50 and older. We have planned some exciting events for spring, with ticket sales now open for all events.
Outings for this spring include:
  • Zoo Visit
  • Photo Walk
  • Gold Tour
  • Aviation Museum
  • Morning Melodies
  • Puppet Workshop
Ticket prices vary and include the bus ride and activity. Discounts apply for eligible City of Joondalup concession card holders. Book and pay online.

Four best-selling author events this spring

Joondalup Libraries is excited to present four best-selling authors this spring as part of the Meet the Author series, sponsored by Dymocks Joondalup.

Tess Woods, Tim Winton, Chris Hammer and Christian White will all visit Joondalup Libraries over September-October promoting their latest books.

Tess Woods
Monday 2 September 2024, 6pm
St Stephen’s School Theatre, Duncraig
Cost: $12

Tess will launch her new book The Venice Hotel and will be available to sign books. More information and booking details via Ticketbooth.

Tim Winton
Saturday 12 October 2024, 6pm
St Stephen’s School Theatre, Duncraig
Cost: $15 entry or $55 entry ticket including book

Tim is promoting his new book Juice and will be available to sign books. More information and booking details via Ticketbooth.

Chris Hammer and Christian White
Monday 14 October 2024, 6pm
St Stephen’s School Theatre, Duncraig
Cost: $15

Chris is promoting his new book The Valley, and Christian is promoting his new book The Ledge. Both will be available to sign books. More information and booking details via Ticketbooth.

Speed awareness and education campaign – What’s your speed?

Whether we ride a bike, scooter, e-scooter or drive a car, the impact of speeding affects us all.

To raise awareness around the potential impacts of speeding, we have been successful in receiving grant funding from the Australian Government’s Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communcations and the Arts. We encourage everyone to participate by making a pledge to drive to the speed limit or the conditions of the road, stick to 40km/h or less around schools, and ride at a slower speed on the footpath if there are a lot of pedestrians. It is a small change that can make all the difference in ensuring yours and others safety on our footpaths and roads. There are two components to our campaign:

  • Raising awareness around speeding by recognising the impacts that speeding can have on the safety of primary and high schools.
  • Purchasing ten solar speed devices. The first phase will have signs placed at ten locations for six months and then relocated to new locations for three months.

The ten locations for the solar speed devices that have been identified as part of stage one of the Speed Awareness Campaign are:

  • Fairway Circle, Connolly
  • Beltana Road, Craigie
  • Edgewater Drive, Edgewater
  • Caridean Street, Heathridge
  • Flinders Avenue, Hillarys
  • Delgado Parade, Iluka
  • Dampier Avenue, Kallaroo
  • Gibson Avenue, Padbury
  • Woodvale Drive, Woodvale

These locations have been identified based on traffic data results with higher than desirable speeds and/or are located near a school. Signs will start appearing during the month of October. For any further information, please contact the Transport Engineering team.

From Rhyme Time to Study Time

Our libraries mean different things to different people, and through our new Social Stories initiative, we will share the many ways our members access, use and benefit from our services.

From Rhyme Time to Study Time 

Bella and her sister Kate are long time members of Woodvale Library and are familiar faces to the library staff. This is not surprising, considering they have been regular visitors to the library since they attended Rhyme Time!

The sisters enjoy their regular visits to Woodvale Library. Over the years their use of the library has changed, but both are still avid readers.

Bella enjoys books with lots of detail, where she can imagine she is part of the story. Her favourite fiction genres are fantasy, crime, romance and humour. Kate also enjoys fantasy and crime fiction, Young Adult titles and non-fiction, especially history books. “I grew up reading Nancy Drew and Friday Barnes, and now read Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie. My interests have changed, and every trip to the library, I browse the shelves and look for something new.”

Both girls have special memories associated with Woodvale Library. “We’ve been using Woodvale Library for as long as I can remember, and it holds lots of good memories for us,” said Bella. “Now we also use the library as a quiet place to study, where we have access to everything we need.”

We love hearing how our patrons use the libraries and how their use evolves over time. If you would like to share your story, you can submit it online.

Turtle Tracker Program 2024/25

Attention all turtle lovers – our native turtles need your help! 

Many of the City’s wetlands, including Lake Joondalup, are home to Southwestern snake-necked turtles (Yaakan). These turtles are under threat from predators such as foxes and ravens, vehicle strikes, lack of nesting habitat and drying climate. 

To help save the turtles, the City of Wanneroo, City of Joondalup and DBCA have joined the Saving Our Snake-Necked Turtle (SOSNT) project, led by Murdoch University and South West Metropolitan Alliance.  

As a part of this project, a dedicated group of Turtle Tracker volunteers patrol Lake Joondalup over the nesting season (September-November) and provide protection to any turtles on the move as well as protecting the nests.  

This year, we need more volunteers to build our Turtle Tracker team to protect even more turtles and nests. 

Come along to this information and training session to find out more about local turtles and what you can do to help. After the turtle information talk, you will have the opportunity to be trained to join our dedicated Turtle Tracker team to help save turtles at Lake Joondalup. 

Visit the City’s webpage for more details about snake-necked turtles.

Save our snake-necked turtle information night
Tuesday 20 August 2024, 6pm
Banksia Room, Civic Centre, 23 Dundebar Road, Wanneroo
Free event. Registration required

Register online

   

Visual Arts Commission

'Joondakammer: a cabinet of curiosity for Joondalup' (detail) by Perdita Phillips, winner of the 2022-2024 Visual Arts Commission.
Pictured: ‘Joondakammer: A cabinet of curiosity for Joondalup’ (detail) by Perdita Phillips, winner of the 2022-2024 Visual Arts Commission.

Every two years, the City of Joondalup commissions a Western Australian artist to create a new artwork for the City’s growing collection. With a generous commission fee of $20,000, the selected artist will create an artwork that reflects the uniqueness of Joondalup, capturing its social, urban, cultural or natural attributes through research and community engagement. 

The Visual Arts Commission is one part of the City’s broader Visual Arts Program that aims to strengthen the shared cultural identity of Joondalup, preserve and celebrate our heritage, and bolster our region’s vibrant arts economy. 

Applications for the 2024 Visual Arts Commission have now closed. Thank you to everyone who applied.

All artists will be notified of the selection outcome in December 2024.

Pictured: Previous Visual Arts Commission artworks, ‘Meeting Points’ (2012) by Tony Windberg, ‘Koraar Woolagut Koorling, Yey Kwodjungut Koorling’ (2013) by Lindsay Harris, ‘Place of Glistening’ (2019) by Nien Schwarz, ‘Mute Figure #11 (the tide to the stars and back again)’ (2021) by Paul Kaptein, ‘Doondalup’ (2021) by Christopher Pease, ‘Joondakammer: A cabinet of curiosity for Joondalup’ (2024) by Perdita Phillips.

Key dates

  • Applications open: Monday 29 July 2024, 12pm
  • Applications close: Monday 9 September 2024, 12pm
  • All artists notified of selection outcome: December 2024
  • Selected artist concept response due: June 2025
  • Artwork completion date: May 2026

Who can apply?

This commission is open to Western Australian professional visual artists working across all mediums. Regional artists are encouraged to apply and, if accepted, will be eligible for a Regional Artists Bursary provided by the City to cover travel, accommodation, and other related expenses. If applicable, further details will be discussed with the selected artist. 

Find out more

For enquiries and help please contact the City’s Curator on 9400 4951 or at visualarts@joondalup.wa.gov.au.

To stay up to date on the Visual Arts Commission and other Joondalup arts initiatives, sign up for our Arts in Focus eNewsletter.

Libraries social stories – Chris loves the space to just be

Joondalup Libraries mean different things to different people. The new Social Stories initiative will share the many ways members access, use and benefit from the services.

Chris is a long-term library member, first visiting Woodvale Library in 2005. She visits the libraries at least once a month, and frequents all four branches, although she does spend more time at Joondalup.

When she visits the library, Chris enjoys listening to eBooks while she knits. She loves the space available in each of the libraries to sit and just be. A comfy chair and a good story sound like the perfect combination!

A crime buff, Chris’ favourite genre is crime fiction, especially anything set in the United Kingdom. Some of her top authors include J D Kirk, Joy Ellis, Dervla McTiernan, Helen H Durrant, Chris Hammer, Candice Fox, Wilbur Smith, Jeffrey Archer and Michael Rowbotham. Chris hopes to come along and meet Michael Rowbotham and Chris Hammer when they visit the libraries in the coming weeks and months.

Chris has been a member of the Joondalup Library knitting club for nine years. “We meet on the fourth Saturday of the month and knit items for several charities while enjoying each other’s company. I was also a member of the Photography Club for two years, where I visited some new places and learned how to take great photos on my phone.”

Chris has also aquired a few new skills through Discovery Sessions and courses. “Some of the recent events I have attended include discovery sessions on dehydrating food and making bone broth. I have also enjoyed a few Meet the Author events and computer related sessions.”

“I enjoy many things about Joondalup Libraries, but the thing I appreciate the most is the helpful, friendly and supportive staff. I love the relaxed atmosphere at the libraries. It is a place where you can just sit and read, or knit, or whatever you enjoy, and listen to the kids having fun. It is very special,” she said.

School holidays HOYTS Gift Card giveaway

Joondalup Libraries are all about free fun, and to celebrate the start of the school holidays, we’re giving away two $100 Hoyts gift cards to help keep you entertained over the break!

How to enter:
📲 Head to the Joondalup Libraries Facebook or Instagram page
👍🏻 Like the competition post
📚 Leave a comment with the name of your favourite book that has been made into a movie or a book you would like to see made into a movie 🎬

One gift card is available on Facebook, and one on Instagram.

Entries close on Wednesday 10 July, 1.59pm, with the winner announced on the Libraries’ social media pages on Thursday 11 July.

The winner will be randomly selected and tickets must be collected from the Joondalup Library. The gift card cannot be exchanged for cash.

Find below, full Terms and Conditions.

‘Little school in the bush’ thrives on funding

In 2023, Marmion Primary School applied for the City’s Community Funding Program to transform its grassed school entrance into a welcoming, biodiverse, and waterwise garden. It is now almost a year later, and the garden is thriving. The City’s Community Funding Program supports schools and community groups in conducting projects that can have a huge impact on not only the community but also the environment.

Dave (left) and Tash (right) at the Marmion Primary School Planting Busy Bee

Marmion Primary School has been taking care of its surrounding bushland for over 60 years. The school’s teachings are inspired by the remnant and rehabilitated bushland that surrounds it. The school recognises the importance of a sense of belonging and responsibility, so much so that its school tagline is ‘the little school in the bush!’.

“We do our best to care for this gift on behalf of our community, and actively plant, weed and educate our students about the bushland’s value,” says Tash Bowman, a P&C member of Marmion Primary School.

When Tash saw the opportunity to apply for the City’s Community Funding Program to complete a project that would benefit their school community, she attended a Funding information session and, alongside the school P&C, started planning the garden transformation project. The funding program provided them with the perfect opportunity to say goodbye to their unloved grass, weed, roses and agapanthus-filled school entrance and turn it into a beautiful native garden that acts as an extension of the school’s bushland and showcases beautiful local native flora species.

Creating resilient, sustainable and connected Communities

The Community Funding Program provides financial support to incorporated community groups to conduct projects, programs, events, or activities that benefit the City of Joondalup. The program offers two levels of funding: large grants (greater than $10,000) offered annually and small grants ($10,000 and lower) offered twice a year.

Funding is available for projects that strengthen community participation, encourage connected communities, promote healthy and active lifestyles, and build resilient and sustainable communities.

Projects like Marmion Primary School’s native garden not only build more resilient and sustainable communities by providing for biodiversity, cooling our streets, increasing tree canopy, and increasing habitat for native animals but also promote getting outdoors and encourage community participation and connections. This project has made an outstanding, lasting contribution to the school and its students, and the benefits will only continue to grow as the garden matures.

Busy bees at work building Marmion Primary School’s native garden

Planting Busy Bee for the native bees

The creation of the Marmion Primary School native garden was undertaken by a fantastic group of volunteers from the community. Many of the volunteers were from school families, who all attended the planting day, which they called the ‘Planting Busy Bee.’ The Planting Busy Bee took place in August 2023, once the school were informed of the success of their funding application. The planting of all 200 native plants and the installation of mulch was achieved all in one day.

Marmion Primary School’s native garden was all thanks to the amazing volunteers who put it all together

The Community Funding Program paid for the removal of the lawn, mulch spreading and all the native tubestock plants suitable for the school’s soil type. It also paid for trees, rocks, and logs, as well as planting consumables for the day. Species that were planted included cottonhead, Grevillea, Kangaroo paws, Banksia species, and Emu Bush and Acacia species. Trees such as Firewood Banksia, Coastal Blackbutt and Silver Princess were also planted. The City’s Growing Locals brochures, soil map and City staff assisted Marmion Primary School in choosing their plant species, ensuring they were suitable for the surrounding vegetation community within the native bushland.

Signage about native flora and fauna displayed throughout the Planting Busy Bee

The Planting Busy Bee event was also the first official event for the Friends of Marmion Primary School Bushland. This group does amazing work supporting the school with its responsibilities of taking care of the important bushland. You can learn about the City’s Friends Groups and join them by visiting our Friends Group webpage.

Enviro experts leading the change

Marmion Primary School have a group of native garden specialists within their school community who were able to contribute their wealth of knowledge to the project preparation, and on the day during the Planting Busy Bee.

Dr Lizzy Lowe from Edith Cowan University is a parent at the school who is an entomologist and loves all things spiders. She was able to provide advice and answer questions about providing habitat for native animals and insects in the garden.

Phil Moore is their resident ‘bug man’ and a grandparent at the school who regularly brings cool insects into the classrooms for educational lessons.

Melanie Davies is a local plant expert and was the recipient of the Waterwise Verge Garden of the Year Award (2023), so she has a wealth of knowledge about designing and transforming gardens into native wildlife havens.

Tash Bowman is a P&C member and a self-taught enthusiast of locally native plants. Jack Whitcombe is a landscaper, an expert retic man, and a chief motivator for the project.

The little school in the bush has some amazing experts behind them. From left to right, Tash, Melanie, Phil, Lizzy and Jack

A thriving community garden

One year on from applying for the Community Funding Program, Marmion Primary School’s front garden is absolutely thriving. Due to using local plants native to their area, they had very few plant losses, and everything has grown quickly despite the hot year so far.

Between the school bushland and the new front garden, the school have an abundance of bird, lizard and insect life who call it their home. The garden also creates a linkage for wildlife between the bushland areas, so many wildlife are seen making their way in between the bushland areas. Tash said it’s a special and exciting day when a Quenda is spotted hanging out in the school backyard.

Since the garden is part of an active thoroughfare into the school, many weeding fairies will visit and pluck out any weeds as soon as they sprout. Teachers even take their classes out on a semi-regular basis to enjoy the garden and conduct weeding during their Wellness time.

The garden is an ongoing effort and is used as an educational opportunity not only for students but also for parents and teachers. Since the rain has now come, the school’s annual Bushland Planting Program has commenced, and each classroom learns how to plant a native tube stock seedling into the bushland. The P&C amazingly funded the planting of an additional 275 natives for their bushland area this year.

“The kids love this interaction with nature, and they get to learn about the importance of protecting habitat at the same time,” says Tash.

One year on – Marmion Primary School’s entrance, funded by the City’s Community Funding Program, is looking spectacular.

Marmion Primary School is a little school in the bush that has made a huge impact on its local community by planting a wonderful native garden for everyone to enjoy for years to come. The City’s Community Funding Program made this project possible.

Community Funding Program

The next round of funding applications opens on Monday 5 August 2024 and closes on Friday 30 August 2024. If you are a community group that has a project in mind that will support and benefit the City of Joondalup community, we encourage you to attend upcoming information sessions. For more information, please visit the Community Funding webpage.

Complete the Comic Competition

To celebrate the 50th Birthday of the Duncraig Library, the City of Joondalup Libraries are running a creative competition for kids throughout July.

Sean E Avery – Duncraig local and award winning author-illustrator – created a special promotional image featuring all the elements that makes Duncraig Library unique, including Max the Library whale. The enormous blue whale is suspended above the kids’ section at the Duncraig Library – have you seen it?

The Comic Competition begins with an image of Max the Whale waking up one morning and deciding what to do that day. Children from Kindy to Year 6 are encouraged to use their imagination to complete the story of Max’s day with drawings of their own. The child with the most creative comic in each age category will win a signed copy of one of Sean’s books and a customised Max the Whale puzzle.

Get involved

  • Pick up a competition entry from your local Library or download the PDF.
  • Drop off your completed comic at your local Library. Competition closes on Wednesday 31 July, 6pm. Don’t forget to include your name, phone/email, and your year at school
  • Winners will be notified by phone or email on Wednesday 14 August.

For more information please call the City on 9400 4751.

NAIDOC Celebrations

NAIDOC CELEBRATIONS. JULY 2024. Keep the fire burning! Blak, loud & proud

Kaya! Wandjoo! Get ready for NAIDOC 2024!

National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in July each year to honour the history, culture, language, and many achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Here at the City of Joondalup we’re extending the fun and festivities beyond a week, with a program of events running from 1 – 17 July to give as many people as possible the opportunity to learn more about the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.

Together, let’s celebrate the incredible culture and unyielding spirit of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples!

What’s on?

This July, you’re invited to connect with your community through a program of special events that celebrate Aboriginal culture, held all across the City. Learn Noongar, watch movies, learn a new craft, meet an Aussie icon, and way more fun stuff!

Check out the program below and start booking your activities.

Ernie Dingo sitting on the red dirt

A Yarn with Ernie Dingo

Saturday 6 July 2024, 7.30pm – 8.30pm
St Stephen’s School Theatre, Duncraig

Get to know one of Australia’s most loved personalities in this special event for Joondalup audiences!

Renowned for his laid-back style and earthy honesty, Ernie Dingo has been a fixture of Australian TV since the ‘80s, with roles in Crocodile Dundee 2, Bran Nu Dae and Heartland, plus sixteen years hosting The Great Outdoors.

For one night only, Ernie will share stories and anecdotes from his life and work, followed by a casual Q&A session. Don’t miss your chance to hear from this born entertainer and National Living Treasure.

  • Tickets $18 per person, or $14 with a concession card
  • Suitable for ages 15+

Book now


A young woman in a classroom

Noongar Language Classes

Monday 1 July, 8 July and 15 July 2024, 5.30pm – 6.30pm | Connolly Community Centre, Connolly
Tuesday 2 July, 9 July and 16 July 2024, 6.00pm – 7.00pm | Flinders Park Community Centre, Hillarys
Wednesday 3 July, 10 July and 17 July 2024, 6.00pm – 7.00pm | Mildenhall, Duncraig

Learn to speak Noongar – the official language spoken by Aboriginal people from WA’s southwest!

Start your Noongar language journey in a gentle-paced, engaging and inclusive environment, with lessons led by Noongar Language Teacher Tamara Tucker. All classes are designed to be relaxed and informal, with a different area covered each week. So drop in, grab a cuppa and start Noongar waangkaniny!

  • Tickets $5 per person, per class
  • Suitable for all ages and abilities
  • Pop in for just one class or one every week – the choice is yours!

All classes are now sold out.


A still from the 2023 film, The New Boy

Aboriginal Film Festival

Celebrate the many achievements of Aboriginal film-makers, actors and storytellers, with five free screenings of renowned and award-winning movies.

The New Boy 

Monday 8 July 2024, 6.30pm
HOYTS Cinema, Joondalup

A nine-year-old Aboriginal orphan boy arrives in the dead of night at a remote monastery run by a renegade nun. Rated M.

This event is now sold out.

Missed out on a ticket? You can still try your luck on the day. Any empty seats will be forfeited and reallocated 15 minutes from the event start time.

The Song Keepers

Tuesday 9 July 2024, 10.30am
HOYTS Cinema, Joondalup

Four generations of songwomen from an Aboriginal choir travel to Germany, where they sing German hymns in their native languages. Rated PG.

This event is now sold out.

Missed out on a ticket? You can still try your luck on the day. Any empty seats will be forfeited and reallocated 15 minutes from the event start time.

Firestarter – The Story of Bangarra

Wednesday 10 July 2024, 3.30pm
HOYTS Cinema, Joondalup

Celebrating Bangarra’s 30th Anniversary, Firestarter tells the story of how three young Aboriginal brothers, Stephen, David and Russell Page, turned a new dance group into a First Nations cultural powerhouse. Rated M.

This event is now sold out.

Missed out on a ticket? You can still try your luck on the day. Any empty seats will be forfeited and reallocated 15 minutes from the event start time.

Sweet Country

Thursday 11 July 2024, 6.30pm
HOYTS Cinema, Joondalup

In 1920s NT, an elderly farmhand shoots a man in self-defence and flees as a posse gathers to hunt him down in this action-packed drama. Rated MA.

This event is now sold out.

Missed out on a ticket? You can still try your luck on the day. Any empty seats will be forfeited and reallocated 15 minutes from the event start time.

Wash My Soul in the River’s Flow

Friday 12 July 2024, 10.30am
HOYTS Cinema, Joondalup

In this intimate mix of documentary and concert film, Ruby Hunter and Archie Roach share their love story through their own words and songs. Rated PG.

Book now


A little girl looking at a doll in a kangaroo skin cloak

School Holiday Activities

Children and young people will love participating in these interactive cultural immersion activities this school holidays.

Yaagan Bidi (Freshwater Turtle Tracks)

Wednesday 10 July 2024, 9.30am – 11.00am
Joondalup Library

In this fun-filled session, children will get to sing, dance, listen to stories, have their faces painted with ochre, make a take-home artwork and more!

  • Tickets $5 per child
  • Suitable for ages 3 – 7 years old

This event is now sold out.

Moorditj Koolangkas (Awesome Children)

Wednesday 10 July 2024, 11.30am – 1.00pm
Joondalup Library

This session will teach children about the Noongar seasons, native plants and bushtucker, with singing and dancing too!

  • Tickets $5 per child
    Suitable for ages 8 – 12 years old

Book now

Deadly Damper-Making

Friday 12 July 2024, 4.30pm – 5.30pm
Heathridge Community Centre

Drop into this workshop to learn how to make some delicious damper – yum!

  • Free, no registration required
  • Suitable for ages 12- 17 years old

A pair of hands weaving a basket

Creative Workshops

Sit, yarn and mindfully make a special keepsake at these two special craft workshops hosted by talented local Noongar creatives.

Keep the Fire Burning!

Thursday 11 July 2024, 6.00pm – 8.30pm
Peppermint Green, Joondalup

Join in a painting workshop with Fiona Reidy from Djinda Kaal Aboriginal Art. Using traditional and contemporary methods, create your take-home masterpiece inspired by fire and its significance to Aboriginal people throughout history.

  • Tickets $13 per person
  • Suited to adult participants
  • All materials supplied + bushtukka treats

This event is now sold out.

Weaving Evening

Saturday 13 July 2024, 6.00pm – 8.30pm
Peppermint Green, Joondalup

Learn the ancient and meditative art of basket weaving with Whadjuk artist Julianne Wade. Make a small woven basket using a traditional coiling technique, with a dilly bag of extra supplies provided so the project can be finished at home.

  • Tickets $13 per person
  • Suited to adult participants
  • All materials supplied + bushtukka treats

This event is now sold out.


A group of people planting a tree

Community Events

Gather your mob and get ready to listen, learn and laugh together with these special community events for friends and families.

NAIDOC Community Canvas

Saturday 6 July 2024, 10.00am – 1.00pm
Warwick Grove Shopping Centre

Help paint a beautiful group artwork with Noongar artist Justin Martin from Djurandi Dreaming.

  • Free event (no registration required)
  • No set schedule, drop in any time
  • Suitable for all ages

NAIDOC Week Flag-Raising Ceremony

Monday 8 July 2024, 5.00pm – 6.00pm
City of Joondalup Administration Building, 90 Boas Avenue, Joondalup

Join us as we proudly raise the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags to mark the official start of NAIDOC Week, with a powerful “Acknowledging Country Together” speech from Sharon Wood-Kenney, Chair of the City’s Reconciliation Action Plan Community Reference Group.

  • Free event (no registration required)
  • Suitable for all ages

Djoorabiny Moort (Happy Family)

Saturday 13 July 2024, 10.00am – 1.00pm
Duncraig Community Centre

Gather your loved ones and join us for a relaxed and fun-filled morning of laughing, learning and art-making, capped off with a tasty morning tea of bushtukka treats from All Good Grub.

After finding out about the distinctive symbols and shapes used in Aboriginal art you’ll use these ideas to tell the story of your own family or friendship circle, creating a meaningful canvas artwork to take home and treasure.

You’ll then learn more about the deep significance of kinship and the role of family in Noongar culture, while you use salted dough and native herbs to mindfully make special ornaments.

This special event is designed to be laid-back and inclusive for all sorts of families – the kind you’re born into and the ones that you choose. Duncraig Community Centre features an undercover playground where restless little ones can play, as well as quiet spaces where you too can take a break at any time.

  • Tickets $13 per family
  • Suitable for all ages
  • All materials and morning tea provided

Book now

Community Tree Planting Day

Sunday 14 July 2024, 1.00pm – 3.00pm
Lake Goollelal, Kingsley (corner of Tanah Close and Goollelal Drive)

Help to regenerate the area around Lake Goollelal with Friends of Yellagonga – a team of passionate volunteers who dedicate their spare time to protecting the precious ecosystem of Yellagonga Regional Park.

After a Welcome to Country and cleansing smoking ceremony, you’ll learn about the local animals and plants, plant 300 endemic trees, and then celebrate your hard work with some bushtukka treats from All Good Grub.

  • Free (Registration required)
  • Suitable for all ages
  • Check the weather, prepare for mud and dress accordingly

Book now


An artwork called 'Keep the fire burning! Black, loud and proud' by Kambarni

Our NAIDOC 2024 Artwork

This year, our NAIDOC Celebrations campaign features the striking artwork of local artist Kambarni (Kamsani Bin Salleh), a descendant of the Ballardong Noongar people of WA’s south-west region, and Nimunburr and Yawuru peoples of the Kimberley.

Kam’s artworks tell stories about his rich Aboriginal heritage and reflect the natural world through their intricate designs and bold line work. The featured artwork is inspired by this year’s NAIDOC theme – Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud.

“The flicking tails from the flames tell a tale of belonging.
Raging fires, here ignited, connected many through dance and song.

And stories that stretch beyond us, all the way back to the beginning.
Flickering across the continent and seas, embers paint members of you and I.
The first people here, still here,

carrying the torch lit by us, passed on by us, to us.
Custodians of these lands, these waters, caring for our sons and our mothers.
All those under the light of the sun or the flame.
Our Ancestors forged in this place, guided by lyrics and the natural rhythm.
Beating, our hearts continue the conversation with our creators.”
– Kambarni

You can check out more of Kam’s work on his website kambarni.com or via Instagram.


An elderly Aboriginal couple laughing together

NAIDOC Resources

For more information and news about National NAIDOC Week, head to the official NAIDOC website.

You can also download the Supporting NAIDOC Toolkit for guidance on how to hold your own NAIDOC Week celebrations in your classroom, workplace or local community group.

EasyPark

EasyPark will soon be rolled out, making paid parking smarter, faster, and more flexible in the City of Joondalup. Registration for the EasyPark App is quick and easy via easypark.com.au or download via your App store.

  • Pay for parking while sitting in your car – no need to walk to a machine.
  • Avoid infringements by setting reminders in the app and managing your parking session directly from your phone.
  • Need more time? Extend your parking using the app.
  • Need less time? Stop your parking & only pay for the time you use.

How to use EasyPark

  • Download from the App Store or Google Play Store.
  • Register your details and vehicles.
  • Once parked, open the App, confirm your location, choose the correct vehicle registration, and start your parking session!
  • Extend your parking at any time from the app, up to the maximum parking time allowed.
  • When returning to your car, open the App and end your session to ensure you only pay for the time you have used.

Frequently asked questions

When can I start paying with the EasyPark App?

Register now at easypark.com.au and be ready to go.

Where can I use EasyPark?

EasyPark can be used in all fee-payable parking areas within Joondalup City Centre, excluding the Reid Promenade Multistorey car park, as well as Ocean Reef Marina.

If the parking signage states ‘fee payable’ and/or to display a ticket you can use the EasyPark App instead of using the ticket machine.  The EasyPark App gives you a ‘virtual’ ticket rather than a physical ticket.

Can I still pay for parking with cash or card?

The City ticket machines will still be available to pay for parking.

Do I have to use the App?

No, drivers who want to use the ticket machines can do so. The EasyPark App is an additional convenience for drivers who want it.

Is there minimum time or payment amount when I use EasyPark?

No, there is no minimum payment or time with EasyPark. Start your parking session when you park, and end your parking session when you leave to only pay for the time you use.

Does parking cost more if I use the App?

EasyPark charges a service fee for users. This additional cost goes to the App provider, not the City.

Are there charges for EasyPark SMS reminders?

Yes, EasyPark charge for SMS reminders, you can opt out of this service at any time via the App.

In App push-notifications reminders are free of charge.

Who do I contact if I need assistance using the App?

Customer support is provided by EasyPark on 1300 734 070.

Do I still have to display a ticket when parking?

If you use a ticket machine you do need to display the parking ticket on your vehicle dash.

To report a ticket machine fault contact

Please note, if a machine isn’t accepting credit card payments or the coin payment slot isn’t working, payment can be made using the EasyPark App.

How will City Field Officers know I’ve paid using EasyPark if I don’t get a ticket?

If you have registered your vehicle within the App, our Field Officers will be able to use the licence plate to confirm you have paid for parking.

Do I have to move my vehicle in on-street time-restricted bays once I’ve parked for the full allowed length of time?

(what do I do once I’ve parked for 2-hours in a 2-hour space?)

Yes, once you have parked for the maximum time allowed in a bay according to the signed restrictions, you must move your vehicle to a different section of road and not return to the same section of road within 2-hour.

I received a parking infringement, and I purchased parking through EasyPark, how do I appeal my infringement?

To submit an appeal, follow the instructions on the back of the infringement notice. Appeals must be submitted in writing and can be done so online, via post or in person at the City of Joondalup Administration building, 90 Boas Avenue, Joondalup.

Can I reserve parking through the App?

No, this function on the EasyPark App is not available in City of Joondalup.

Can I apply for a permit through the App?

No, this function on the EasyPark App is not currently available in the City of Joondalup.

How does EasyPark treat my personal data?

For further information about how EasyPark processes personal data, please see the EasyPark privacy policy.

What security measures has EasyPark implemented in order to protect personal data?

EasyPark has implemented an information security management system (ISMS) in accordance with ISO 27001. Furthermore, EasyPark has recruited a Head of Information and IT Security and established internal control as part of the ISMS.

For more information and to register your vehicle, visit easypark.com.au or call 1300 734 070 today.

July school holidays at the Libraries

The Duncraig Library is turning 50 years old in July! Join us as we celebrate this milestone birthday across all the City of Joondalup Libraries. There are lots of fun and creative activities, the Birthday Treasure Hunt, and a special Complete the Comic Competition featuring Max the Duncraig Library whale.

 Bookings for the activities below open online on Monday 17 June at 9.30am. 

 Please note: 

  • Cost is $4.00 per child per activity. 
  • Bookings and online payment are essential, there will be no refunds issued. 
  • Parents/carers of children under 12 years are required by library policy to remain in the building while their children attend the event. 
  • There is a maximum of three events per child. 

Activities on offer – bookings essential 

Ocean Art and Mindfulness – FULLY BOOKED
Session One: Monday 1 July, 2.00pm – 3.00pm, Woodvale Library. Book via Ticketbooth
Session Two: Monday 8 July, 2.00pm – 3.00pm, Whitford Library. Book via Ticketbooth
Enjoy an afternoon of creativity and relaxation with Laura from Aqua Kre-Artz. Be inspired by the wonders of the ocean to design and paint your own canvas, using a variety of painting tools and experimenting with colours and textures. Within this calming and creative environment, learn about the benefits that art can have in developing positivity and self-awareness. Suitable for ages 7 – 12 years.

Campfire Story Time – Free
Tuesday 2 July, 5.00pm – 6.00pm, Joondalup Library
Pop on your Ugg boots, bring a blanket and join us for our Campfire Story Time under the library lights. Suitable for ages 2 – 5 years. Register via Ticketbooth

Comic Making with Sean E Avery – FULLY BOOKED
Wednesday 3 July 10.00am – 11.00am, Duncraig Library
Join Sean E Avery, award winning author/illustrator and Duncraig local, for a comic making workshop. In this fun hands-on session, children will learn about the processes of graphic storytelling, including character development and comic lettering, and enjoy Sean’s interactive drawing demonstrations. As part of Duncraig Library’s 50th Birthday celebrations in July, Sean created the amazing artwork featuring Max the Library whale, and designed the Complete the Comic competition which is running throughout the school holidays. As well as making their own mini comic to take home, children will also get tips on creating a story about Max the Whale for the birthday competition. Suitable for ages 7 – 10 years. Book via Ticketbooth

Ready, Set…Jigsaw!
Friday 5 July, 2.00pm – 3.30pm, Whitford Library
Are you a pro at puzzles? Put your puzzle proficiency to the test and compete in a kid’s only puzzle competition. You’ll work in teams to put together a 200-piece puzzle. First team to finish wins! Suitable for ages 8 – 12 years. Book via Ticketbooth

Birds of Prey – FULLY BOOKED
Tuesday 9 July, 10.00am – 11.00am, Woodvale Library
Get up close and personal with natures top predators! Take the opportunity to hold and feel a Wedge-tailed Eagle and Brown Falcon, while learning lots of interesting facts about these fascinating creatures. Suitable for ages 5 – 12 years. Book via Ticketbooth

Party Time! – FULLY BOOKED
Friday 12 July, 10.00am – 11.30am, Duncraig Library
Come along to celebrate Duncraig Library’s 50th birthday with a party! It will be an exciting morning filled with stories, songs, fun games, craft and more. There will be special party packs and of course, it wouldn’t be a party without birthday cakes! Suitable for ages 4 – 7 years. Book via Ticketbooth

Free activities – no bookings required

Complete the Comic Competition
Award-winning author/illustrator and Duncraig local Sean E Avery, has designed a comic competition featuring Max the Duncraig Library whale. We will be awarding awesome prizes to children from Kindy to 12 years who complete the most creative comic about Max. Pick up a competition entry form from your local Library or download the PDF here.

Treasure Hunt
Visit the Libraries any time during the school holidays and join in the special Duncraig Library Birthday-themed Treasure Hunt. You could win a Dymocks book voucher!

Story Time
Come and enjoy stories, songs and creative play at our regular story time sessions. Suitable for children 2 – 4 years. More information.

Holiday Toddler Time at Woodvale Library
Thursday 4 July, 10.00am
Thursday 11 July, 10.00am
Join in these special holiday sessions, with stories, singing, movement and active play. Suitable for children 18 – 30 months.

To keep up to date with activities in the school holidays by subscribing to the Libraries Newsletter or follow the Libraries on Facebook and Instagram.

Duncraig Library’s 50th Birthday!

1974 – 2024 – Half a Century of Literary Joy!

The month of July is all about Duncraig Library, as we celebrate its milestone 50th birthday! We are looking forward to sharing our celebrations and memories with our local community at two special events.

Duncraig Library was officially opened on 27 July 1974 by then Shire of Wanneroo Councillor Mick Nanovich MLA.  It was the second public library to be built in what was then the Shire of Wanneroo.

The Library has undergone several transformations since 1974 to meet community demand. In the mid-1980s the building was extended to almost twice its original size. A second refurbishment in 2005 saw the introduction of its iconic mascot, Max the whale, as well as the installation of an after-hours chute.

Duncraig Library is well known for the edible garden located in the forecourt. The garden was established in 2014 and provides a regular supply of herbs, fruits and vegetables for all members of the community.

A special birthday image was created by local artist, Sean E Avery, incorporating all of the elements of Duncraig Library that make it unique. The artwork features on all of the marketing for the celebration and on the cover of the Winter Events and Programs Guide.

Members of the community are invited to join us at the two community events as we celebrate this golden milestone.

50th Birthday Quiz Night – SOLD OUT
Wednesday 24 July, 6.30pm
Duncraig Library

Join us for a night of fun and nostalgia. Test your knowledge and share laughs to celebrate half a century of literary joy.  Grab your friends, form a team, and let’s make this a memorable evening filled with trivia, prizes, and library love.

Tickets $10 each. Book and pay online

Duncraig Library Open Day
Saturday 27 July, 10.00am-12.30pm
Duncraig Library

Join us for a morning of reminiscing, music, face painting, good coffee, and sweet treats as we commemorate five decades of stories, knowledge, and community connections at Duncraig Library.

No cost. No booking required.

We would also love to hear from our community, with an invitation to leave a message, memory or story for inclusion in our Memory Book. Messages can be submitted online.  Anyone who would like to share photos of the library can email them to sociallibrary@joondalup.wa.gov.au.

One of the top ten lending libraries in the state, Duncraig Library remains a popular destination for the community, offering a relaxing and friendly environment to browse, borrow, work, study, learn and play.

Fun Facts

  • Duncraig Library has loaned just over 14 million items since opening on 27 June 1974.
  • 9,289 people attended 502 programs and events held at Duncraig Library in 2023.
  • Over 100,000 people visited Duncraig Library in 2023.

Let’s Get Reading Ready!

Joondalup Libraries is pleased to announce a brand-new literacy initiative, developed to help our youngest readers on their reading journey.

Reading Ready is a borrowable resource developed to help parents of Kindy and Pre-Primary children support their child as they learn to read independently. The packs were developed in consultation with literacy experts from the Dyslexia-SPELD foundation and contain a mix of resources for parents to use to supplement their child’s learning at home, with an element of fun. The packs contain:

  • An information booklet on how children learn and how to support them as they learn
  • Four decodable books
  • A rhyming picture book
  • A phonics-based game
  • A sound matching game
  • A deck of rhyming playing cards

Ahead of launching the packs, two free parent information sessions will be held at Whitford Library to give parents and carers insight into what children need to know in order to read a word, and how to use the Reading Ready packs to support their home reading.

Wednesday 16 October, 10am
Whitford Library

Book online

This project has been supported by funding provided by the State Government of Western Australia, through the State Library’s Better Beginnings program.

A Good Yarn: Celebrating ten years of knitting and giving

This year, the Knit 1, Yarn 2 craft group celebrates its ten-year anniversary. Established in 2014 by coordinator Susan Russell, the group came together following a call for volunteers to do a yarn bombing ‘50s set for Joondalup Festival.  

At the conclusion of the festival, Susan proposed that a knitting and crocheting group be formed, and Knit 1, Yarn 2 yarn craft club was born.  

Now at a stable size of 20 members, founders Susan Russell, Margaret Brooker, Teresa Williams and Jackie Johnson are the only original members. The group is inclusive, welcoming members of all ages, genders, cultures, identities and abilities, and meets monthly at the Joondalup Library.  

As well as knitting and crocheting, the group provides social opportunities for members. Susan Russell said the members enjoy a friendly chat, sharing their knowledge and ideas. “Primarily, the group is a social one, where we can share our love of our art form,” she said.  

“We have a lovely group of kind and generous crafters who knit and chat and take an active interest in the welfare of the members and our families. I think one of the benefits is to affirm, appreciate and encourage the skill and time involved in creating beautiful items with yarn.”  

Many of the beautiful items are donated to countless charity groups. Through a partnership with the Lions Club of Wanneroo, the group make and donate children’s clothes and toys for Grandparents Rearing Grandchildren WA, blankets and dog coats for RSPCA in Malaga, Trauma Teddies for Red Cross WA, and sensory toys for Autism WA, to name just a few.  

The partnership also saw the group knit babies clothes and blankets for King Edward Memorial Hospital, Perth Children’s Hospital, and Pregnancy Assist.  

The Women and Newborn Health Services team at King Edward Memorial Hospital were extremely grateful for the beautiful clothes, so lovingly knitted for their patients. Senior social worker, Gillian, thanked the group for their kindness and generosity. “These clothes will be given to our patients who have a premature baby in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. I know our families will be very grateful to receive them.”  

The group has achieved a great deal over the past ten years, supporting each other and those in the community who need additional support. A little yarn certainly goes a long way and can help a lot of people.

 

WA Tree Festival 2024

The City of Joondalup is excited to collaborate for a second year with the City of Stirling, the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA) and other local governments for the WA Tree Festival from Saturday 6 April 2024 – Sunday 5 May 2024.

The WA Tree Festival brings local councils and the community together to help share the value of trees collectively, so that we can all work to protect and improve our urban tree canopy in the Perth metropolitan area.

Trees are essential in a warming climate – they cool us down, provide habitat for wildlife, and make our neighbourhoods look and feel better. By highlighting the benefits of trees and understanding the issues we face around tree canopy loss, we can improve our urban tree canopy.

Trees for nature

Urban tree canopy provides critical support for biodiversity, which in turn supports us. Greater biodiversity supports disease resistance, carbon sequestration, and food security, but it also supports plants, animals, and microorganisms in our ecosystems.

Many threatened species, such as our beloved Carnaby Black Cockatoos, are at risk of becoming extinct due to habitat loss and loss of trees. Trees provide a habitat for our fauna.

Trees for cooler suburbs

The urban heat island effect is caused by concrete and hardstand surfaces heating up the surface temperature and making the air hotter. Trees can substantially lower daytime temperatures in our suburbs by providing shade and transpiration. This means trees can help mitigate the effects of a warming climate due to climate change.

Trees for health and wellbeing

Trees strengthen our mental and physical health. A connection to nature has been shown to support happiness, health, and wellbeing. Trees also help us relax, reducing stress and blood pressure and improving mood. Time spent in nature also improves cognitive function and enhances our learning abilities.

What’s on?

Branch out and explore the trees in your local area and our urban areas through events and programs that the City is running throughout the month to celebrate the importance and the values of trees.

WA Tree Festival Walking Trail and Competition

Neil Hawkins Park
Saturday 6 April – Sunday 5 May 2024
FREE | No bookings required


The City’s Terrific Trees, Pretty Plants and Attractive Animals Walking Trail competition is back for its second year! Enjoy this beautiful 1.1km walk through Neil Hawkins Park, read the signs and answer all 20 questions to go in the running to win one of five Conservation Prize Packs.

For further details about Neil Hawkins Walking Trail Competition, visit Ticketbooth webpage.

Free street trees

All locations

FREE | No bookings required

The City will supply and plant trees on residential verges for free. Green your neighbourhood with up to three new trees from the City’s Preferred Street Tree Species List, or you can also apply for approval to plant your own verge tree.

Visit the City’s website for further details.

Nature Play Passports

Available at all Joondalup Libraries
Saturday 6 April – Sunday 5 May 2024
FREE | No bookings required


Get outside and explore nature! Our kid’s Nature Play Passport is available free of charge from our Libraries or online. Try and visit all the parks and beaches and complete the activities before the festival ends.

Noongar Cultural Coastal Walks

Hillarys Marina Lake
Saturday 4 May 2024. Various times.
Tickets $5 | Bookings required

Explore the culture, history and natural beauty of our coastline with knowledgeable Noongar guide, Olman Walley. You will be guided through the stunning sights of Whitfords Nodes and our pristine coastline to share information about Noongar culture, music, stories and local flora and fauna.

Visit Perth NRM website and register now.

Discovery Session: Recycled Seed Paper
Workshop one

Joondalup Library
Thursday 18 April 2024, 9.30am – 10.45am
Tickets $15 | Bookings required

Learn about the beautiful art of making paper from recycled materials. Create beautiful gifts from your paper, such as bookmarks, envelopes and cards for loved ones that include seeds for planting that will grow into beautiful Swan River Daisies.

Visit Ticketbooth webpage and book online.

Discovery session: Recycled Seed Paper
Workshop two

Joondalup Library
Thursday 18 April 2024, 11.00am – 12.15pm
Tickets $15 | Bookings required

Learn about the beautiful art of making paper from recycled materials. Create beautiful gifts from your paper, such as bookmarks, envelopes and cards for loved ones that include seeds for planting that will grow into beautiful Swan River Daisies.

Visit Ticketbooth webpage and book online.

Discovery session: A Biodiverse Urban Forest

Woodvale Library
Saturday 20 April 2024, 10.30am – 12.00noon
Tickets $5 | Bookings required

Join WA Loves Nature to learn more about bushland within the City and the importance of urban trees, and take home the perfect tree seedling for you.

Visit Ticketbooth webpage and book online.

Discovery session: Capturing the Essence of Trees

Joondalup Library
Saturday 6 April 2024, 10.00am – 12.00noon
Tickets $5 | Bookings required

Professional photographer Mike Pelusey will show you how to celebrate trees with his three step photographic process. Suitable for photography on cameras, smartphones or both.

Visit Ticketbooth webpage and book online.

Discovery Session: Native Animal Rescue

Whitford Library
Wednesday 1 May 2024, 6.00pm – 7.30pm
Tickets $5 | Bookings required

Join our local Native Animal Rescue team and their work in rehabilitating native animals back into their natural habitat. Learn about backyard wildlife and how we can protect them.

Visit Ticketbooth webpage and book online.

Discovery Outbound: Botanic Gardens Wanneroo

Whitford Library
Friday 19 April 2024, 10.00am – 1.30pm
Tickets $0 – 15 | Bookings required

Aimed at residents aged 50. Take a walk through the Botanic Gardens and learn about the wonderful trees and plants that are promoting urban biodiversity.

Visit Ticketbooth webpage and book online.

All Natural Wall Hangings – School Holiday Program

Woodvale Library
Wednesday 10 April 2024, 10.00am – 11.00am
Tickets $4 | 7-12 years

Discover how to source natural materials from your backyard and create your own unique wall hanging or wind chime. Experiment with sticks, plants and all things natural to make a beautiful decoration.

Visit Ticketbooth webpage and book online.

Worms, Worms, Worms – School Holiday Program

Whitford Library
Thursday 11 April 2024, 10.00am – 11.00am
Tickets $4 | 5-12 years

An educational, informative and hands-on workshop all about worms. Includes worms role in waste management, recycling, mini beasts, gardening and worm biology. Each child makes their own mini worm farm to take home.

Visit Ticketbooth webpage and book online.

 

Nature Prints – School Holiday Program

Duncraig Library
Friday 12 April 2024, 2.00pm – 3.00pm
Tickets $4 | 7-12 years

Have you ever wondered how to make prints using your own plants? Be inspired by nature and experiment with a selection of flowers and leaves to create textures and designs in clay.

Visit Ticketbooth webpage and book online.

Story time under the trees

All libraries
29 April – 4 May 2024. Various times.
FREE | No bookings required

Regular storytimes at all Libraries will focus on trees for this week. Sessions will move outdoors under the trees, weather permitting.

For further details, visit the City’s webpage.

What trees are flowering in Djeran?

April and May form the Noongar season of Djeran, which is represented by the colour green and is the time of the year when the cooler weather begins.

If you are visiting any of the City’s natural areas during the WA Tree Festival in Djeran, keep an eye out for Marri and Banksia flowering, as well as the Casuarina’s red ‘rust’ and seed cones forming. It’s also a time where feasts of Bayou (seeds) from the City’s emblem, the Djiridji or Zamia Palm, were traditionally eaten after being collected and stored for treatment in the previous season of Bunuru.

While travelling along the streets in our local neighbourhoods, you will also see the bright and vibrant blooms of the Red Flowering Gums.

Eats and Drinks

Immerse yourself in the vibrant spirit of the WA Tree Festival in Djeran and explore the diverse culinary options after enjoying its natural areas. From casual cafes serving breakfasts and lunches to a range of pubs, bars and restaurants offering a diverse range of flavours and drinks. Refer to the map below to discover the options available.



Title







Animals Uptown

Animals Uptown

Join the hunt! 

Monday 1 April –  Sunday 30 June 2024
Joondalup City Centre  

Discover a trail of life-sized, geometric shaped creatures, from a giraffe to a meerkat, an Asian elephant to a fennec fox. Along the trail, participants can learn about the animals’ backgrounds and collect stamps from participating businesses.

Maps are available along the trail. Trekkers can start at any point.

Animals Uptown is a collaboration between ten local schools, ten local businesses, and artist Sean Adamas.  

To discover more of Joondalup’s hidden treasures, follow @Uptown.Joondalup on Instagram and Facebook 

Participating businesses include Lakeside Joondalup Shopping City, Good Games, Chopin Patisserie and Cafe, Joondalup Convenience Store, Harcourts Alliance, Paper Avenue Cafe, Erine Hawes Optometrist Quest Joondalup, Le Papillon Patisserie and Joondalup Library.   

Participating schools include: Beaumaris Primary School, Beldon Education Support Centre, Burns Beach Primary School, Hillarys Primary School, Kinross College, Kinross Primary School, Mullaloo Beach Primary School, Ocean Reef Primary School, Ocean Reef Senior High School, and Poynter Primary School. 

Animal Uptown guided tour

Saturday 18 May
Tuesday 28 May (SOLD OUT)
Wednesday 12 June
Saturday 29 June
10.50am – 12.15pm

Meet outside Shingle Inn, Lakeside Joondalup mid-east upper level.

Join us on an Animals Uptown guided tour with collaborative Artist Sean Adamas, learn about the inspiration, creative techniques, and the collaborative process.

Please arrive at 10:50am for an 11.00am start. Tours are approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes long, so you can pick up a coffee or drink along the way from a participating cafe.

This is a free event, but registration is essential.

Book now

Additional tours

Please email business@joondalup.wa.gov.au if you are interested in being on a waiting list for additional tours or would like to book a group tour for your club or organisation.

Community contribution colouring in

Collect a pattern to colour in and submit it. It may be included in the Joondalup Library giraffe sculpture.

You can pick up a pattern from Joondalup Library at 102 Boas Avenue and colour it on site or take it home. Alternatively, you can download the pattern from the “Documents and Downloads” below and print it. Submissions will be received at the Joondalup Library until Monday 29 April.

April school holidays at the Libraries

Autumn is Tree-mendous!

Be inspired to get back to nature these school holidays as we celebrate the WA Tree Festival. Join the Libraries for a range of fun and creative activities featuring plants, animals and all things natural.

Cost is $4.00 per child per activity.

Bookings for the activities below open online on Monday 18 March, 9.30am.

Please note:

  • Bookings and online payment are essential, there will be no refunds issued.
  • Parents/carers of children under 12 years are required by library policy to remain in the building while their children attend the event.
  • There is a maximum of three events per child

Activities on offer – bookings essential

Pyjama Story Time – Free
Thursday 4 April, 5.00pm – 6.00pm, Duncraig Library
Put on your pyjamas, bring your bedtime buddy or blankie and join us for a special evening of stories, songs and special activities at the library. Suitable for ages two to five years.
Register via Ticketbooth

Wildcards with Sean Adamas – FULLY BOOKED
Monday 8 April, 10.00 – 11.30am, Joondalup Library
Join artist Sean Adamas to create your own artwork based on the animals created for Uptown Wild Animals. You will be inspired by a variety of flora and fauna for this creative workshop. Suitable for ages five to 10 years.
Book via Ticketbooth

Minecraft Engineers
Tuesday 9 April, 2.00 – 3.00pm, Whitford Library
Let your imagination run wild at this special Minecraft activity and build amazing worlds with Redstone in creative mode. Discover new ideas and share your creations with the group. Please note you will need to bring your own device with Minecraft installed. Suitable for ages seven to 12 years.
Book via Ticketbooth

All Natural Wall Hangings – FULLY BOOKED
Wednesday 10 April, 10.00 – 11.00am, Woodvale Library
Discover how to source natural materials from your backyard and create your own unique wall hanging or wind chime. Experiment with sticks, plants and all things natural to make a beautiful decoration for your garden or room. Suitable for ages seven to 12 years.
Book via Ticketbooth

Worms, Worms, Worms – FULLY BOOKED
Thursday 11 April, 10.00 – 11.00am, Whitford Library
Discover the wonderful world of worms in this hands-on, informative, and entertaining activity. Learn about recycling and worm biology, and make your own mini worm farm to take home. Suitable for ages five to 12 years.
Book via Ticketbooth

Nature Prints – FULLY BOOKED
Friday 12 April, 2.00 – 3.00pm, Duncraig Library
Have you ever wondered how to make prints using your own plants? Be inspired by nature and experiment with a selection of flowers and leaves to create textures and designs in clay. Suitable for ages seven to 12 years.
Book via Ticketbooth

Free Activities – no bookings required

Treasure Hunt
All Libraries
Visit the Libraries any time during the school holidays and join in the special tree-themed Treasure Hunt. You could win a Dymocks book voucher.

Story Time
All Libraries
Come and enjoy stories, songs and creative play at our regular storytime sessions.
Suitable for children 2 – 4 years. For further information, visit the City’s website.

Holiday Toddler Time
Woodvale Library
Thursday 4 April, 10.00am
Thursday 11 April, 10.00am
Join in these special holiday sessions, with stories, singing, movement and active play. Suitable for children 18 – 30 months.

Imagination Station
Sunday 7 April, 2.00 – 3.00pm, Joondalup Library
Join in for an hour of craft activities and let your creative side run free. Suitable for ages 5 – 12 years.

To keep up to date with activities in the school holidays, subscribe to the Libraries eNewsletter and follow the Libraries on Facebook and Instagram.

Waterwise Demonstration Garden

Lawns are often used in home gardens and public open spaces for amenity and aesthetic reasons, however, with a warming climate and the increasing need to conserve water and cool down our streets, many people are opting to transform their lawned areas into waterwise and biodiverse gardens.

Waterwise gardens have so many benefits. Waterwise and native gardens not only save water, reduce the urban heat island effect, provide habitat for local wildlife and improve biodiversity, but they also provide many physical and mental health and well-being benefits for the entire community.

The City aims to promote waterwise and native gardens and their benefits through its many waterwise initiatives.

Joondalup Administration Building Waterwise Demonstration Garden

The City of Joondalup installed a waterwise and biodiverse native garden out in front of the City’s Administration Building in July 2023. The project was proudly supported by the Water Corporation and designed by The Forever Project. 

The City of Joondalup Administration Building Waterwise Demonstration Garden

Growing local native plants

The front garden of the Administration Building was previously overgrown and required regular irrigation using groundwater. The exotic plant species were removed from the garden, but the native plants, such as the existing Silver Princess tree and mature Acorn Banksias, were retained. 

The garden bed was transformed into a living waterwise landscape full of local flora species and a habitat for wildlife. Over 200 new native species were planted, such as Ground Banksia, Native Pigface and Tar Bush. A new Jarrah tree was also planted in the garden to provide shade and increase the urban tree canopy. Using all locally native species meant that the plants were adapted to the local soil conditions and climate. 

The City encourages growing local native plants that suit your soil type. To find out soil type and discover local native plants that will thrive in your garden, visit our Growing Local Native Plants webpage.  

Habitat for wildlife

The garden’s existing limestone rocks were retained so that they could continue to provide a habitat for the lizards and birds that frequently visit the garden.  

Two gabion seats, filled with additional limestone rocks, were made and added to the garden. These seats not only entice visitors to sit and enjoy the garden but also provide additional protection to wildlife from the weather and predators.  

A bird bath was installed in the garden to provide a water source for wildlife and add visual amenities. Small native birds such as the Djidi Djidi (Willie Wagtail) and the Bandiny (New Holland Honeyeater) are frequently seen enjoying the garden and the habitat it provides for them. 

Visit our Protect our Wildlife resource to find out more ways to provide habitat and protection for wildlife. 

Residents watched as the Administration Building Waterwise Demonstration Garden transformed into a Waterwise and biodiverse garden.

Residents attended to watch the transformation while The Forever Project delivered a presentation on creating Waterwise native gardens. Attendees learned about soil improvements and techniques, waterwise native plants, weed management and garden maintenance tips for them to take home to their own gardens.

Waterwise and firewise design

Alongside the native plants that require very little water, pathogen-free course mulch was used to retain moisture and also provide visual aesthetics. Recycled rock and rubble materials were used to form the garden’s pathway, which also meant the garden was a firewire design. 

The garden now features educational signage full of waterwise gardening tips, local native plant species information, waterwise plant ratings and habitat ratings.  

Signage highlights the species in the demonstration garden, their waterwise ratings and habitat overview.

Waterwise gardens green, beautify and cool our communities. Waterwise demonstration gardens like the City’s Administration building garden raise awareness of the importance of verges and gardens as green spaces that can provide canopy cover and habitat for wildlife. 

Signage in the garden highlights waterwise gardening techniques, including soil preparation, plant selection and timing, mulching and watering tips.

Why Waterwise biodiverse gardening?

Whether its your verge, entire front garden or just a small garden bed around the side of your house, implementing a waterwise and biodiverse garden has so many huge benefits.

  • You will save water.
  • You will save time maintaining your garden. Waterwise native gardens often require less weeding, pruning, mulching, and hand watering.
  • Your garden will look amazing all year round.
  • Creates a climate-resilient and long-term sustainable garden. 
  • Provides habitat for wildlife, and you will enjoy many more birds, lizards, small marsupials and even frogs in your garden.
  • Cool your home and counteract the urban heat island effect. 
  • Contributes to healthy drainage around your home. 
  • Improves the value of your property. 
  • Improves your and the community’s mental and physical health.

By creating waterwise gardens and requesting a free street tree from the City, you can help to create cool, green and biodiverse neighborhoods that combat the urban heat island effect and help build a sustainable and climate-resilient community. 

Tips and resources

Commercial, recreational and heavy vehicle parking

There are parking restrictions for residents who have:

  • Caravans
  • Trailers
  • Boats
  • Trucks
  • Motor vehicles used in trade or business, heavier than 2.5 tonnes
  • Heavy vehicles more than 4.5 tonnes and longer than 7.5 metres (trailers inclusive)

These vehicles cannot be parked or protruded onto the verge and cannot be parked on the verge for more than three consecutive hours between the hours of 7.00am – 6.00pm. The exception is when a vehicle is being loaded or unloaded but must be done as quickly as possible.

These types of vehicles cannot be parked on a verge at any time between 6.00pm – 7.00am.

Heavy and long vehicles cannot be parked on the road for more than one hour unless engaged in the picking up or delivery of goods.

A heavy vehicle or long vehicle is a vehicle that weighs more than 4.5 tonnes and is more than 7.5 metres in length inclusive of any trailer.

For commercial and recreational vehicle parking on private property, please refer to the City’s Local Planning Scheme No. 3 or alternatively contact the City’s Planning Services.

 

Community, kindness and sustainability

The Facebook group Growing a Sustainable Community – Kingsley and Surrounds was established in 2018 by passionate community member and Kingsley local, Sharon Pengelly. The group has since grown to over 1,600 like-minded community members from across the City of Joondalup suburbs, where the local community share ideas about sustainable living, gardening, recycling and all things environmental!

Building an online community

Sharon has always been passionate about learning and sharing ideas with others, especially about the environment and sustainable living. When she established the Facebook group, her aim was to create a discussion forum for like-minded community members to share ideas and discuss sustainability in a positive, constructive way.

When Sharon started the group, her goal was to have a small group of people who could help with basic guidance regarding sustainable living. Sharon said she would have been happy with just 50 community members, but it has now grown to a community of over 1,600 members from all over the Northern suburbs, and some members are even from overseas.

“It’s wonderful to see so many people wanting to join and see what our community is about. Hopefully, joining our group inspires them to recreate something similar in their own local community,” says Sharon.

Sharon Pengelly, Kingsley local, started the ‘Growing a Sustainable Community – Kingsley and surrounds’ Facebook group in 2018.

Sharon has always wanted to leave a light environmental footprint on the planet. She is a self-identified “mad keen gardener” with a beautiful vegetable garden (pictured below) to show for it. Sharon has attended courses in sustainable living, such as the Earth Carers course led by Peg Davies, where she learned about protecting the environment through reducing, reusing and recycling waste. She also attended a Sustainable Living course held by Kath Moller of Duncraig Edible Garden, which focused on regenerative living, community, environment, gardening and household. Sharon shares her knowledge within her Facebook group.

Sharon enjoys spending her time growing a lot of her own quality produce in her backyard.

Sharon’s Facebook group grew fast, and it wasn’t long before Liz Bennett began helping Sharon manage and ‘admin’ the group. Like Sharon, Liz is an avid gardener and could be entirely self-sufficient with her fruit and vegetable production. Liz also attended the Greenwood Sustainable Living course. Together with the other group members, they have all made the group the wonderful community that it is today.

Grow Free Carts

Liz established the Greenwood Grow Free cart in 2022. Grow Free Carts provides a central place for the community to swap and share excess homegrown produce, preserves, cuttings, potted edible plants, and other items related to sustainable gardening. Community members can do direct swaps or leave something they are gifting. Sharon’s Facebook group allows Liz and other community members to post what is on offer so that nothing goes to waste!

Liz and her Grow Free Cart. The cart was painted by local indigenous artist JJ Lane.

Community, kindness, and Sustainability

‘Growing a Sustainable Community – Kingsley and surrounds’ is an inclusive online space to discuss sustainable living. The group ranges from beginner community members to experts and community groups who have a wealth of knowledge and a wide range of experience to support anyone on their sustainable journey.

The group has held and supported several workshops for its members, such as a Worm Farming workshop, Clothes Swaps, Waste facility tours, and an ‘All you need to know about growing citrus and edibles’ workshop. Sharon and Liz are excited for the year ahead, with the 2024 event calendar being full of amazing activities and workshops for the group. Future workshops for group members include cheese making, sourdough bread making, gardening, shopping without plastic and more!

Sharon with Debbie and Kevin from the Worm Shed.

Many friendships have been formed through the ‘Growing a sustainable community – Kingsley and surrounds’ Facebook group, and for Sharon that is the most rewarding part of it all. The community’s like-mindedness and aspirations for wanting to do their bit for the planet demonstrate this group’s wonderful asset to the community.

The page regularly receives positive comments from group members, such as “you do a great job of connecting us throughout the year and inspiring us” and “this is such a happy, inclusive, informative and uplifting page,” which makes all her amazing work coordinating the group worth it.

Group members have the opportunity to participate in a range of sustainable living workshops, such as Clothes Swaps by Jessica Bennison.

The group enjoys supporting local community groups and sustainable businesses through its Facebook page. Some of the fantastic local groups and businesses that have helped this group are:

Staying connected during COVID-19

During COVID-19, lockdowns and isolation requirements meant that the group was an invaluable asset for keeping the community connected. Not only was the group a social outlet for those in isolation, but it helped grow community spirit and connection. Many individuals made themselves available to others who needed help running errands, dropping off produce or even shopping for strangers who needed a helping hand. While for some communities, COVID-19 resulted in unfortunate community breakdown, Sharon’s virtual group helped people maintain connections to the local community.

Sharon’s six sustainability suggestions

Join Growing a sustainable community – Kingsley and surrounds and become part of Sharon’s sustainable community. Here are some of her suggestions to help get you started on your journey.

1. Reduce waste

Following the waste hierarchy of avoiding waste, reducing your waste, reusing what you can’t reduce, and recycling as a last resort is the most basic way you can make a difference at home and lessen your impact on the environment.

Reducing waste should be your priority. Check the packaging that comes with your supermarket purchases, select the cardboard packaging option, and BYO your own containers and produce bags to lessen your impact on the environment.

2. Reuse and repurpose waste

When reducing waste is not possible, reuse and repurpose what you have. Take your old containers and produce bags to your local shop, use the old coffee jar as a storage container, and find other creative ways to reuse or repurpose your waste. You can also repurpose your waste by joining your local ‘Buy Nothing’ group on Facebook to pay it forward or find something you need rather than purchasing new.

3. Recycle waste

Where waste can’t be reduced, reused or repurposed, as a last resort, try to recycle. Check out what can be recycled in your yellow lid recycling bin, and check out your local recycling hub for materials that can’t go in your bin. Marion Green’s St Nic’s Recycling Hub collects and recycles some items that can’t go directly into your yellow lid bin! You can also recycle waste by placing any food scraps or garden waste into a compost or worm farm at home.

4. Grow into gardening

Plant your own little patch of paradise and try your shot at gardening. Whether you use raised beds or create a container garden to grow your own produce or transform your garden into a biodiverse paradise full of native plants, each small change has a huge impact. Creating your very own ecosystem in your backyard is incredibly rewarding, and you will be supporting local wildlife!

5. Lifestyle choices

Living sustainably is a lifestyle. Start small, and you will eventually change your habits over time, and each new habit will eventually make a large impact. Trying to do too much at once will set you up to fail. There is an abundance of people in Sharon’s group who are ready to help you get started. Before you know it, you will be reducing your very own environmental footprint in your community and helping others get started, too.

6. Join the sustainable community

Come and join the community, bring an open mind and a bucket full of kindness. From little things, big things will grow.

Members of the Growing a sustainable community – Kingsley and surrounds group at a Waste facility tour.

As we move into a future where we need to reduce our environmental impact, we all need to focus our journey towards a more regenerative lifestyle in our community, environment, garden, workplace and household. Sustainable living practices are necessary to meet our needs without compromising a healthy planet for future generations and our natural environment.

Other tips and resources:

Subscribe to the City of Joondalup’s Sustainability eNewsletter to stay updated about environmental news, stories, and events. Sign up for the eNewsletter – City of Joondalup.

City News 2024

City News October 2024

Budget Edition 2024

City News Summer 2024

Meet the Authors – February 2024

Meet the Author - Rachael Johns

Meet the Author – Rachael Johns
Wednesday 7 February, 6.00pm
Joondalup Library

Rachael Johns is Australia’s leading writer of contemporary relationship stories, and will be in conversation with author Tess Woods to talk about her latest book. The Other Bridget is a feelgood comedy, about a hopeless romantic librarian called Bridget Jones living in Fremantle.

More information and booking details via Ticketbooth.

Meet the Author - Dervla McTiernan

Meet the Author – Dervla McTiernan
Thursday 29 February, 6.00pm
St Stephens School Theatre

Exclusive Pre-Release Book Launch

Internationally bestselling and critically acclaimed author Dervla McTiernan will be showcasing her new book What happened to Nina?

In this emotional thriller, Nina and Simon are the perfect couple – young, fun and deeply in love. Until they leave for a weekend at his family’s cabin in Vermont, and only Simon comes home.

More information and booking details via Ticketbooth.

Authors’ books will be available for purchase on the night.
Book and pay online.

For more information call 9400 4751.

BMX, Skate and Scooter Clinics 2024

 BMX, Skate and Scooter Clinics 2024 

We had the best time across our BMX, Skate and Scooter clinics and competitions for the 2024 Season. Freestyle Now hosted six free skatepark coaching workshops for skateboard, scooter and BMX participants offering technical advice, trick tips, skill development and skatepark etiquette. Thank you to everyone that came down and made the events a success – see if you can spot yourself in the highlight video!

For more information call 9400 4929

January School Holidays at the Libraries

Explore More in 2024

Join the Libraries for a range of fun activities to capture children’s imagination and inspire new adventures this Summer. Book into the Explore More activities below and visit the library to complete the adventure Treasure Hunt. And if that isn’t enough, don’t forget to register for the Summer Reading Quest.

Bookings for the Explore More activities open online on Monday 18 December, 9.30am, at a cost of $4.00 per child per activity.

Please note: 

  • Bookings and online payment are essential, there will be no refunds issued. 
  • Parents/carers of children under 12 years are required by library policy to remain in the building while their children attend the event. 
  • There is a maximum of three events per child. 

Activities on offer – bookings essential 

Blast from the Past
Thursday 4 January, 2.00pm – 3.30pm
Woodvale Library
Do your children know what cassette tapes, floppy discs, typewriters and corded telephones are? Ignite their curiosity and join Nicola from Play in the Past for a fun afternoon exploring, learning and playing with a wide range of vintage items. Bring history to life and go RETRO. Suitable for ages 5 – 12 years.
Book via Ticketbooth.

Kite Kinetics – FULLY BOOKED
Friday 5 January, 10.00am – 11.00am
Joondalup Library
Create and decorate your own Bermuda hexagon kite with master kite-maker Michael Alvares. Children will also learn about the history of kites and play games outside with Michael’s own special kites. Suitable for ages 6 – 12 years.
Book via Ticketbooth.

Summer ArtPlay
Session 1: Monday 8 January, 2.00pm – 3.30pm, Woodvale Library. Book via Ticketbooth. FULLY BOOKED
Session 2: Wednesday 24 January, 2.00pm – 3.30pm, Duncraig Library. Book via Ticketbooth. FULLY BOOKED
Enjoy an arty afternoon with Gabrielle from Bundabubs and decorate your own Summer bucket hat using fabric paints and pens. Express your creative side with a wide range of craft materials and fun collaborative painting activities. It’s art and play combined – perfect for a Summers day! Suitable for ages 5 – 10 years

Special FX Makeup
Session 1: Tuesday 9 January, 10.00am – 12.00pm, Duncraig Library. Book via Ticketbooth. FULLY BOOKED
Session 2: Tuesday 9 January, 2.00pm – 4.00pm, Joondalup Library. Book via Ticketbooth. FULLY BOOKED
Have you ever wondered why injuries look so realistic in movies and on TV? In this two-hour hands-on workshop, you will learn how to use stage makeup to create fake burns and bruises on your skin. Discover techniques used by industry professionals and have fun working with fake blood and latex. Beware – not for the faint hearted. Suitable for ages 9 – 12 years.

I’d Rather Eat Chocolate
Wednesday 10 January, 10.00am – 11.00am
Whitford Library
Meet Narelle Wynter, local author of the fabulous picture book I’d Rather Eat Chocolate, and enjoy a fun session of storytelling, word games and activities.
The book is a humorous dinner-time tale of vegetable discovery, so if you have a picky eater, or simply want to have fun reading and playing with words, this session is for you. Explore rhyming words and memory-recall with bongo drums and fun games, then create a mini greenhouse to grow your own vegetables at home. Suitable for ages 3 – 6 years.
Book via Ticketbooth.

Marvellous Musical – FULLY BOOKED
Friday 12 January, 10.00am – 11.00am
Duncraig Library
Join Miss Mary on a storytelling adventure as she travels to a mysterious faraway land. Jump aboard your flying carpet and enjoy an interactive show filled with singing, dancing, bubbles and musical instruments. Suitable for ages 3 – 7 years.
Book via Ticketbooth.

Junk Bugs – FULLY BOOKED
Friday 12 January, 2.00pm – 3.00pm
Whitford Library
Join Peg Davies and discover the fun side of recycling. Let your imagination run wild and create weird and wonderful bugs out of recycled materials collected from ReMida reuse centre. Suitable for ages 5 – 12 years.
Book via Ticketbooth.

Puzzle Art
Monday 15 January, 10.00am – 11.00am
Woodvale Library
Create a masterpiece on a blank jigsaw puzzle or use old puzzle pieces to piece together a work of art. Children will explore artistic themes and styles for inspiration before tapping into their creative sides. Suitable for ages 7 – 12 years.
Book via Ticketbooth.

Pyjama Story Time and Teddy Bear Sleepover
Monday 15 January, 5.00pm – 6.00pm
Joondalup Library
FREE EVENT
Do you ever wonder what happens at the library when it’s closed? Bring your stuffed animal or other favourite toy to Joondalup Library and join us for a special Pyjama Story Time. You can then leave your Teddy at the Library for a night-time Sleepover. Pick up your special friend the next day from the Library and see photos of their adventures during the night. Who knows what mischief they will get into after-hours.
Register via Ticketbooth.

Summer Sunbeams – FULLY BOOKED
Tuesday 16 January, 1.00pm – 2.00pm
Woodvale Library
Summer is here. UV Light helps our skin produce vitamin D, but it can also cause sunburn. In this fun workshop, you will discover rainbows of refracted light, how to play safe with sunbeams, and make your very own UV reactive bracelet to wear.
Suitable for ages 5 – 12 years.
Book via Ticketbooth.

Buzz about Bees – FULLY BOOKED
Wednesday 17 January, 10.00am – 11.00am
Whitford Library
Although bees are small, they have a huge impact on the planet. In this interactive workshop, you will learn about how bees work together as a hive, their life and work cycle, how to spot queen bees, and the importance of pollinators in the garden. You’ll also discover how to be an apiarist with bee keeping equipment, hives and honey collection. Let’s get buzzing about bees! Suitable for ages 5 – 10 years.
Book via Ticketbooth.

Chameleon Capers
Friday 19 January, 2.00pm – 3.00pm
Duncraig Library
Come along to learn about chameleons and how they are thriving in an African backyard bushland. Create your own creatures to take home and discover what happens on a chameleon safari. Suitable for ages 7 – 12 years
Book via Ticketbooth.

Mini Terrariums – FULLY BOOKED
Monday 22 January, 10.00am – 11.00am
Joondalup Library
Green thumbs of all abilities are invited to an interactive workshop all about the wonders of water and sustainable gardening. Discover splashy fun facts about the water cycle and make your own mini terrarium to take home. Suitable for ages 5 – 12 years.
Book via Ticketbooth.

Grand Designs – FULLY BOOKED
Tuesday 23 January, 10.00am – 11.00am
Whitford Library
Calling all creatives and future architects. Come along and be inspired by the designer of the Sydney Opera House and make your own miniature model of this iconic Australian building. Suitable for ages 8 – 12 years.
Book via Ticketbooth.

Getting to School Puppet Show
Monday 29 January, 10.00am – 11.00am
Woodvale Library
Hold onto your seats. Come on a wild ride in Professor Tells-You-Stuff’s time machine to explore all the ways we can travel to school safely. Performed by Constable Care, this hilarious blend of acting and puppetry makes road safety fun and is the perfect show for the start of the new school year. Suitable for ages 4 – 8 years.
Book via Ticketbooth.

Free activities – no bookings required

Treasure Hunt
All Libraries
Visit the Libraries any time during the school holidays and join in the special adventure themed Treasure Hunt. You could win a Dymocks book voucher.

Summer Reading Quest
All Libraries
Pick up a Summer Reading Quest booklet from the Library and say goodbye to Summer boredom. Complete fun literacy activities and record the amount you read over the Summer to go in the draw to win some awesome prizes. Visit the City’s website for more information.

Story Time
All Libraries
Come and enjoy stories, songs and creative play at our regular story time sessions.
Suitable for children 2 – 4 years. Visit the City’s website for more information.

Holiday Toddler Time
Woodvale Library
Thursday 11 January, 10.00am
Thursday 18 January, 10.00am
Thursday 25 January, 10.00am
Join in these special holiday sessions, with stories, singing, movement and active play. Suitable for children 18 – 30 months.

To keep up to date with activities in the school holidays subscribe to the Libraries eNewsletter and follow the Libraries on Facebook and Instagram.

 

ARETHA (Joondalup Festival 2024) – Terms and Conditions

The ARETHA Concert (“Event”) is presented by the City of Joondalup (ABN 64 245 472 416) of 90 Boas Avenue, Joondalup WA 6027 (“City”).

These Terms and Conditions apply to the purchase of all tickets whether purchased online from Ticketbooth or purchased from a City Customer Service Centre and cover both purchase and entry to the Venue. The City may vary these Terms and Conditions at any time and you agree to be bound by any changes.

Terms and Conditions of tickets purchased from Ticketbooth are available on their website.

By purchasing tickets, Ticketholders accept and agree to the following conditions:

Ticketbooth ticket purchases

  • When purchasing your tickets, you are required to supply a working email address so an order confirmation and e-ticket for entry into the Event can be emailed to you, following the completion of your payment transaction(s). If this email is not received, you should check your junk/spam folder or contact Ticketbooth.
  • An accessible seating area will be available at the Event for Customers with a valid ACROD permit and up to one additional person/carer and these tickets can be purchased from Ticketbooth. Please contact Ticketbooth support via support@ticketbooth.com for a reservation code to complete the purchase online. Please note that an ACROD permit ticketholder may be required to present the ACROD permit to gate staff upon entry into the Event.
  • Lost tickets can be re-issued by contacting Ticketbooth via support@ticketbooth.com.
  • If the tickets purchased are gifted, the recipient is bound by Ticketbooth’s and the City’s Terms and Conditions.
  •  Any questions relating to tickets purchased via Ticketbooth must be directed to Ticketbooth.

 City of Joondalup ticket purchases

  • This Event is licensed. Any minor’s (under 18) must be accompanied by an adult and purchase a valid ticket to gain entry to the Event.
  • Customers who require assistance to purchase tickets can visit the City of Joondalup Customer Service Centre during business hours. The City’s Customer Service Centre is located at the Joondalup Administration Building, 90 Boas Avenue, Joondalup – Opening hours: Monday – Friday, 8.30am – 5.00pm.
  • The City can only assist with tickets purchased from the City.
  • The City recognises and accepts the Companion Card fair ticketing scheme. Customers with a valid Companion Card are eligible to receive a second, complimentary ticket to the Event for a carer or companion (subject to availability). Customers that require a Companion Card ticket must contact the City of Joondalup or Ticketbooth support via support@ticketbooth.com for a reservation code to complete their purchase online.
  • If requested, the Companion Card ticketholder must present the Companion Card to gate staff upon entry into the Event.
  • Tickets may not, without City of Joondalup’s written consent, be on-sold at a premium, offered as a prize or inducement, packaged or otherwise used for advertising, promotional or other commercial purposes. City of Joondalup reserves the right to refuse admission to the bearer of any ticket sold or otherwise provided or distributed in breach of this condition.

 General ticketing terms

  • Tickets are available to the Event from Thursday 30 November, 9.00am – 7.00pm on the respective concert date, unless sold out prior.
  • Tickets should only be purchased through Ticketbooth or the City of Joondalup Customer Service Centre (90 Boas Avenue, Joondalup). The City will not be held liable in the Event an unofficial ticket is purchased through an unauthorised ticketing outlet. The City has the right to refuse entry into the Event and to cancel any tickets that have been re-sold or unofficially distributed at their discretion without refund.
  • If you have purchased a ticket and can no longer attend the Event, you can pass on your ticket or sell it to a friend in accordance with reselling laws. You will be liable for all refunds in the Event of a cancellation. If there is a change to the Event you will be responsible for passing this information onto the ticket holder.

Refunds and Exchanges

  • The City reserves the right to vary, substitute or withdraw advertised artists, venue, and seating arrangements as necessary. The City will use reasonable endeavours to communicate any such variations, substitutions or withdrawals to ticket holders via email and advertised through social media. Any such change will not entitle a ticket holder to a refund.
  • A change in personal circumstances or a change of mind does not entitle the ticket holder to a refund.
  • Dislike or dissatisfaction of the Event does not entitle a ticketholder to a refund.
  • An offer of a refund in extenuating circumstances must be approved by a City of Joondalup staff member, prior to the refund being issued by Ticketbooth.

COVID-19 or communicable diseases

  • All persons attending the Event must comply with any Public Health declarations which have been published by the WA Government at the time of the Event.
  • Ticketholders who do not comply with the relevant Public Health directions will not be able to attend the Event and will not be entitled to claim a refund.
  • If a ticketholder tests positive to Covid-19 prior to the Event, that person will be entitled to apply for a refund, upon provision of satisfactory documentation verifying the positive test, by emailing events@joondalup.wa.gov.au with the booking reference.

Cancellation Policy

  • The Event shall proceed regardless of weather conditions unless the City determines otherwise in its sole discretion.
  • Should the Event be cancelled, rescheduling is not guaranteed. In the Event of a rescheduled performance, tickets will remain valid. If the Event is cancelled all ticketholders are eligible for a refund and details of the refund process will be communicated via Ticketbooth and the City’s website and social media platforms.
  • In the event of a cancellation, the City will undertake reasonable measures to contact ticketholders as soon as possible.
  • The City collects ticketholder personal information in case of an Event cancellation or change. If you fail to supply adequate and correct contact information, the City is not responsible for failure to notify you of any cancellation or change.
  • In the event of a cancellation, if a ticketholder has not supplied contact details when making the purchase, they must contact the City via events@joondalup.wa.gov.au and provide proof of purchase.

Venue Conditions

  • This show runs for 2 hours and 50 minutes, including a 30-minute interval. Event duration is a guide only and may be subject to change.
  • Only valid ticket holders will be granted admission into the Venue. Ticketholders may present a Ticketbooth e-ticket in hardcopy or via an electronic device for scanning to gain entry to the Venue.
  • Ticketholders must present a valid driver’s license, passport or proof of age card to gain access to the Event if requested. As a licensed Event, ticketholders under 18 years must be accompanied by an adult.
  • All reserved seating tickets include a dedicated seat. Seating provided in all areas are standard high back chairs.
  • An accessible seating area will be available at the Event for ticketholders with a valid ACROD permit and up to one additional person/carer.). Access to this area is provided on a first come, first served basis until the area is at capacity.
  • Edith Cowan University is a smoke free campus. Smoking is not permitted in the venue.
  • In attending the Event, you grant City of Joondalup permission to film or photograph you, and to reproduce that film or photograph in any audio, video or photographic display or other transmission, exhibition, publication or reproduction in any medium or context without further authorisation by, or compensation to you.
  • No unauthorised professional audio, video or photographic recordings of the artists’ performance are permitted.
  • Ticketholders must remain inside the marked areas of the Venue at all times and follow instructions from Event staff and/or security staff.
  • BYO alcohol is not permitted. The Event is a licensed Event and alcoholic drinks and food will be available for purchase..
  • The following items are not permitted into the Venue and will be confiscated by Event staff and/or security staff:
      • Alcohol
      • Chairs
      • Picnic Blankets
      • Eskies or large bags
      • Glass bottles
      • Metal cutlery
      • Tables
      • Umbrellas
      • Wine spikes
      • Banana lounges
      • Tents
      • Sun shelters
      • Prams or carts
      • Animals (except for assistance animals)
      • Dangerous items (e.g. weapons, fireworks, laser pointers)
      • Professional audio and video recording devices
  • The City reserves the right to check bags for prohibited items for safety and security purposes.
  • The City does not guarantee that all ticketholders will have a full and unimpeded view of the performance.
  • The right to refuse entry or to evict a consumer is reserved by venue management as provided in the Live Performance Australia Ticketing Code of Practice, and each of Edith Cowan University’s and the City of Joondalup’s reasonable risk and liability requirements . Ticketholders refused entry or evicted from the Venue will not be entitled to receive a refund.
  • If you do not agree with the foregoing, please do not enter the Event site.

Transportation and parking

  • Onsite parking is available in the adjacent car parks within the Edith Cowan University Campus including parking for ACROD permit holders.
  • A dedicated drop off and pick up point will be available at the Event site. Further information will be provided closer to the Event date.

 Acceptance of Terms & Conditions

  • By purchasing a ticket, you acknowledge, agree and accept Ticketbooth’s and the City’s Terms and Conditions in your personal capacity, the capacity of any person in which tickets are intended for and on behalf of any accompanying minor.

  This information is available in alternative formats and languages upon request.

Notice of Disposal of Land Section 3.58 of the Local Government Act 1995

Notice is hereby given that the City of Joondalup intends to dispose of land by Lease.

PROPERTY:

Portion of land (approximately 302m2) at 6 Lawley Court, Joondalup, comprising part of the carpark.

Lessor:                       City of Joondalup

Lessee:                       Lendlease Funds Management Ltd ATF The Joondalup Trust

Purpose:                    Public parking bays and pedestrian access

Commencement:      Monday 1 January 2024

Term:                          Ten-year period

Consideration:          Annual rent of $14,000 (plus GST) and associated outgoings

Market Valuation:      Market rental value is stated at $14,000 plus GST and associated outgoings per annum

Further information of the land by lease at 6 Lawley Court, Joondalup can be provided upon request by contacting the City at info@joondalup.wa.gov.au or 9400 4000.

Submissions on the proposed disposition should be made in writing and lodged with the Chief Executive Officer, City of Joondalup, PO Box 21, Joondalup WA 6919 or can be submitted electronically to info@joondalup.wa.gov.au on or before 4.00pm, Thursday 14 December 2023.

BMX Skate and Scooter Competitions 2024

BMX, Skate and Scooter Competitions 2024

We had the best time across our BMX, Skate and Scooter clinics and competitions for the 2024 Season. Thank you to everyone that came down and made the events a success – see if you can spot yourself in the highlight video!

Footage taken at Kinross Skate Park, Shepherds Bush Pump and Jump Track and Mirror Park Skate Park.

Kinross Skate Park, Saturday 17 February

Shepherds Bush Pump and Jump Track, Saturday 24 February 2024

Mirror Park Skate Park, Saturday 2 March

For more information call 9400 4929.

Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Community Reference Group

The role of the Reconciliation Action Plan Community Reference Group (RAPCRG) is to:

  • Guide the development, implementation and review of the City’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP); and
  • Inform how the City of Joondalup can contribute to reconciliation within the organisation and the Joondalup community in a way that is meaningful, respectful and sustainable.

Members

Community Member Representatives

  • Pauline Boscato
  • Jane Burns
  • Marcus Kaden
  • Amanda Weall
  • Ken Aitchison
  • Phillipa Taylor
  • One vacancy

Organisational Representatives

  • Sharon Wood-Kenny, (Presiding Member) (Djinda Bridiya Wellbeing Australian Aboriginal Organisation)
  • Mihi Betham, (Meerilinga)
  • Audrey Williams, (Impact Services)
  • One vacancy

Tyrepower Joondalup Festival of Motoring postponed

The organisers of the Tyrepower Joondalup Festival of Motoring with support from the City of Joondalup, have made the difficult decision to postpone this weekend’s event due to the northern suburbs bushfire and forecast extreme weather conditions.

Our thoughts are with the residents in the emergency zone and with the emergency workers who are concentrating their efforts to where it is most needed.

We thank our officials, participants, competitors, vendors and sponsors for their understanding and support, and we look forward to announcing a date for the rescheduled event in the new year.

 

Summer Reading Quest – last days!

Congratulations to all those who participated in the Summer Reading Quest. The last day is Thursday 29 February 2024.

To go into the statewide draw to win some awesome prizes, submit your reading details to Summer Reading Quest website or just drop your Booklet or Summer Steps into your local Library by Sunday 31 March 2024.

Prizes include: writing workshops, art prints, a place in the Young Writers Program at the Literature Centre, books, puppets, Better Beginnings kits, gift vouchers and much more.

 

 

 

Elcar Park Fenced Dog Facility – Closure for Maintenance Works

The Elcar Park fenced dog facility will be closed for five weeks from Monday 13 November 2023, 6.00am – Friday 15 December 2023, 4.00pm to undertake essential maintenance services.

The City appreciates the patience and understanding of the regular Elcar Park facility users while these works are carried out.

Have yourself a sustainable little Christmas

Sustainable Christmas

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and we have lots of eco-friendly tips to help with your Christmas preparations so you can have a merry and sustainable Christmas.

Christmas is a great time of the year for celebrating with friends and family, and all this festive cheer is traditionally associated with lots of good food and drink, decorations and gift-giving.

Unfortunately, these festivities can result in extra waste and energy consumption and can have a significant burden on the environment. To help you celebrate in a sustainable way, we have created some eco-friendly tips and swaps to have the most sustainable Christmas.

Christmas is a great time of year to put the waste hierarchy into action. The content in the sections below aligns with the waste hierarchy categories:

  • Avoid – prevent waste in the first instance
  • Reduce – to produce less waste
  • Reuse – use the same item more than once
  • Recycle – converting waste materials into new materials and objects
  • Dispose – in the most environmentally responsible manner.

Sustainable Gift Guide

Christmas shopping doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg, and there are plenty of ways to save money and the environment when it comes to gift-giving.

Here are some tips to avoid purchasing items at Christmas time:

  • Do an audit of what you already have – around the home, in your wardrobe, and the pantry
  • Don’t impulse buy
  • Ask yourself, do you want or need this product?
  • Can you clean or fix a broken product and bring it back to ‘new’?
  • Focus on quality rather than quantity. Better quality products will generally last longer.
  • Organise a Secret Santa with your friends and/or family to reduce the amount of gifts.

Sustainable gift ideas to spread the Christmas cheer:

  • A class, course or workshop they can do by themselves or with you. The endless possibilities include a cooking or coffee course, a painting or pottery workshop, a guitar or golf lesson.
  • Gift an experience rather than a material gift. From a massage or spa day to a concert or a skydive – gift them memories they will never forget.
  • Use your culinary skills to make homemade food or drink gifts. Give the gift of homemade cookies, slices, relishes or pickles. Food is the way to everyone’s heart.
  • Consider offering a membership to a conservation organization, allowing them to enjoy magazines, discounts, and member benefits for their preferred attractions or subscriptions.
  • Consider gifting a bird bath or a frog hotel to attract local native wildlife to their garden.
  • Bokashi composting systems gift nourishing compost all year round.
  • Gift a native tree or plant. A gift that keeps on giving when it matures and attracts birds, wildlife and pollinators to the garden. Check out our Growing locals plant guide for some ideas.

Read more about the Australian Made Campaign which encourages businesses based within the region to consider their Australian-made goods and services. You may also find some sustainable gifts this Christmas.

Gift Wrapping

Most Christmas gift wrapping paper gets thrown into landfill because it isn’t recyclable. Wrapping paper options, bows and ribbons are laminated, dyed or contain glitter or other materials, which means they can’t be recycled appropriately.

The good news is there are lots of ways to wrap your gifts sustainably that are beautiful and budget-friendly, here are some waste-free ideas:

  • Use reusable Christmas stockings or sacks under the tree
  • Consider wrapping your gifts in newspaper brown craft paper or place them in a box
  • Reuse wrapping paper or gift bags you have received from others
  • Consider soy wax or bees wax wraps
  • Learn the art of furoshiki (fabric wrapping)
  • Use compostable and recyclable wrapping paper.

Christmas outfits

Rather than buying a new outfit, you could shop for clothing at second-hand stores or hire an outfit. You could also consider attending or hosting a festive Christmas clothes swap, where your friends, family or community members could exchange clothes so you all have a new outfit to wear at Christmas.

Christmas Feast

According to the National Food Waste Strategy, Australian households throw away 3.1 million tonnes of edible food each year.

Try some of these tips to avoid sending leftover food into landfill:

  • Meal planning – think about what you are cooking and who you are cooking for. Turkey has a lower carbon footprint than beef, and vegetarian options are even more sustainable.
  • Make your list and check it twice – after checking what you have in the pantry, write your list and stick to it while shopping.
  • Buy local food, and maybe even try to grow your own this year – check out Grow it Local or visit your closest Community Garden.
  • Let people serve their own plates – food left on plates can’t be used as leftovers.
  • Cook with your scraps – saving up onion skins, carrot tops, potato peels and other food scraps while cooking can all be used to create an amazing broth, perfect for making gravy and sauces.
  • Repurpose your leftovers – try creative new recipes with leftover food
  • Compost bins, worm farms and bokashi bins are great ways to discard any food waste you can’t repurpose. Use this beginner’s guide to composting, bokashi and worm farms to get you started. How To Compost Like A Champion | WasteSorted.
  • Have a ‘use it up’ shelf in your fridgeUse It Up Tape | OzHarvest | Easy way to waste less food at home

Sustainable Alternatives

A sustainable Christmas doesn’t mean missing out on all the fun traditions you enjoy, it’s about finding alternatives that are better for the environment so that we can continue spreading the Christmas cheer.

Here are some suggestions for sustainable alternatives to some Christmas traditions:

Christmas Purchase Sustainable Option
Advent Calendars Reusable, homemade, or plastic-free options.
Plastic Christmas tree A real Christmas tree or alternate locally native option, like the Wooly Bush.

Wooden Christmas tree.

Disposable plates and cutlery Don’t buy something to throw away the next day or to use once a year. You could borrow plates from family and friends for Christmas Day.
Tinsel, baubles and decorations Make a wreath from native plants that are compostable.

Make paper chains from recycled paper.

Incorporate natural elements.

Make use of our local Borrow and Share Bunting Library.

Buy second-hand.

Christmas cards DIY your own card, send a homemade e-card on Canva, or recycle your cards and gift tags.
Plastic wrapping paper Cloth wrapping. Watch a video on the Furoshiki (Japanese fabric wrapping) and use fabric from old garments or op shops.
Store bought Christmas crackers (they contain lots of plastic toys and knick knacks that get thrown away!) Use toilet rolls to make your own crackers, and write your own terrible (or terrific!) Christmas jokes.

Ideas to include in the cracker:

  • A voucher so they can buy a coffee
  • Reusable produce bags
  • Soap nuts
  • Plant seeds.

 

Waste Disposal

Remember, waste should be viewed as a last resort. However, if you do need to use your bins, here is a reminder of where some Christmas items should be placed:

  • Plastic Christmas trees – general waste bin
  • Real Christmas tree – garden organics green waste bin
  • Leftover food – if compostable, compost bin, bokashi bin, worm farm, and then general waste
  • Wrapping paper that is plain or with prints – recycling bin
  • Wrapping paper that has been laminated, dyed, contains glitter, metal or plastic – general waste bin
  • Boxes from gifts – flattened cardboard boxes go in the recycling bin
  • Batteries – take them to a special drop-off point. There are many located around the City of Joondalup in shops such as Coles, Woolworths, and in City buildings (libraries and Administration Building)
  • Beer bottles and cans – save up and return to your nearest Containers for Change drop-off point or recycling bin (no lids in the recycling bin)
  • Wine bottles – recycling bin (no lids in the recycling bin)
  • Cards – recycling bin
  • Tinsel – general waste
  • Turkey frame and seafood remnants – general waste
  • Textiles – if they cannot be sold, donated, used as rags, etc., general waste bin.

Make sure anything going into the recycling bin is clean and loose. Don’t forget that no bin can weigh more than 70kg.

Christmas Carbon Footprint

Having high spirits doesn’t have to mean having a high carbon footprint or high bills come January.

Here are some ways you can lower your Christmas carbon footprint:

  • Transport – think about using sustainable transport options over the holidays. Use sustainable transport options such as walking, riding your bike, catching public transport or car-pooling when attending Christmas gatherings.
  • Energy consumption – Reduce your energy consumption by turning off Christmas lights when they aren’t needed, and if you want to purchase new lights, consider LED bulbs or solar-powered lights. Find out more ways to reduce energy use.
  • Water – Everyone can do their bit to reduce water use in the home and garden this Christmas. You can also nourish your garden by turning your food and compostable waste into food and nutrients from worm farming, composting and using bokashi bins. Find out more ways to save water.

Have a merry sustainable Christmas!

Tips and Resources

The GREAT Sort program (Be a GREAT Sort | WasteSorted) offers various ideas on how to be sustainable regarding waste.

 

Valentine’s Concert

Thank you so much to everyone who came to the 2024 Valentine’s Concert.

Joondalup Resort made for the picture perfect setting on a balmy February evening as Paulini, Tim Campbell and the Perth Symphony Orchestra, with special appearances from the Star Factory dancers, treated us to a night of music and memories in celebration of 25 years together.

Sponsors

The Valentine’s Concert wouldn’t be possible without the support of our valued partners.

Gallery

Check out the fun we had at the 2024 Valentine’s Concert! Click the image to enlarge it.

 

Volunteer information sessions

Step into Volunteering

The Step into Volunteering Program is an informal introduction to volunteering. It is of particular value to those who are volunteering for the first time and those who are seeking different volunteer experiences.

Come along to a free session and learn about:

  • The benefits of volunteering
  • The volunteering opportunities available
  • Identifying the skills that you have to contribute to volunteering
  • Rights and responsibilities of volunteers and volunteer involving agencies
  • How to find the right volunteering position.

The information sessions are conducted by Joondalup Volunteer Resource Centre at various libraries throughout Joondalup.

Future Step into Volunteering sessions:

Wednesday 30 October, 10am, Joondalup Library.
Registrations via Ticketbooth

Monday 25 November, 5pm, Whitford Library.
Registrations via Ticketbooth

Please call 9400 4753 for more information.

Remembrance Day Service 2023

The City of Joondalup is hosting a Remembrance Day Service at Joondalup’s Central Park War Memorial. Please join us on Saturday 11 November 2023, marking the 76th Anniversary of Australia’s involvement in International peacekeeping operations. Those paying respects should arrive no later than 10.45am. All are welcome. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available after the service.

Saturday 11 November, 10.45am – 11.30am
Joondalup War Memorial Central Park, Joondalup

Sensory Story Time

Sensory Story Time is a Library program for children aged 2 – 5 years.

It is aimed at children who may find regular Story Time too noisy or overwhelming.

Sensory Story Time focuses on early literacy and social skills in a quiet small group setting.

Your child will enjoy an interactive story with sensory input, rhymes and songs, followed by sensory play time and exploration.

Whilst all families are welcome, this program may be beneficial to children with sensory processing issues or who are on the Autism spectrum.

Each session has a maximum of ten attendees and will be held in the Whitford Library meeting room.

No cost. No bookings are required for this event.

Term 3 dates:

Wednesday 24 July 2024, 10.00am

Wednesday 31 July 2024, 10.00am

Wednesday 7 August 2024, 10.00am

Wednesday 21 August 2024, 10.00am

Wednesday 28 August 2024, 10.00am

Wednesday 4 September 2024, 10.00am

Wednesday 11 September 2024, 10.00am

 

Call 9400 4751 for further information.

Spring School Holidays at the Libraries

Be inspired to Go Wild! in the holidays as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the classic children’s book, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. Book into the fun activities below, enjoy our regular free programs, or drop in anytime to complete the ‘Wild Things’ Treasure Hunt.

Activities on offer – bookings essential

Please note:

  • Bookings for the activities open online on Monday 11 September, 9.30am at a cost of $4.00 per child per activity.
  • Bookings and online payment are essential, there will be no refunds issued.
  • Parents/carers of children under 12 years are required by library policy to remain in the building while their children attend the event.
  • There is a maximum of three events per child

Spinning Flowers – FULLY BOOKED
Wednesday 27 September, 10.00am – 11.00am, Woodvale Library
Join Michael Alvares from Kite Kinetics to create a colourful recycled garden decoration that spins in the wind. Children will create flowers using recycled plastic bottles with propeller-like petals, decorate them with paint, then mount them on rods to display in the ground. Suitable for children 5 – 12 years.
Book via Ticketbooth

African Drumming Workshop – FULLY BOOKED
Wednesday 27 September, 2.00pm – 3.00pm, Joondalup Library
Join Paul Osei Kofi from Ghana, as he brings alive the rhythms of Africa with traditional African drums and percussion instruments. Each child will be provided with a drum to play and will have the opportunity to drum, dance and sing together! Suitable for children 5 – 12 years.
Book via Ticketbooth

PokeBattle!
Thursday 28 September, 10.00am – 11.30am, Whitford Library
Calling all Pokémon Trainers! If you want to be the very best, compete in the Whitto Gym Knock out Tournament. Borrow a pre-made deck to compete in a simple knock out battle. Once the tournament is over, design your own Pokémon card, and bring your Pokémon cards to battle or trade with other trainers. All skill levels welcome. Suitable for children 5 – 12 years.
Book via Ticketbooth

Bottle Top Art – FULLY BOOKED
Friday 29 September, 2.00pm – 3.00pm, Duncraig Library
During Plastic Free July, local families contributed hundreds of plastic bottle tops to the Duncraig Library collection. Create your own beautiful work of art using these colourful bottle tops and discover the fun side of recycling!
Suitable for children 8 – 12 years.
Book via Ticketbooth

Creating Wild Characters – FULLY BOOKED
Monday 2 October, 10.00am – 11.00am, Joondalup Library
Back by popular demand – award winning author/illustrator Sean E Avery! Be inspired to create wild and wacky characters to star in your very own comic book. Explore the art of comic lettering, gain tips on character development, and enjoy Sean’s interactive drawing demonstrations. It’s time to let your imagination go Wild! Suitable for children 7 – 10 years.
Book via Ticketbooth

Dungeons and Dragons: Into the Shrieking Forest – FULLY BOOKED
Tuesday 3 October, 10.00am – 12.00noon, Woodvale Library
Choose your character and join a group of fearless adventurers as they brave the dangers and mysteries hidden within the Shrieking Forest.
This session will introduce new players to DnD 5th edition and its tabletop game play of interactive storytelling. Suitable for ages 12 – 17 years.
Book via Ticketbooth

Beeswax Lunchbox Wraps – FULLY BOOKED
Tuesday 3 October, 2.00pm – 3.00pm, Duncraig Library
Have you heard the buzz about beeswax wraps? Join the amazing Peg Davies and discover how to ‘nude’ your lunchbox with alternatives to plastic wrap. In this interactive session you will make your own beeswax wraps to take home and use everyday – it’s easy and lots of fun! Suitable for children 5 – 12 years.
Book via Ticketbooth

Marvellous Minibeasts – FULLY BOOKED
Friday 6 October, 2.00 – 3.00pm, Whitford Library
Get up close with a range of friendly minibeasts including stick insects, giant burrowing cockroaches, beetles, caterpillars and more! In this interactive workshop you will learn about the fascinating world of invertebrates and the crucial role they play in our environment. Suitable for children 5 – 12 years.
Book via Ticketbooth

Free activities – no bookings required

Treasure Hunt – Where the Wild Things Are
All Libraries
Visit the Libraries any time during the school holidays and join in the special Treasure Hunt. Can you find where the Wild Things are hiding in the Library? You could win a Wild Things prize pack! No cost. No bookings required.

Imagination Station
Sunday 1 October, 2.00pm, Joondalup Library
Come along for craft activities that will engage your imagination. Drop in for an hour of entertainment, learn new skills and let your creative side run free.
No cost. No bookings required.

Story Time
All Libraries
Bring your little wild things along to enjoy stories, songs and creative play at our regular story time sessions. Costumes and dress-ups are encouraged.
Suitable for children 2 – 4 years. More information.

Toddler Time
Woodvale Library
Thursday 28 September, 10.00am
Thursday 5 October, 10.00am
Join in these special holiday sessions, with stories, singing, movement and active play. Suitable for children 18 – 30 months.

To keep up to date with activities in the school holidays subscribe to the Libraries eNewsletter and follow the Libraries on Facebook and Instagram.

Customer Care

The friendly team at the Customer Care Centre can provide you assistance with a wide variety of City services and information, including:

Customer Care Centre location and opening hours

For information about the location and opening hours click the button below:

Customer Care Centre

Joondalup Festival wins national award

Joondalup Festival 2023 has been named Best Cultural, Arts or Music Event at the Australian Event Awards and Symposium.

This year’s festival, which attracted more than a quarter of a million visitors to event sites across the City, beat a world-class field of finalists: Vivid Sydney (NSW), Adelaide Fringe (SA), Carmen on Cockatoo Island (NSW) and National Multicultural Festival (ACT).

The City received this prestigious national award in Sydney on Wednesday 13 September 2023.

Held across March/April, the 2023 festival broke new ground with a refreshed and expanded program with more artists performing a broader range of events for more people at more places across the City than ever before.

The undoubted highlight was Boola Djarat Wardan – a laser, light and water show spectacular – which ran at Hillarys Boat Harbour and was enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people from across the State.

Meaning ‘many lights across the sea’, this seven-minute sensory spectacle was an amalgamation of digital laser light technology, water haze and geysers, with an enveloping soundscape that was brought together by the ancient art of Indigenous storytelling.

This display was one of several events in the festival lineup that celebrated culture and country.

Meeukang Warangka Ba Kenniny, meaning ‘dancing and singing in the moonlight,’ opened the festival at Neil Hawkins Park, while Celebrate Yellagonga Day offered the community a day of fun activities for the whole family, including music and live performances, fascinating talks and walking tours, kids’ entertainment, arts and crafts, free and ticketed workshops and more.

More than 50 other entertainment shows, community days and special events were held throughout the program, bringing together the contributions of more than 300 local and interstate artists and creatives.

Joondalup Mayor Albert Jacob said this significant national award was fitting recognition for the City, which had taken the festival to new heights in 2023.

“What a great way to celebrate our 25th anniversary as a City,” he said.

“This success of Joondalup Festival 2023 was the result of a strong collaborative effort from many teams across the City who came together as one to deliver the best festival in the event’s storied history.

“The standard has been set. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2024.”

Protect our Wildlife

We have a beautiful natural environment, home to our unique and inspiring wildlife, which we care for and protect. Local wildlife needs our help and faces many threats – this includes when people purposefully feed wildlife, which can result in animals becoming overconfident, contribute to a decline in their health and wellbeing, and even promote aggressive behaviour. We encourage you to learn how to look after wildlife, help sick or injured animals, and know who to contact for assistance. 

Providing food and water for wildlife is often done with the best intentions. However, whether you’re concerned for their welfare or simply trying to get closer to an animal, offering food and water can put these animals at risk. 

Why we should let nature cater for our wildlife 

Some of the issues caused by feeding wildlife include: 

  • Dependency on humans for survival as they rely on food provided and lose the ability to find food for themselves. This can particularly impact juveniles who should be learning to find their natural food.  
  • Sickness and deformities due to high quantities of salt present in bread and processed foods.  
  • Weight issues due to high quantities of fat present in processed food and meat.  
  • Dietary imbalances and severe deficiencies can be brought on by feeding (e.g. raw meat is lacking in calcium and has high phosphorous levels). 
  • Increase in aggression and stress as many animals try to feed or drink together. 
  • Spreading disease through a concentration of food and animals in large numbers in one place.  
  • Bacteria from artificial water sources that become stagnant can be deadly to animals and spread sickness easily. Did you know that kangaroos around Yellagonga Regional Park absorb most of their water needs through food? Luckily, there’s a permanent natural water source in the park if they need it, so there is no need to supplement with buckets of water.  
  • Increase in the quantity of non-native animals, rodents and insects, as the more food they get, the more they breed. 
  • Changing the balance of species in the wild as it can increase some species, which, in turn, decreases others. 

Nature provides everything they need to survive and thrive, so please refrain from feeding our wildlife food and water. Feeding of native animals is illegal and can also incur large fines. 

Wetland waterbirds foraging for food in the shallow mudflats in Yellagonga Regional Park.

Wildlife conservation efforts by the City and its partners 

The City works with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) and its neighbouring local governments to conserve and protect wildlife. 

Some of the environmental initiatives the City has led or supported include: 

  • Implementing the Yellagonga Integrated Catchment Management Plan with the City of Wanneroo. 
  • Collaborating with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and the City of Wanneroo on a ‘Local Biodiversity Project’ within Yellagonga Regional Park. 
  • Collaborating with Murdoch University and other partners on the Saving our Snake-necked Turtle Project and implementing the Turtle Trackers program to help protect turtle nests at Lake Joondalup. 
  • Controlling feral animals in conjunction with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and the City of Wanneroo. 
  • Working with volunteers to conserve and protect natural areas. 
  • Undertaking revegetation and habitat creation projects in collaboration with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, the City of Wanneroo, schools and community groups. This also includes installing conservation fencing in reserves. 
  • Raising awareness and educating the community, including installing signage in reserves and implementing a range of greening and biodiversity initiatives. 

Feeding or leaving water out for Kangaroos can make them aggressive, dependent and puts them at risk.

How you can help wildlife 

We all have a role in helping protect and conserve our local biodiversity. Here are some ways that you can enjoy and appreciate the wildlife around you without interfering: 

  • Volunteer your time to protect and manage our beautiful and diverse natural areas. You will be able to help enhance these areas and create new habitats for our local wildlife. Find your local Friends Group today and learn more about how to establish a new group. There are also opportunities to help sick and injured wildlife return to the wild, plant out areas to help native fauna flourish, survey birds and more. Or, if you are looking to volunteer with other wildlife care or conservation organisations, you can find an opportunity that suits you.  
  • Create your own wildlife habitat at home to attract birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects that you can observe. Grow native plants that provide nectar-rich flowers, fruits and leaves that wildlife feed on, and in time, will provide them with shelter. Leave out a clean, freshly filled bird bath to help attract native birds.  
  • With fewer tree hollows available in suburbia, consider building a nesting box in your backyard for local birds or animals. Different animals require different types of boxes, so it’s a good idea to investigate the animals that visit your area and the types of homes they require. Visit ReWild Perth for an action plan and more information to get started on creating a habitat for wildlife.
  • Take the time to connect with and visit nature. Yellagonga Regional Park and other natural areas in the City are wonderful places to observe kangaroos and other local wildlife and bushland birds.  
  • Contribute to citizen science projects and record your wildlife sightings and observations, identify species and contribute to a national scientific database on Atlas of Living Australia. 

What you can do if you see sick or injured wildlife 

Contact the Wildcare Helpline if you find sick or injured native wildlife and are seeking advice on where to find care for the animal. 

Our closest nonprofit organisation that rescues, treats and rehabilitates sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife is Native Animal Rescue in Malaga.

Memorial Service for Margaret Cockman

Please join us to celebrate the life of Margaret Jane Cockman OAM CStJ (1931 – 2023).

Family, friends, colleagues and community members are invited to remember Margaret at a special Memorial Service on Friday 11 August, 1.00pm – 2.30pm at City of Wanneroo Civic Centre, 23 Dundebar Road, Wanneroo.

Those who are unable to attend in person can watch the service online.

With respect to Margaret’s altruistic heart, please donate to the Cancer Council of WA in lieu of flowers.

A proud descendant of one of the City’s founding families, Margaret dedicated more than five decades to working in local government and her enduring legacy will continue to shape the City of Wanneroo for years to come. Learn more about Margaret’s career and life.

Vale Chris Baker

The City of Joondalup is saddened by the passing of former Joondalup Councillor Chris Baker.

Chris, aged 65, served the City with distinction from 2001-2004 as Marina Ward Councillor.

As Joondalup MLA, from 1996-2001, Chris was passionate about providing a safe community, local jobs for local people, infrastructure and amenities for Perth’s fast-growing northern corridor. At the time of his death, Chris was a North Ward Councillor at the City of Wanneroo.

On behalf of the Joondalup Council, staff and residents of the City of Joondalup, I convey our deepest condolences to Chris’ family and friends.

Albert Jacob, Joondalup Mayor

Vale Margaret Cockman

The Cities of Joondalup and Wanneroo extend their condolences to the family and friends of their Matriarch, Margaret Cockman OAM, who has passed away, aged 92.

No one has done more to shape the identity of the cities of Joondalup and Wanneroo as we know them today than Margaret.

From an early age, Margaret dedicated her life to her community and to the people of Wanneroo. Later in life that extended to Joondalup.

History will reflect well on her many achievements.

Through five decades of service in local government, Margaret witnessed every major development and project undertaken throughout the region.

Her incredible volume of voluntary work is unmatched.

Family-orientated, personable and loyal, with a great sense of humour and a happy disposition, Margaret truly lived life to the fullest.

She will be missed.

At an appropriate time, both cities will honour Margaret Cockman’s legacy in a befitting manner.

On behalf of the Wanneroo/Joondalup family, we thank Margaret Cockman on a job well done.

Rest in Peace.

Joondalup Mayor Albert Jacob

Wanneroo Mayor Linda Aitken

Public Art Masterplan Consultation

The City acknowledges the important role played by public art in creating a vibrant and appealing place to live, work and visit. Public art shapes and develops a sense of community and identity, contributing to our understanding and appreciation of our cultural and natural heritage, enhancing our built environment, and creating more meaningful public spaces. The City’s Public Art collection has been acquired since 1998 and includes over 20 artworks.

Setting the Vision for New Public Art

The City is currently undertaking consultation to develop a new Public Art Strategy and Masterplan.

This Masterplan will define the vision for Public Art in the City and help guide resources and funding towards future projects. Such projects aim to enhance the City’s significant Indigenous sites, built environment, distinctive natural assets, historic locations and key destinations. The Masterplan will also provide a guiding framework for all new commissions, ensuring that Joondalup’s Public Art collection creates a sense of place, promotes the expression of local identity, and reflects on the shared values and needs of the community.

Community Consultation Surveys and Workshops

The City sought community feedback in August 2023 to set the direction for the Public Art Masterplan. The survey received phenomenally high engagement, with more than 200 responses received. The results of the survey are currently being collated, along with findings from various community workshops and pop-ups.

Further information and next steps for the Public Art Masterplan will be shared shortly. To stay in the loop, subscribe to the City’s Arts in Focus eNewsletter.

Banner image: Bridget Norton, Untitled, 2009, digital print on acrylic. Craigie Leisure Centre, Craigie.