Kalamunda Street Makeover

Haynes Street in Kalamunda has been given a fresh new look, thanks to the creativity and hard work of local young people!

How young people shaped the Kalamunda Street Makeover

Across five weekends between November and February, over 35 young people rolled up their sleeves and took part in the Kalamunda Street Makeover, a community-led transformation powered by RAC Ignite, the City of Kalamunda, and the amazing Youth Action Kalamunda team. From designing vibrant new public spaces to painting a stunning footpath mural, this project showed the power of young minds in shaping safer and more welcoming streets for everyone.

The process

The journey began with a series of planning workshops where young leaders came together to share ideas on how to liven up Haynes Street, a main shopping and dining strip in Kalamunda. They came up with great ideas that could make the centre of town more inviting and safer to get around for walkers, bike riders and drivers.

Their ideas included adding in temporary cross walks to show how the street could work better as well as new street side seating and plants to bring a fresh new look to the street for diners and shoppers. A highlight of the project included working with local artist Lauren Gissing to design and paint a striking 60-metre-long footpath mural that featured local flora and fauna from around Kalamunda.

Then, across two Build and Activate weekends, they brought their vision to life. Installing colourful street furniture, setting up planter boxes, and painting the stunning mural that leads people from car parking to a safe crossing point. The transformation was finally unveiled on 22 February with a community street party, where hundreds of locals came together to celebrate the fresh new space.

The outcome

The results speak for themselves! The makeover introduced eye-catching art, new bike racks, and places to sit and connect, making Haynes Street a more vibrant and inviting space for everyone. This project is a testament to what young leaders can achieve when they step up to reimagine and revitalise their local streets and public spaces.

A huge thank you to everyone who took part, from the passionate young creatives to the community members who joined in the celebration, as well as the City of Kalamunda and the Youth Action Kalamunda team for their support.

The importance of youth-led projects

The Kalamunda Street Makeover enabled local young people to get involved in the decision making process of the project all the way through to the execution, making them feel a sense of achievement, pride, and ownership. It also helps young people develop leadership skills and confidence at an important time in their lives.

“I came here to help out with the RAC Ignite project to revitalise Haynes Street because I want to see Haynes Street become a safer and more accessible place for pedestrians.”

“I want to make sure that the people that live here for generations to come, are able to see the impact that we have tried to make for them.”

“I wanted to be able to give the community a voice as well as show my voice within the community.”

How you can get involved in youth-led projects

Is there a street or place in your community that could use a makeover? If you’re passionate about creating safer streets and more welcoming community spaces, we’re always on the lookout for young people to help us out.

Click the button below to register your interest in our next local makeover project.

Register your interest