Welcome to Djilba, the fifth season in the Nyungar calendar. Djilba is a mixed bag, with cold and clear days combined with warmer but rainy and windy days, and the occasional sunny day thrown in.

Newborn animals will be foraging and learning with the adults, who are also protecting their young from threats — like us. The woodland birds are nest bound so the swooping protective behaviour of the Koolbardi (Magpie) will ramp up. Keep an eye on those Djidi Djidi (Willy Wagtails) and the Chuck-a-lucks (Wattle Birds) as well!

The massive flower explosion in the South West starts with yellow flowering plants like Acacias. You'll see some beautiful creams and vivid, striking blues too.
Source: Bureau of Meteorology | Djilba artwork: Tyrown Waigana
 

Not only does Cockburn have some of the lowest rates in Perth, but we deliver our ratepayers value for money through high-quality local services and facilities for residents and businesses.

SmartRates
The City offers a range of rate payment options, including SmartRates which allows ratepayers to make weekly, fortnightly or four-weekly direct debit payments, providing greater convenience and assisting rates affordability. With SmartRates, you also pay using direct debit, which means no more overdue fees! Join over 8,850 Cockburnites and sign-up today.

Paperless billing (eRates)
To save further on your bills, sign up to eRates to get paperless billing. By choosing to receive your rates via email you will save $7.50 on your bill! Your six trailer passes to the Henderson Waste Recovery Park will also be attached on your annual rate notice, making them easier to retrieve when you next visit.

Financial Counselling
The City provides a financial counselling service for individuals, families and businesses facing financial difficulties: Call 08 9411 3444.
 

The City and Water Corporation is offering $250 subsidies along with 15 native plant seedlings and soil enhancers to help residents transform their verges into Waterwise gardens. Just be sure to lay mulch after planting your free native seedlings. 
 

Carol Reeve-Fowkes is the City of Cockburn’s new East ward representative. It will be her second stint as a Cockburn Councillor, having represented the West ward between 2007-2019. Nearly 28 per cent of the ward’s 22,823 eligible voters participated in the WA Electoral Commission poll which attracted six candidates. Cr Carol Reeve-Fowkes' term will expire on 21 October 2023 when the next round of Local Government Elections is due to be held.
 

The City recently held the annual Cockburn Volunteer Emergency Services dinner on 5 August to recognise emergency services volunteers who risk their lives to protect our community. Volunteers from Marine Rescue Cockburn (MRC), Cockburn State Emergency Service (SES), South Coogee Bush Fire Brigade and Jandakot Bush Fire Brigade were all in attendance at this very special event.

We wanted to know what motivates people to volunteer in their local community, so we asked Brett Babarich, a volunteer for five years at Marina Rescue Cockburn, why he does it.

Why do you volunteer for Marine Rescue Cockburn?
"I live in Coogee, and as a member of the Cockburn Power Boat Club I’ve seen first hand the great work of Marine Rescue Cockburn over the years. I joined Marine Rescue to help them out and assist the local community on the water."

Have you learned anything from volunteering?
"I'm forever learning and adapting to new situations such as COVID-19. During this time, to ensure we were always available for callouts, we operated with a nominated skipper and minimum crew to avoid the whole team being infected at one time. This was challenging but we made it through."

What is your most significant memory of volunteering?
"Being part of two serious medical incidents and being able to save the lives of people that love boating on our waters."

What would you say to someone thinking of joining, but who wasn’t quite sure?
"Visit our web page and come along to one of our information sessions and you can become a member of an amazing group."
 

Planning is underway by Main Roads WA and is expected to be complete by the end of 2023.

As part of the planning, the location of the supporting piers is being determined so construction of the pedestrian bridge in Hamilton Hill can progress. Environmental reviews are also underway. The previous bridge was demolished in 2020 following impact by an oversize vehicle in 2019.
 

Member for Cockburn, David Scaife MP, in partnership with the City, engaged with the local community after they expressed a need for nature play elements suitable for young children in Tapper Park, Atwell.

The Atwell Community Association and residents were actively involved in shaping the design of the nature play area which includes a double swing, tight rope, balance log, timber steppers, and interactive play panels — perfect for the kids and a great outcome for the local community!

The State Government funded $50,000 for the project.
 

Manning Park has gained 20 new trees as we marked Hiroshima Day — the anniversary of the destruction of the Japanese city of Hiroshima by an atomic bomb on 6 August 1945 — with an annual tree-planting ceremony held in the name of peace.

It is the 37th time the tree-planting event has been held, with about 50 children from nine local schools accepting an invitation to add Corymbia and Eucalypt species to the popular Spearwood park. 

Transport WA has released the final concept for the new $9.69m Woodman Point jetty. The City was one of several members of a working group to consider 1,000+ public submissions on a new jetty design.

Most of the old Ammo Jetty piles will remain as a dive site and some of the new jetty’s features will include a 50m T-head for fishing, a swimming platform, access ramps to the water, shelter, seating and shade.