Coolbellup Community Association Town Team members Lisa Appleby, Teresia Lindbert and Pip Brennan enjoy a little shade with Cockburn Community Men’s Shed member Ian Marriner. Photo by Steve Grant

A LONG-HELD dream to have native trees to cool down their local shopping centre’s car park has finally come true for the Coolbellup Community Association Town Team.

The town team successfully applied for a grant from the City of Cockburn’s funding for resident groups, which was launched last year.

“We wanted trees not just for their shade but for how they improve the look and feel of the car park, and how they support our birds and wildlife,” said Cooby Town Team chair Pip Brennan. 

“We also wanted to keep it local, and we were very lucky to have the giant planters, or IBCs donated to us by Uncle Mitchell Garlett from the Maaman “O” Miya church.

“The beautiful jarrah cladding for the planters were made by Cockburn Men’s Shed.”

“It’s one of our biggest projects so far. We’re really happy with how they turned out,” said Mark Hemmings from Cockburn Community Men’s Shed.

It was a community effort to get the trees and planters in place, but everyone agreed it was more than worth it.

“We’re so happy with the end result, and we’re looking forward to future community projects thanks to City of Cockburn’s new funding opportunities.”