Bird Hide at Westgate Park

Last year we linked the architecture firm, MAKE Architecture, with the non-profit community group, Friends of Westgate Park (FOWP), to create a Birdhide in the inner-metropolitan park under the Westgate Bridge, Melbourne.

The park is popular with bird observers and FOWP felt there was a need to build facilities to provide close viewing opportunities for park visitors, bird observers, school groups and others. When complete the proposal will benefit the environment, local birdlife as well as local communities who use the area.

MAKE originally set up this project as a summer school design studio at RMIT which was presented in February 2008.

More updates on the design work which MAKE Architecture have undertaken on the Birdhide please click here.

Neighbourhood house project in Timor Leste

The cities of Yarra and Darebin in Victoria developed a Friendship Agreement with the province and township of Baucau following Timor Leste’s independence. At next month’s words night, members of Friends of Baucau and Yarra and Darebin councils will speak about a recent building project in Timor Leste. With the help of agencies including Australian Volunteers International and the Rotary Clubs’ Roofing Project, a building damaged during the independence violence was restored and established as a neighbourhood house.

Friends of Baucau are planning to restore a building adjacent to the Buka Hatene neighbourhood house and on the night will be presenting details of the new project and happy to speak to anyone interested in getting involved. Speakers will include Clare Murrell, Project Officer at Friends of Baucau and Roderick McIvor, Manager of Social Policy at Darebin City Council. More details coming soon!