City of Gosnells – greener parks, smarter water use

Overview 

The City of Gosnells is one of Perth’s fastest-growing and most culturally diverse local governments, supporting more than 130,000 residents across 300 parks, nine sporting reserves, major community facilities and extensive natural areas.

As the drying climate places increasing pressure on water supplies, the City has taken a proactive and practical approach to managing water use across its extensive parks and drainage network. As a Gold-endorsed participant in the Waterwise Council Program, Gosnells has focused on using water more efficiently while continuing to provide green, welcoming public spaces that support community wellbeing.

By combining smarter irrigation, modern drainage diagnostics, green space planning and strong community engagement, the City has delivered meaningful reductions in water and energy use. These improvements have also strengthened resilience, reduced operational costs and enhanced the liveability of local neighbourhoods.

Key initiatives 

Green space planning and irrigation upgrades:

• Converted irrigated turf areas into hydrozones and ecozones to better match watering to plant needs
• Replaced ageing bores and pumps to improve irrigation performance and reduce energy use
• Introduced remote-controlled irrigation systems to enable faster seasonal adjustments
• Trialled wetting agents to maintain plant health using less water
• Switched off aesthetic fountains during peak evaporation periods to save water and electricity
  
   

Smart drainage program:

• Introduced CCTV, push cameras and ground-penetrating radar to accurately diagnose drainage issues
• Installed flow meters that provide early alerts before flooding occurs, supporting proactive maintenance
• Brought drainage inspections in-house, improving response times and delivering significant cost savings

Urban greening and canopy expansion:

• Delivered Urban Greening Grant projects in priority high-heat suburbs
• Planted 1,100 trees and 3,000 understorey species to improve shade, cooling and biodiversity
• Enhanced verges, nature corridors and drainage basins to support greener streetscapes and healthier ecosystems

Community water literacy and engagement:

• Established the City’s first Waterwise demonstration garden
• Delivered the Plants for Locals program, providing 10,000 native plants to residents each year
• Introduced a Sustainable Garden competition to inspire waterwise gardening
• Integrated Noongar water storytelling through wetland renaming and cultural interpretation
• Upgraded Mary Carroll Park with walking loops, water-themed play spaces and ecological signage
  
   

How it was done 

The City of Gosnells strengthened water management by pairing detailed diagnostics with targeted action. By investing in new irrigation infrastructure, replacing inefficient assets and using smart technologies, the City gained better visibility of water use across its park and drainage networks.

Modern drainage tools helped teams detect issues earlier, prevent flooding and reduce reactive maintenance. At the same time, green space planning ensured water was applied where it delivered the greatest benefit, supporting plant health while avoiding unnecessary use.

Community engagement played a key role. Through demonstration gardens, plant giveaways and education programs, residents were encouraged to adopt waterwise practices at home. Urban greening and water-sensitive design principles ensured water-saving initiatives also delivered wider benefits, including cooler suburbs, improved biodiversity and more inviting public spaces.

What’s next

Building on this progress, the City of Gosnells will continue applying green space planning principles to new park designs and upgrades. Future priorities include expanding the smart drainage network at high-risk sites, delivering additional urban greening projects to increase canopy cover, and continuing annual community programs that promote waterwise behaviours.

By integrating smarter infrastructure, greener design and community action, the City of Gosnells is shaping more resilient, sustainable and liveable places for the future.

Learn more about the program

Learn more about how we're working with local governments across Western Australia to support waterwise communities and recognise councils demonstrating leadership in sustainable water management through the Waterwise Council Program.