Perth Voice Interactive

WITH amalgamations looming Vincent council has released its vision for key projects over the next two years.

Priorities include:

• rolling out the bike network to fix gaps in the cycle paths and fight congestion;

• greening streets and verges to cool the suburb and prevent heat islands;

• a “placemaking” program with town centre managers to drive spruce ups at town centres like Mt Hawthorn, North Perth, Mt Lawley and Leederville, with new public art on the way, more trees and pedestrian-friendly measures;

• developing a heritage protection area model and rezoning parts of West Perth to protect the area’s heritage character.

Mayor John Carey says with a likely amalgamation with Perth approaching, Vincent want to get some projects locked down now.

“There has been concern from residents that we may be forgotten under the new City of Perth structure,” he says.

Mr Carey says as long as there’s a fair split of representatives (and not some gerrymandered system that benefits current-Perth) he’s confident that what’s currently in Vincent won’t be ignored.

“[But] in the transition there may be some delays, so I’m wanting to get as much as we can done right now for the community.”

The bike plan represents one of the major projects with an estimated $600,000 pegged for the first section: Connecting the east-west paths along Bulwer and Vincent Street, a route sorely underserved by public transport.

“One of the biggest complaints that Vincent gets now is traffic congestion, and the reality is that we can’t build new public transport, that’s the jurisdiction of state government.

“But one way we can tackle the issue is actually encourage people to get on their bikes as an alternative form of transport to a car.

“The only way people are going to do that is if they feel safe on a bike and if it’s convenient.

“I would love to see that we get well underway a major corridor that connects our town centres and major recreational facilities together.”

That leg of the plan will go out to public consultation shortly.

“My main message is that this whole agenda is about creating really livable neighbourhoods,” Mr Carey says.

“This is an agenda about a bike plan that puts cyclists on their bikes, it’s a greening plan that cools our streets, it’s about looking at how we focus on pedestrian access and safer crossings, it’s the nature playgrounds that encourage kids to get away from the TV.”

 by DAVID BELL