Perth Voice Interactive

BUSINESSES suffering at Barrack Square may get rent relief from the WA government, as traders struggle to make a buck amidst the dust, noise and hostile terrain of the Elizabeth Quay works.

Back in April the Voice revealed Annalakshmi restaurant was suffering because of the works. That’s led to a flurry of other local traders reporting their own drastic downturns, and the Perth media jumping on the story.

One business has shut and the owners of two others sold their homes to keep theirs going as works drag on into a third year.

Joyce and Bryan Molnar run Riverside Cafe and are seeking compensation from their landlord—the WA  transport department. When transport minister Dean Nalder dropped by, the pair confronted him. After telling them to be polite, Mr Nalder said if anyone can prove a financial impact, rent will be waived (that’s the first the Molnars had heard of such an offer).

Lord mayor Lisa Scaffidi had already called on the Barnett government to compensate the businesses, describing the area as “a warzone” and “truly tragic”.

WA Labor leader Mark McGowan is scathing, saying “the Barnett government and Mr Nalder have mishandled the whole situation at Barrack Square”.

“The minister has treated these people with no respect, it has been a disgrace,” he says. “I can only hope that now since he has been embarrassed publicly he will give the small business owners a fair hearing and be true to his word by compensating the businesses for loss of revenue throughout this whole disaster.”

by DAVID BELL