Perth Voice Interactive

CONVINCING the Cook government to transform the “sandpit” at the eastern gateway of his city into open space tops a 10-point plan released as part of lord mayor Basil Zempilas’ re-election campaign this weekend.

Mr Zempilas said while the list wasn’t necessarily in order of importance, pulling down the barriers around the stalled Waterbank development on the East Perth foreshore was a “huge priority”.

“It’s important because it is a gateway to our city, and anyone coming across the Causeway or coming from Crown or Optus Stadium, they’re greeted by what is basically a sandpit surrounded by ugly barriers,” Mr Zempilas told the Voice.

Developer Lendlease won a tender from the Barnett government back in 2011 to build a $1 billion hotel, apartment and office complex on the site, but pulled out of the deal in 2022.

“We have all seen the reasons why the development has not been able to go ahead, but we can claim that empty space and make it green with some trees and plants, put in some grass and landscaping and then it can be used by the community,” Mr Zempilas said.

He believes there’s room for a decent sports oval and a more passive Victoria Gardens-style space on the site.

“The kids at Trinity College could use it, the new primary school at East Perth could use it, and the community could use it.

“If it takes 10, 15 or 50 years to develop, let’s getting it looking as good as we can.”

Mr Zempilas said he’d already flagged the idea with DevelopmentWA and the state government, and given the City was prepared to look after the maintenance, he says they’ve “welcomed” the idea.

He says it’s important for WA as well as for the locals who complain about the eyesore in their neighbourhood: “It also gets raised by interstate and oversea visitors who say ‘gee, we love your city, but what’s that happening on the foreshore’,” Mr Zempilas said.

India

His 10-point plan also suggests developing stronger ties with India via a sister city arrangement.

“The state government have realised the significant economic benefits that could be unlocked with a stronger relationship with India, and as a capital city we are also awake to those significant benefits.”

Mr Zempilas said Perth’s migrant population has overtaken those born on Australian soil, and those from an Indian background were likely to overtake those from China as soon as the next Census. Despite that the council has two Chinese sister cities and none from India.

“I want Perth front and centre in exploring the modern incarnation of the sister city,” Mr Zempilas said.

That could include student, cultural and business-to-business exchanges which he says have to bring tangible benefits to both sides.

“It would be good to identify a city in India that has similarities to Perth, like a mining city or an Indian energy city.”

Mr Zempilas said the council had renamed Nelson Street after Indian Gurkha and Anzac Private Nain Singh Sailani at the request of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi who’d also mentioned Perth while meeting with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese.

“What an excellent time to foster that relationship with a sister city.”

Another plan would be to green up Forrest Place.

“We are very lucky to have a great civic place like Forrest Place, and other cities around the world would kill to have something like Forrest Place… but there is no disputing that it is unforgiving and inhospitable when the weather starts to get warm,” Mr Zempilas said.

He’d like to see some grass where people can sit, and says that might make the space more useable more often. It also fitted in with the city’s currently sustainability push.

Other items on his list include:

• Business relocation incentives to poach companies from other suburbs;

• Safety with better lighting and improved community services;

• A lift in food and beverage offerings in the Hay Street Mall;

• A community space for East Perth, West Perth and Nedlands/Crawley;

• Expanded free parking;

• A permanent stage at Supreme Court Gardens; and, 

• Give Perth’s creatives an opportunity to reimagine Citiplace from the train station to Barrack Street, saying it’s currently “tired and rundown”.

by STEVE GRANT