Perth Voice Interactive

THE City of Perth will launch public consultation for its $720 million vision to transform Perth’s waterfront later this year.

At its last meeting the council adopted the masterplan which is centred around three riverside beaches, a swimming lagoon, cafes, restaurants and additional boat moorings.

Lord mayor Basil Zempilas described the plan, which had its genesis in a series of technical studies in 2018 and a meeting with stakeholders in 2020 as an “opportunity to make a statement” and put forward a “visionary” plan for the community to consider.

“A masterplan that will make the area of Langley Park and Riverside Drive much more liveable, much more sustainable and certainly more prosperous as well,” Mr Zempilas said.

The lord mayor said the plan would help the City reach its population target of 55,000 residents by 2036 and 90,000 by 2050.

“The opportunity to touch and interact with the river, including a swimming lagoon and some amenity that will make the amenity more attractive and more liveable, but certainly increase opportunities for people to come, interact and enjoy the space.”

He said it would keep the essence of Langley Park, with two ovals capable of holding 10,000 and 25,000 people.

“When the Fremantle Dockers or the West Coast Eagles win their next premiership – whenever that might be – we can still have the welcome home party at Langley Park,” Mr Zempilas said.

“The centrepiece in the plan includes three riverfront beaches, includes a lagoon where people can swim, surrounded by breakwater islands, a jetty, a ferry stop and boat moorings.”

He said it would be “the most significant city-shaping project of our lifetimes.”

Councillor Liam Gobbert described it as “nation-building stuff”, with an eye on federal funding which is likely to be necessary given the WA Labor government’s lack of enthusiasm for the proposal so far.

Infrastructure cuts

Squeezing money out of the feds is going to be difficult for the foreseeable future, with the Albanese government culling 50 projects across the nation in November after a review found its $120 billion infrastructure fund couldn’t pay for what was already in the pipeline over the next decade.

But Cr Gobbert said from his experience at Joondalup council when it was planning for the Ocean Reef Marina, it would most likely be a 30-year project anyway.

“It’s a starting point,” he said of the draft masterplan.

“Precincts centred around ecology, events, leisure, play, culture and key themes of the plan that underpin them are what we are seeking feedback on to make sure that progress aligns with community expectations.

“Broadly those themes are; 

“To reimagine the river’s edge with new planting, beaches, boardwalks, terraces;

“The realignment of Riverside Drive to create more usable and safe spaces;

“Promotion of destination attractions and connections to the city with points of interest at the lagoon;

“Cafes, restaurants, landscaping, new boat moorings;

“It’s better wetland and stormwater management and connections to Country.”

Cr Bruce Reynolds told the meeting of a near-200 year connection to the waterfront.

“Almost 200 years ago my great great grandfather John Stanton rode down the Swan as part of the landing party to find water and the nostalgic side of me closes my eyes from time to time on the river and I wonder what he would have seen,” Cr Reynolds said.

“It would have been majestic, and it’s still majestic.

“Change is inevitable and if he was to open his eyes today he would see a lot of positive change that we are all proud of in our city and we have grown into a beautiful city, something that we are very proud of.”

He noted there’d been mixed reactions to the plans from ratepayers, but urged them to participate in the consultation as it was the first draft and they would be given an opportunity to have their say.

by STEVE GRANT