❓ Minister updates parliament on the Perth Waterfront project's progress, highlighting its importance for population growth and improved city-river connection. Work is scheduled to commence in April with demolition and utility modifications.
AnsweredQoN 51Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PERTH WATERFRONT PROJECT — PROGRESS
51. Mr M.W. SUTHERLAND to the Minister for Planning:
I know there is a healthy level of debate about the
government's plans to develop the Perth waterfront. Can the minister
please update the house on the progress of this landmark project?
51. Mr M.W. SUTHERLAND to the Minister for Planning:
I know there is a healthy level of debate about the
government's plans to develop the Perth waterfront. Can the minister
please update the house on the progress of this landmark project?
AnswerView source ↗
I am very happy to provide some information on this very
significant and long overdue development of the Perth waterfront—something
that has been talked about in Perth for well in excess of 20 years. We need to
understand that this project is happening in the context of large population
and economic growth in Western Australia. Each year, more than 30 000 people
move to live in Western Australia. As I announced a couple of weeks ago, we
expect the state's population to grow by about 700 000 people, to over
three million, over the next 14 to 15 years. All that leads to a lot more
pressure on the need for residential, commercial and retail accommodation, as
well as hotel developments, particularly in Perth's CBD. If we do not
take effective action, we would certainly not be fulfilling our
responsibilities as a government that is concerned about the future development
of the state and providing opportunities for current and future residents of
Perth and Western Australia.
The Perth Waterfront project is one
of the government's key projects to meet these challenges. It is a
project that is supported by the majority of Perth and Western Australian
residents. Some people argue about the detail or exactly how it may be done,
but I have no doubt that the clear majority of people in this state believe it
is appropriate to get a much better connection between the Perth city centre
and the Swan River to create a place that is more vibrant, interesting,
engaging and attractive for both local residents and visitors to the state. My
colleague the member for Darling Range will assist in showing one of the
predicted images.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Thank you, members. I do not know if the excitement is about the
member for Darling Range being on his feet; perhaps it is about the
illustration. Members, I insist on some quiet at this point. It is a simple
insistence—very simple.
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : As members can see, a very high quality area of public space
will be created. This is the so-called station park area on the north east
corner of the development. We can see there is anything but a huge degree of
commercial or residential development in that area.
Mr
C.J. Barnett : Where is the member for Perth? Is he in there somewhere?
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : I will come to the member for Perth in a moment! It will be
interesting to see where the member for Perth stands in relation to this
project.
In relation to the actual project
and progress being made, I am pleased to say that work will commence on the
site in April, beginning with the demolition; there will also be modification
to the utilities services in preparation for the construction of the inlet and
the public space. In May, work will commence in Barrack Square, with the
deconstruction of jetty 6, the extension of jetty 5, and the building of some
additional finger walls on jetty 1. In May, the two-way connection from William
Street to the roundabout near the Narrows Bridge will be commenced. At the
moment that road is one-way heading west, and it will be made two-way to
improve traffic flow; the freeway on-ramps will also be reconfigured. By the
end of the year the first round of improvements to Barrack Square will have
been completed, and those developments will help draw people into Barrack
Square, which is an area that is not well developed at the moment.
I understand that people have a view about traffic flow and
traffic movements. It is not the case that we have a large amount of capacity
on our freeways at the moment, which was the case in the 1980s.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you
to order for the first time today. Member for Armadale, I formally call you to
order for the first time today.
Dr
A.D. Buti : It wasn't me!
The
SPEAKER : It is a retrospective one for you, member for Armadale! And I
think I have a few more of those, too! I want to hear this answer in silence.
Some of you may be amused; I want to hear it in silence. Minister.
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : To facilitate the completion of the inlet, a section of
Riverside Drive between Barrack Street and William Street will be removed from
approximately the middle of next year; I note that that was a feature of the
previous government's plan. The traffic will flow around the
development via William Street, The Esplanade and Barrack Street. It is also
important to note that work is being done to expand the capacity of the Graham
Farmer Freeway and tunnel; the Minister for Transport will have more to say
about that in the next couple of months or so.
The state government is also working with the City of Perth
to develop a central business district transport plan to provide for bus
priority and pedestrian amenity, to reduce through-traffic travel demand, and
to generally improve the urban environment. This will be one of the most
significant transit-oriented developments in Australia—certainly in
Western Australia. Some people have commented that this project is being done
in the absence of substantial public transport facilities being developed; it
is actually adjacent to the Perth to Fremantle rail line and The Esplanade
underground rail station, and the Swan River ferries will actually come into
the inlet. It is also adjacent to The Esplanade bus station, and of course
there will also be pedestrian and cycle access. So, it is actually, by
definition, a very substantial transit-oriented development. It would be
interesting to know exactly the current position of the opposition in relation
to this matter.
Mr J.N. Hyde : We
moved a disallowance!
Mr J.H.D. DAY : So,
the member for Perth opposes the project?
Mr J.N. Hyde : Sit
down, and we'll ask you a question!
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : The member for Perth opposes the project, and I noticed that
one of the local papers out my way—the Echo —stated that he has completely aligned himself with the
City Gatekeepers, and that he is supportive of their views on the project.
Mr
J.N. Hyde : It's a better plan—a better plan than this!
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : So, the member for Perth has put on the record that he supports
the City Gatekeepers plan for the development of the foreshore.
Mr
J.N. Hyde : It's a better plan!
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : The member for Perth thinks it is a better plan; he thinks it
would be better to have a four-lane road remaining as a barrier between the CBD
and the Swan River.
Mr
J.N. Hyde : You're closing Riverside Drive—you know your
people don't want that!
The
SPEAKER : Member for Perth!
Mr
J.N. Hyde : Sorry.
The
SPEAKER : Minister, if you engage members of the other side and name them by
their seat in this place, you can expect some interjection. I am expecting to
get on to another question. I do not know whether you have concluded, minister.
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : Thank you, Mr Speaker; I am approaching the conclusion.
The plan put forward, which the
member for Perth has indicated he supports, would be, essentially, an elitist
development, available to a few people. It would not provide a good connection
between the city and the river, and there would still be a four-lane road as a
substantial barrier.
The member for Rockingham—now
the Leader of the Opposition; I congratulate him on his elevation—made
some critical comments about the government's change of plan back in
2009 when he was critical of the fact that we have actually modified what the
previous Labor government had put forward; that is, the so-called ''Dubai
on Swan'' plan. An article in The
West Australian dated 3 April 2009 stated —
Shadow planning minister Mark McGowan
said Labor's plans would have created life in the precinct —
Maybe —
and he claimed that the Government
was functioning with ''a 1980s mind-set''.
He was being critical of the modest
downscaling of the project.
Several members interjected.
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : That is what the member for Rockingham said then. On ABC radio
on 22 February—Wednesday of last week—he was asked about the
project and I quote —
Point of Order
Mrs
M.H. ROBERTS : Mr Speaker, I understood that you asked the minister
to wind up quite some time ago and I am wondering whether you are going to
enforce your ruling.
The
SPEAKER : I gave him that indication. Minister.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr J.H.D. DAY :
Thank you, Mr Speaker; I am very close to the end. The Leader of the Opposition
said —
some aspects of it, I think a
little bit overblown
That was the previous government's plan—I
think—that he is referring to. He went on to say —
the current Premier, Mr Barnett
has come in with his own design which is largely the same as that same sort
of concept, same sort of citing and so forth. I saw the design that was in the Sunday Times the other day, —
That is the City Gatekeepers' plan —
I thought it looked quite good to
be honest with you.
Mr Speaker, where does the Leader of
the Opposition stand in relation to this project? Is it the 2008 Labor version,
the 2012 Liberal–National government version, or the 1950s City
Gatekeepers' version?
significant and long overdue development of the Perth waterfront—something
that has been talked about in Perth for well in excess of 20 years. We need to
understand that this project is happening in the context of large population
and economic growth in Western Australia. Each year, more than 30 000 people
move to live in Western Australia. As I announced a couple of weeks ago, we
expect the state's population to grow by about 700 000 people, to over
three million, over the next 14 to 15 years. All that leads to a lot more
pressure on the need for residential, commercial and retail accommodation, as
well as hotel developments, particularly in Perth's CBD. If we do not
take effective action, we would certainly not be fulfilling our
responsibilities as a government that is concerned about the future development
of the state and providing opportunities for current and future residents of
Perth and Western Australia.
The Perth Waterfront project is one
of the government's key projects to meet these challenges. It is a
project that is supported by the majority of Perth and Western Australian
residents. Some people argue about the detail or exactly how it may be done,
but I have no doubt that the clear majority of people in this state believe it
is appropriate to get a much better connection between the Perth city centre
and the Swan River to create a place that is more vibrant, interesting,
engaging and attractive for both local residents and visitors to the state. My
colleague the member for Darling Range will assist in showing one of the
predicted images.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Thank you, members. I do not know if the excitement is about the
member for Darling Range being on his feet; perhaps it is about the
illustration. Members, I insist on some quiet at this point. It is a simple
insistence—very simple.
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : As members can see, a very high quality area of public space
will be created. This is the so-called station park area on the north east
corner of the development. We can see there is anything but a huge degree of
commercial or residential development in that area.
Mr
C.J. Barnett : Where is the member for Perth? Is he in there somewhere?
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : I will come to the member for Perth in a moment! It will be
interesting to see where the member for Perth stands in relation to this
project.
In relation to the actual project
and progress being made, I am pleased to say that work will commence on the
site in April, beginning with the demolition; there will also be modification
to the utilities services in preparation for the construction of the inlet and
the public space. In May, work will commence in Barrack Square, with the
deconstruction of jetty 6, the extension of jetty 5, and the building of some
additional finger walls on jetty 1. In May, the two-way connection from William
Street to the roundabout near the Narrows Bridge will be commenced. At the
moment that road is one-way heading west, and it will be made two-way to
improve traffic flow; the freeway on-ramps will also be reconfigured. By the
end of the year the first round of improvements to Barrack Square will have
been completed, and those developments will help draw people into Barrack
Square, which is an area that is not well developed at the moment.
I understand that people have a view about traffic flow and
traffic movements. It is not the case that we have a large amount of capacity
on our freeways at the moment, which was the case in the 1980s.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you
to order for the first time today. Member for Armadale, I formally call you to
order for the first time today.
Dr
A.D. Buti : It wasn't me!
The
SPEAKER : It is a retrospective one for you, member for Armadale! And I
think I have a few more of those, too! I want to hear this answer in silence.
Some of you may be amused; I want to hear it in silence. Minister.
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : To facilitate the completion of the inlet, a section of
Riverside Drive between Barrack Street and William Street will be removed from
approximately the middle of next year; I note that that was a feature of the
previous government's plan. The traffic will flow around the
development via William Street, The Esplanade and Barrack Street. It is also
important to note that work is being done to expand the capacity of the Graham
Farmer Freeway and tunnel; the Minister for Transport will have more to say
about that in the next couple of months or so.
The state government is also working with the City of Perth
to develop a central business district transport plan to provide for bus
priority and pedestrian amenity, to reduce through-traffic travel demand, and
to generally improve the urban environment. This will be one of the most
significant transit-oriented developments in Australia—certainly in
Western Australia. Some people have commented that this project is being done
in the absence of substantial public transport facilities being developed; it
is actually adjacent to the Perth to Fremantle rail line and The Esplanade
underground rail station, and the Swan River ferries will actually come into
the inlet. It is also adjacent to The Esplanade bus station, and of course
there will also be pedestrian and cycle access. So, it is actually, by
definition, a very substantial transit-oriented development. It would be
interesting to know exactly the current position of the opposition in relation
to this matter.
Mr J.N. Hyde : We
moved a disallowance!
Mr J.H.D. DAY : So,
the member for Perth opposes the project?
Mr J.N. Hyde : Sit
down, and we'll ask you a question!
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : The member for Perth opposes the project, and I noticed that
one of the local papers out my way—the Echo —stated that he has completely aligned himself with the
City Gatekeepers, and that he is supportive of their views on the project.
Mr
J.N. Hyde : It's a better plan—a better plan than this!
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : So, the member for Perth has put on the record that he supports
the City Gatekeepers plan for the development of the foreshore.
Mr
J.N. Hyde : It's a better plan!
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : The member for Perth thinks it is a better plan; he thinks it
would be better to have a four-lane road remaining as a barrier between the CBD
and the Swan River.
Mr
J.N. Hyde : You're closing Riverside Drive—you know your
people don't want that!
The
SPEAKER : Member for Perth!
Mr
J.N. Hyde : Sorry.
The
SPEAKER : Minister, if you engage members of the other side and name them by
their seat in this place, you can expect some interjection. I am expecting to
get on to another question. I do not know whether you have concluded, minister.
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : Thank you, Mr Speaker; I am approaching the conclusion.
The plan put forward, which the
member for Perth has indicated he supports, would be, essentially, an elitist
development, available to a few people. It would not provide a good connection
between the city and the river, and there would still be a four-lane road as a
substantial barrier.
The member for Rockingham—now
the Leader of the Opposition; I congratulate him on his elevation—made
some critical comments about the government's change of plan back in
2009 when he was critical of the fact that we have actually modified what the
previous Labor government had put forward; that is, the so-called ''Dubai
on Swan'' plan. An article in The
West Australian dated 3 April 2009 stated —
Shadow planning minister Mark McGowan
said Labor's plans would have created life in the precinct —
Maybe —
and he claimed that the Government
was functioning with ''a 1980s mind-set''.
He was being critical of the modest
downscaling of the project.
Several members interjected.
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : That is what the member for Rockingham said then. On ABC radio
on 22 February—Wednesday of last week—he was asked about the
project and I quote —
Point of Order
Mrs
M.H. ROBERTS : Mr Speaker, I understood that you asked the minister
to wind up quite some time ago and I am wondering whether you are going to
enforce your ruling.
The
SPEAKER : I gave him that indication. Minister.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr J.H.D. DAY :
Thank you, Mr Speaker; I am very close to the end. The Leader of the Opposition
said —
some aspects of it, I think a
little bit overblown
That was the previous government's plan—I
think—that he is referring to. He went on to say —
the current Premier, Mr Barnett
has come in with his own design which is largely the same as that same sort
of concept, same sort of citing and so forth. I saw the design that was in the Sunday Times the other day, —
That is the City Gatekeepers' plan —
I thought it looked quite good to
be honest with you.
Mr Speaker, where does the Leader of
the Opposition stand in relation to this project? Is it the 2008 Labor version,
the 2012 Liberal–National government version, or the 1950s City
Gatekeepers' version?
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