❓ Question about the Brownlie Towers redevelopment (Bentley 360 project) and its impact on the local economy and job creation. The Minister provides an update on the demolition, community engagement, and economic benefits, while also criticising the opposition's stance on urban infill.
AnsweredQoN 462Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BROWNLIE TOWERS —
REDEVELOPMENT
462. MR S.J. PRICE to the Minister for Housing:
I refer to the long-awaited
demolition of Brownlie Towers, part of the Bentley 360 redevelopment project.
Can the minister update the house on how this project will support local
businesses drive the local economy and create local jobs?
REDEVELOPMENT
462. MR S.J. PRICE to the Minister for Housing:
I refer to the long-awaited
demolition of Brownlie Towers, part of the Bentley 360 redevelopment project.
Can the minister update the house on how this project will support local
businesses drive the local economy and create local jobs?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question
and for his enduring interest in urban infill, particularly in the Forrestfield
area where part of the Metronet program is happening out his way. Members who
are activated on this issue will know that Brownlie Towers has finally been
demolished. It was a longstanding piece of failed public policy for a facility
that was long past its use-by date. I can report to the house that although it
has been demolished, it was with minimal disruption to the neighbourhood. The
artwork and selected artefacts from around the building and the area have been
removed carefully and will be preserved and incorporated in the new development
so we can have some reference to the history.
One of Australia's biggest
excavators was used on the site to remove the building rubble. For those who
are interested, up to 95 per cent of the rubble will be processed offsite and
recycled. The Bentley community liaison committee, chaired by Mr Ian Carter,
formerly of Anglicare, recently held a community-wide vote to determine how the
temporary landscape of the former site will be used. This is a 22-hectare site.
There was strong support from the community for an active scheme on the
precinct whilst it goes through its developmental phases, including a BMX
track, turfed viewing bank, tree nursery and other improvements. The
landscaping of these facilities is scheduled to start in early August and will
be open to the public later this year.
The Bentley 360 project is designed
to deliver at least 1 500 new homes only 15 minutes from where we sit right
now. It is a critical piece of urban infrastructure that can add to the
thoughtful density that is required for this city. More importantly, it will
create 2 200 jobs across its life and over $1 billion worth of economic
activity through its construction phase. It symbolises the commitment that the
McGowan government has to much-needed urban infill; the thoughtful density
required to make sure we activate this city. This city's urban sprawl
is about 147 kilometres long. We have more water pipes in this city than all of
Tokyo. If we do not address it, the cost of delivering services to the outer
rim of that universe is going to be prohibitive. It is going to create the sort
of circumstances that Western Australian families do not need.
But there are headwinds. What was
once a singular piece of bipartisan policy about the need for urban infill
seems to have been ruptured by the Leader of the Opposition, who wants to break
from that bipartisan tradition. In fact, Hon John Day, who was a champion of
this particular policy area, mandated local government authorities achieve 47 per
cent infill to get us on the road to creating the sorts of outcomes that we
need. I note that the Leader of the Opposition has made a few comments about
this. Some of them are welcome. I really welcome her joining the sensible
understanding around the sale of Western Power; the absolute folly of actually
selling off that asset.
Several members interjected.
Mr P.C. TINLEY : We assume
members opposite believe it. We assume they will not be rolled in the party
room. We also welcome their sensible approach to retail trading hours. But we
are looking forward to a sensible approach by the Leader of the Opposition and
the opposition to urban infill. We hope that they walk away from the sort of
commentary that was made in March of this year in the Subiaco Post ,
which talked about infill target zealotry—that in 2021 they will
reverse some of the changes that they think are inappropriate. I want to refer
to the Premier's favourite quotable person in this area; none other
than the Property Council of Australia's executive director, Sandra
Brewer. Sandra has a problem—she has accused policymakers of zealotry
and insinuating probity issues for political gain. I will give the Leader of
the Opposition a tip; she seems to be on that listening tour that was talked
about this morning. There have been four questions so far but not one from the
Leader of the Opposition to this side, and certainly not to the Premier. I encourage
the Leader of the Opposition to continue that listening tour and see if she can
come up with some sensible policies that we can all get around.
and for his enduring interest in urban infill, particularly in the Forrestfield
area where part of the Metronet program is happening out his way. Members who
are activated on this issue will know that Brownlie Towers has finally been
demolished. It was a longstanding piece of failed public policy for a facility
that was long past its use-by date. I can report to the house that although it
has been demolished, it was with minimal disruption to the neighbourhood. The
artwork and selected artefacts from around the building and the area have been
removed carefully and will be preserved and incorporated in the new development
so we can have some reference to the history.
One of Australia's biggest
excavators was used on the site to remove the building rubble. For those who
are interested, up to 95 per cent of the rubble will be processed offsite and
recycled. The Bentley community liaison committee, chaired by Mr Ian Carter,
formerly of Anglicare, recently held a community-wide vote to determine how the
temporary landscape of the former site will be used. This is a 22-hectare site.
There was strong support from the community for an active scheme on the
precinct whilst it goes through its developmental phases, including a BMX
track, turfed viewing bank, tree nursery and other improvements. The
landscaping of these facilities is scheduled to start in early August and will
be open to the public later this year.
The Bentley 360 project is designed
to deliver at least 1 500 new homes only 15 minutes from where we sit right
now. It is a critical piece of urban infrastructure that can add to the
thoughtful density that is required for this city. More importantly, it will
create 2 200 jobs across its life and over $1 billion worth of economic
activity through its construction phase. It symbolises the commitment that the
McGowan government has to much-needed urban infill; the thoughtful density
required to make sure we activate this city. This city's urban sprawl
is about 147 kilometres long. We have more water pipes in this city than all of
Tokyo. If we do not address it, the cost of delivering services to the outer
rim of that universe is going to be prohibitive. It is going to create the sort
of circumstances that Western Australian families do not need.
But there are headwinds. What was
once a singular piece of bipartisan policy about the need for urban infill
seems to have been ruptured by the Leader of the Opposition, who wants to break
from that bipartisan tradition. In fact, Hon John Day, who was a champion of
this particular policy area, mandated local government authorities achieve 47 per
cent infill to get us on the road to creating the sorts of outcomes that we
need. I note that the Leader of the Opposition has made a few comments about
this. Some of them are welcome. I really welcome her joining the sensible
understanding around the sale of Western Power; the absolute folly of actually
selling off that asset.
Several members interjected.
Mr P.C. TINLEY : We assume
members opposite believe it. We assume they will not be rolled in the party
room. We also welcome their sensible approach to retail trading hours. But we
are looking forward to a sensible approach by the Leader of the Opposition and
the opposition to urban infill. We hope that they walk away from the sort of
commentary that was made in March of this year in the Subiaco Post ,
which talked about infill target zealotry—that in 2021 they will
reverse some of the changes that they think are inappropriate. I want to refer
to the Premier's favourite quotable person in this area; none other
than the Property Council of Australia's executive director, Sandra
Brewer. Sandra has a problem—she has accused policymakers of zealotry
and insinuating probity issues for political gain. I will give the Leader of
the Opposition a tip; she seems to be on that listening tour that was talked
about this morning. There have been four questions so far but not one from the
Leader of the Opposition to this side, and certainly not to the Premier. I encourage
the Leader of the Opposition to continue that listening tour and see if she can
come up with some sensible policies that we can all get around.
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