Perth Mayoral Race Heats Up 

Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi and her opponent Reece Harley came together to debate the future of Perth at the Property Council’s Debate Lunch on Oct 2.

Transport and infrastructure were the major talking points with both sides displaying different ideas to increase sustainability and reduce congestion.

 Both candidates came to blows over issue including ways to address office vacancies, red tape and the city’s need for economic diversity.

 However, both Harley and Scaffidi agreed that there is a lot to be done following the mining boom to diversify the local economy to ensure future growth.

 Undoubtedly one of the most controversial points raised was the possibility of a tunnel under King’s Park. The idea, raised by Scaffidi, was heavily criticised by her opponent as an “incredible waste of money” who said a mixture of public transport solutions would be more viable.

 Scaffidi also raised office vacancy rates in both the CBD and areas such as West Perth.

“Recently we’ve seen a very rapid rise in office vacancies,” she said.

“We know that we need to stem the double digit office vacancy haemorrhage.

“We need a long term prognosis and a strategy that is concurrently going to tap into our need to attract skilled professionals to Perth.”

Revitalisation of The City’s rundown areas was also a hot topic raised By Scaffidi.

 Scaffidi said she would have liked to see a public housing complex in West Perth demolished to make way for a new mixed-use development.

 The current Lord Mayor said an earlier plan by the City of Perth, in partnership with the Department of Housing and Works, to revitalise the public housing building at the corner of Colin and Hay streets, would have invigorated the precinct.

 “I believe a revitalisation project of that precinct would really enable us to create the modern town centre that would send a strong message back to West Perth that it’s time for revitalisation,” she said

 “Combine that with more mixed use development and perhaps another consideration of plot ratios and I think we’re really going somewhere with West Perth.”

 Harley said he was “disappointed” that Mrs Scaffidi’s approach to revitalising West Perth was to demolish public housing.

 The election will be held on October 17 via postal vote.