River, people vital for City of Perth future growth

Property Council WA has urged the City of Perth to consider increasing its population targets, engage with other stakeholders and better engage with the Swan River as it considers how to build on its draft planning strategy.

Feedback on the draft planning strategy closed last week, on Friday August 2.

Property Council feedback also includes suggestions to focus on retail and commercial interests as well as residents when considering neighbourhoods, taking care that ambition to simplify planning controls do not undermine existing arrangements for projects or neighbourhoods. We asked the City of Perth to maintain incentives for residential development.

Our submission points out that low central population targets hamper the city’s ability to reach its potential in commercial, retail, health and education. City of Perth’s target of 40,000 by 2036 from 21,000 in 2016 is timid relative to Adelaide, which has set itself a target of ,000 residents by 2041 from 23,000 in 2016.

We recommend the City of Perth actively engage with Infrastructure WA as well as working with Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority and WA Planning Commission on redevelopment opportunities. For example, a potential redevelopment of the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre would need to consider an East-West Mass Transit plan if the city were seeking an alternative site for the Elizabeth Quay Bus Port.

The Swan River is under used and a proposed Riverfront Masterplan should be central to driving attractions and positive outcomes for Perth.