Candidates back rail idea

Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan’s proposal for a light rail or tram line running through the east-west axis of the Central Business District would be welcomed by several candidates seeking election to the City of Perth’s council this weekend.

Three candidates – Daniel Smith, John Hammond and David Goncalves – put forward the idea of a light rail or monorail system when asked in a survey by WA Business News if transport around the city was adequate.

Earlier this week, Ms MacTiernan was reported as suggesting conceptual work on a light rail plan could begin next year, with the system bringing rail transport closer to where people lived and potentially connecting the city to Subiaco and even Perry Lakes in Floreat.

The survey of candidates, which attracted responses to 10 questions by 12 of the 14 candidates for four City of Perth council positions, also found broader support for an expansion of the popular, free Central Area Transit (CAT) bus system.

The survey also found significant agreement among candidates that the riverfront should be developed, that architectural standards were adequate, that retailers were poorly represented at council level and that the city should have better dialogue with the State Government.

Councillor Judy McEvoy was one of three dissenters in the survey who believed that Perth’s architecture was not up to scratch.

“Architectural standards in the city are rather bland and uninteresting when compared to other major world cities,” she said.

Candidate Chris Hardy, an architect, believed the standards in the city represented the “requirements and instructions from the client groups”.

Many candidates felt that, if the city was lacking anything, it was vibrancy and vision, while safety concerns should be dealt with by more infrastructure and improved communication with police.

One candidate, Jean Jaquaniello, called for a return to Perth of big events like Rally Australia, a major golf tournament and even hosting the Miss Universe pageant.

Most candidates believed the city should be more outspoken when representing business concerns.

The placement of the proposed cultural centre was one subject where there was less clarity. While four candidates clearly backed the State Government’s push to develop in Northbridge, three favoured the Perth Concert Hall district and four believed such facilities should be spread across locations in the city.

There were also several candidates who felt the City of Perth was not adequately equipped to deal with major developments, though a few candidates suggested this problem lay with councillors rather than council employees.

On the transport issue within the council boundaries, some potential councillors felt that East Perth and even areas such as Crawley could be better serviced, though several thought the service was adequate (see main graphic).

Hotel administrator Tony Pallotta is one who believed there was room for improvement by expanding the current service.

Television presenter Eleni Evangel even suggested the current ferry system between Perth and South Perth could be improved.