Has Perth’s labelling as ‘Dullsville’ been a blessing in disguise?
Has Perth’s labelling as ‘Dullsville’ been a blessing in disguise?
There is no doubt that that shock headline on the front page of The West Australian some years ago, which had picked up the reference from a popular travel guide, has resonated right to the very top of the state’s community.
Perth’s vibrancy is an issue in every debate, from the development of the Perth foreshore and a new entertainment centre to liquor licensing, trading hours and the re-vamping of Northbridge.
And, if the Perth Convention Bureau-organised Vision 2021 conference held last week is anything to go by, ‘Dullsville’ and all it implies is still sparking intense introspection among decision makers and influential people seeking ways to make Perth more dynamic.
The half-day conference had a range of guest speakers from business, media and community backgrounds, each addressing one of four topics.
• What are three things we can do immediately to kill the dreadful term ‘Dullsville’?
• Premier for the day – with an open cheque book – which pieces of infrastructure would you approve? What other projects do you fund before your day at the helm is over?
• Have I got a deal for you? How should we market WA interstate and overseas? How can the tourism industry work more effectively with corporations and organisations that are active offshore?
The top 10 points from Vision 2021 will be given to Tourism Minister Mark McGowan, who admitted in his welcome speech to the talkfest that, “nowhere is perfect and we can always do more”.
Mr McGowan used Melbourne as an example of what Perth needed to do to destroy the Dullsville tag.
“In the 1970s and for most of the ’80s, Melbourne was regarded as a dreary, unexciting city,” he said.
“Melbourne was characterised by poor weather, poor footy teams and stultifying social regulations.
“Now Melbourne is regarded as a ‘wicked and cool’ place. People take holidays there to shop, go to restaurants and enjoy the nightlife.
“How did they achieve this transformation?”
Mr McGowan said it was achieved when Victoria reformed its liquor licensing laws, something WA had yet to do, although a reform process was being undertaken by the state.
But according to several speakers, liquor licensing reform is only part of the solution to destroying Dullsville.
Promoting the state’s resources sector, boosting inner-city living and a Perth foreshore boardwalk were some suggestions added to the solution equation.
Perth needs to promote what it already has and is well-known for, according to WA Chamber of Minerals and Energy chief executive Tim Shanahan; that is, its abundance of resources.
“Perth is a great resource city,” he said. “It hosts the headquarters of most resource houses throughout the world.
“How are we going to take advantage of this ‘good time’ the resource sector is experiencing? What can we do to continue to attract investment?”
Mr Shanahan discussed his vision for a precinct in the CBD to promote the state’s resources relationship. “The ‘Wall Street of the resources sector’ is essential,” he said.
Couple this with Anglican Dean of Perth John Shepherd’s idea to increase the city centre’s domestic population and ABC radio 720 drive host Russell Woolf’s boardwalk development (similar to South Bank in Melbourne) and the Dullsville tag conceivably starts to fade.
Dr Shepherd and Mr Woolf each had a further 10 or so suggestions about how to shed the Dullsville tag once and for all.
While Dr Shepherd focused on creating vibrancy in the city after 5pm – making the centre look more attractive at night time, connecting the CAT buses to Subiaco and Victoria Park and connecting the CBD to the suburbs, and dispersing small venues (bars etc) for smaller crowds around Perth – Mr Woolf argued the state’s social scene could use some work.
He said Northbridge needed to be fixed; the iconic Swan River needed to be used; and the creation of a festival season or broad calendar event (similar to Melbourne’s Spring Carnival).
Businessman John Mr Poynton summarised the feelings of several people at Vision 2021 about how to destroy the Dullsville tag: “Spend money on infrastructure and they will come. Spend money on bold development and private investment will follow.”
