The East Perth Redevelopment Authority has had the revitalisation of the Perth cultural precinct added to its task list, making it one of the busiest planning agencies in Western Australia.
The East Perth Redevelopment Authority has had the revitalisation of the Perth cultural precinct added to its task list, making it one of the busiest planning agencies in Western Australia .
The precinct, which contains 14 WA arts institutions, came under EPRA after yet another extension to the authority’s boundaries was announced this week.
EPRA, which was created to redevelop a part of East Perth, also has responsibility for the Northbridge Urban Renewal and the restructure of the city’s Eastern Gateway.
Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan and Culture and the Arts Minister Sheila McHale announced the Cabinet-approved move to rezone the land, previously crown reserve, which will open the area to urban renewal.
Ms MacTiernan said the area had a reputation for being sterile and unsafe, and that better links needed to be established between the cultural centre, Northbridge, the Perth train station and the city’s retail core.
“EPRA has a proven track record in urban renewal in Perth and, working with the Department of Culture and Arts, will aim to bring about the best possible outcome for the site, to make it a focal point for our city,” she said.
“We want more people to come to the precinct and enjoy the community assets – it will provide a fillip for Northbridge business.”
Ms McHale said an urban renewal project in the area would bring considerable benefit in terms of attendance increases at the cultural institutions in the precinct.
“Connecting arts and cultural activities with the surrounding area and introducing additional land uses to the precinct will create a more vibrant centre with the potential to expand the social and demographic profile of visitors and encourage increased use of its facilities,” she said.
Planning reports on the precinct have advocated a mixed-use philosophy that would include housing and shops.
Work to examine the feasibility of an urban renewal strategy will be undertaken by EPRA, with a report to go to the WA Government’s Expenditure Review Committee regarding findings and recommendations.
Department of Culture and the Arts director general Alastair Bryant said the inclusion of the cultural precinct in EPRA’s boundaries was significant because it meant that for the first time planning for culture and the arts would be integrated with planning for the city.
“EPRA has the capacity to develop and implement a plan for an area that has previously been a blight on the city’s landscape,” he said.
Mr Bryant said EPRA had a very successful track record for urban renewals and all planning authority had now passed to them.
Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts director Sarah Miller said she was delighted with the plans for a revitalisation of the area and had been waiting for a decade for something to happen with the area.
“It is not really an inviting atmosphere at the moment and more light, colour and activity would help to create a true heart of the city,” she said.
“I look forward to the consultation and seeing what that brings.
“This really deserves the highest calibre of people working on it and is an opportunity to do something wonderful.
“I hope there is a lot of thought about the design – there will only be one chance to do this properly.”
Ms Miller said that quite apart from what the arts contributed economically, there was also a significant contribution to lifestyle and community development that could not be overlooked.
The precinct includes some of WA’s most significant cultural icons including the Art Gallery of WA, the State Library, PICA and the WA Museum.
