A multi-million dollar development at the Mends Street Jetty in South Perth has been approved by the state government.
A multi-million dollar development at the Mends Street Jetty in South Perth has been approved by the state government.
Environment minister Mark McGowan said the development - to be constructed in late 2006/early 2007 - would see the current café extended and redeveloped, new boardwalks constructed and a new public jetty erected for Transperth ferry passengers.
"This development will really open up the South Perth foreshore for public use and encourage tourism in the area," he said.
"We want to encourage facilities that showcase our magnificent river to locals and national and international visitors.
"The proposed extensions to the Bellhouse café will enable an additional 77 patrons to be seated in the restaurant, bringing its total capacity to 117 patrons.
"The current establishment will be gutted and totally refurbished with extensive decking around the perimeter of the restaurant.
"Additional toilets, an enclosed bin storage area, a new kitchen and a new kiosk will also be constructed.
"A decked area will be constructed as an extension of the jetty adjacent to the kiosk with bench seats and a link to the shore."
The minister said ferry passengers, local river visitors and tourists would also benefit from the construction of a new jetty at the site.
"The existing Mends Street Jetty is the second busiest jetty on the Swan River, averaging half a million ferry passengers per year, but it does not meet new disability access requirements and has almost no shelter for passengers," he said.
"The proposed jetty, to be located 15m to the west of the existing jetty, will be at least six metres wide for public safety and include shelter over the entire structure."
Mr McGowan said extensive public feedback was considered prior to approving the development.
"Car parking was a concern for many local residents and the City of South Perth, so the developer will be required to pay the city the equivalent to the cost of constructing 20 car parking bays, to cater for the additional patronage," he said.
"These funds may be used to enhance alternative transport arrangements for restaurant patrons.
"The primary environmental consideration related to spills to the river - appropriate piping is required to prevent these from occurring.
"Visual amenity was a key issue, so the height of the existing building will not change and the extensions will match.
"A development condition guarantees that the minimum operating hours for the attached kiosk are seven days a week from 9am to 5pm."
