I believe I have achieved a lot but there is still a lot left to do, says incumbent Lord Mayor Peter Nattrass.
“I think visitors can see the difference to the city. I think it is a far more attractive city,” Dr Nattrass said.
“We’ve made streetscape improvements to many of the city’s streets including Barrack Street, Murray Street and Riverside Drive.
“We’re replacing the concrete with greenery and flower beds. Everything has guided me to make Perth a city for people.
“We won’t attract visitors and residents without an attractive city.”
Dr Nattrass said Perth needed to become a vibrant city. For that to happen residents had to be coaxed back.
“We are now considering rates holidays for residents,” he said. “In 1996 there were 246 residential planning approvals. In 1998 there were more than 900.”
Dr Nattrass said he could not understand how someone could oppose the appointment of a city planner.
“We’re looking at things such as a convention centre, sinking the railway line and bring people to the foreshore,” Dr Nattrass said.
He said the East Perth Redevelopment Authority’s control of part of the city’s eastern gateway was a “golden opportunity”.
The EPRA had its boundaries extended to include the Police Headquarters, the old Government Chemical Laboratories, the Department of Minerals and Energy and the old Transperth depot.
“Because they’re are all government owned properties, the most likely way to coordinate them all in order to devise a new gateway is to have it under the control of a planning authority linked directly to government.
“This is where a professional planner comes in who can look at the area and say this is what council wants.”
