Planners prioritise eyesores list

The City of Perth's planning committee will tonight recommend which of the council's 'What If' projects should progress as priorities.

Perth City Council identified ten eyesores in January in need of revitalisation or a change of use, and City of Perth architect Craig Smith nominated three more projects as part of the revitalisation program.

The planning committee will meet tonight to recommend which of these projects the council should prioritise in the short term, based on feedback received from the community since the eyesores list was revealed.

According to the planning committee's meeting agenda, the six projects shortlisted as a priority are:

- Covering the railway line east of Barrack Street to the Swan River to create a "significant" public thoroughfare;

- Defining the function and appearance of the Central Institute of Technology Precinct;

- Improving Jacobs Ladder;

- Identifying business opportunities for the disused Gasworks building and the surrounding area, including an upgrade of McLeans (Gaswork) lane;

- Improving pedestrian connections from Stirling Street to the river; and

- Incorporating ideas from the Green City and Populate Perth projects into the plot ratio and building heights study proposed amendments to the city's planning scheme.

The planning committee has also recommended the council to encourage the state government to progress its master planning for the parliament house precinct.

The remaining 'What If' projects, including Langley Park, Wellington Square and Kings Park Road, would be examined once the priority projects have been progressed.