PREMIER Colin Barnett has shrugged off concerns about the traffic congestion expected in the CBD once work starts on Perth’s Swan River foreshore.
The state government has sought tenders for the civil construction required to start the Waterfront Project, which will link the existing city to the river via the development of some open space south of the Esplanade. It includes an inlet near Barrack Square and will require the closure of Riverside Drive.
The issue of metropolitan traffic congestion is one the premier says he is well aware of. And he’s not alone in that, with the problem particularly acute for the business community in the CBD during the past year due to preparations for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which coincided with significant road works on St Georges Terrace and Wellington Street.
The state opposition has been vocal on the issue but many in the business community are also concerned about the impact of the project on city access.
Nevertheless, Mr Barnett said the congestion issue would not stop progress for the Waterfront project, which has been promised by governments of different hues for decades.
“Some people are concerned that this will cause congestion, a lot of people drive along the waterfront, and yes this is concerning,” Mr Barnett told an audience of about 600 people attending a WA Business News Success & Leadership breakfast last week.
“Some people think the tunnel will be congested, but I think that people will change their travel patterns.
“It will mean that you can’t have that immediate simple drive along the freeway, there will be a bit of a dogleg in it, but can I say that the government is going ahead with this project.”
Mr Barnett said Perth was changing and even older generations recognised some things had to change.
“I attended an event in Scarborough area a couple of weeks ago, and maybe two thirds of the people (were) retired and there were also a lot of young schoolkids there, and one person got up and tried to convince them that we should end the waterfront [project] for that reason [traffic],” he said.
“I was simply not interested, and I said that this is something for the younger generation and for their future, and the older people there all cheered.
“(This) allows the city to grow with some vitality and life in it and the waterfront is absolutely essential to that, so yeah it might make travelling a little bit more difficult but I suspect you’ll find that travel patterns will change.”
The opposition had its own development plan for the site prior to losing the last state election but its view is the current government has not adequately planned for the problem.
Opposition planning spokesman John Hyde said the Barnett government had rammed through legislation to approve the closure of Riverside Drive on the final day of state parliament.
“The Barnett government’s refusal to consider more sensible options will mean at least 70,000 extra vehicles a day will be forced through the streets of South Perth and central Perth,” Mr Hyde said.
Mr Hyde said peak-planning bodies including City Vision implored the state government to get the planning right before condemning Perth to a problem development.
“The Barnett government has been silent on the true costs of expensive sewerage and water pipe repairs and relocations, as well as the impacts on road works and public transport,” he said.
