Broadening the scope of the state government's Metronet rail project to include existing station precincts as a means to deliver short-term development opportunities was among the key recommendations outlined in an Urbis report released today.
Broadening the scope of the state government's Metronet rail project to include existing station precincts as a means to deliver short-term development opportunities was among the key recommendations outlined in an Urbis report released today.
Commissioned by the Property Council of Australia, the Urbis report ‘Metronet Station Precincts – An Industry Perspective on Making Them Happen’ examined how the delivery of these projects could best achieve Perth’s infill and housing diversity targets.
Property Council WA executive director Lino Iacomella said Metronet provided a significant opportunity to transform Perth and deliver infill and housing diversity in a way that the community could accept.
“We have prepared a framework that identifies those station precinct locations that are ready to go now and those that will need extra support to ensure their future development potential is protected if they are progressed now,” he said.
The report included case studies of local and interstate station precinct developments, including Bondi Junction and Subiaco, to undertake a an evidence-based approach to determine best-practice criteria
Those area identified as ‘ready to go’ were precincts that required lower levels of investment or intervention and provided opportunities for delivery in the short term, such as Karrakatta, where there were significant government landholdings in direct proximity that were able to de developed, and Cannington, where there was an existing plan for development backed by local government, landowners and community support.
The report outlined five key recommendations including: broadening the scope for Metronet precincts to include the city’s existing train network; supporting the creation of a new precinct planning governance framework as a means to improve current mechanisms where the local political landscape is preventing project delivery; and developing partnerships with the private sector for the provision of infrastructure, amenity, mixed use, residential and employment opportunities.
A demonstration project, showing how suburban precincts can be transformed, was also outlined as a key priority.
The development of a framework for transitional uses was another recommendation, where land values at station precincts do not support the ultimate development at ‘day one’, suggesting this framework to include methodologies for affordable housing, build to rent, leasehold, light weight construction.
Mr Iacomella said the report had also highlighted inconsistent local planning rules as a major threat to the development potential of Metronet, with those areas that offered the greatest opportunity for density often the most resistant to change.
“We are calling for a new state government led ‘precinct’ planning system to provide the community and industry with a fair and consistent process for managing the local planning process,” he said.
“The recent announcement by the state government to partner with local industry, through the Metronet Social and Affordable Housing and Jobs Package in selected locations, is a good example of the partnership approach to delivering the project’s objectives recommended in the report.
“This should be extended more widely in the Metronet plan.
“The promised Perth City Deal is the key to bringing most of the key elements of Metronet together, including the work of Infrastructure WA, project funding and planning collaboration between governments.”