The creation of more diversity in Perth is essential to retaining talent and ensuring long-term economic growth, according to Planning Minister Alannah MacTiernan.
The creation of more diversity in Perth is essential to retaining talent and ensuring long-term economic growth, according to Planning Minister Alannah MacTiernan.
Speaking at a UWA Summer School forum last week, Ms MacTiernan said a growing recognition of the need for more urban diversity had developed in recent years.
In particular, more “high energy” places and spaces were needed, as well as a greater variety of recreational and living options.
“We have got to learn that investment in first-class public transport, in beautiful theatres and entertainment centres, investment in urban landscapes and architecture is hard core economic investment,” Ms MacTiernan said. “It, as much as ports and roads, is going to underpin our economic future.”
In order to achieve long-term economic growth, Ms MacTiernan said it was important to ensure specialist skills were home based, rather than fly-in, fly-out.
This required the creation of strong urbanity and a reshaping of the city.
“It is about attracting and retaining a broad spectrum of those under 35 with the education, skills and energy to participate in both the new and old economy,” she said.
In order to meet demand from this group, Ms MacTiernan said more research into the lifestyle aspirations of young people was required.
“We know that an extensive survey we did on Perth’s population a few years ago showed 40 per cent said they would be interested at some point in their lives in living in medium-density environments. This clearly represents a shift. It indicates there is real need for more diversity in our city,” she said.
In particular, generation Y was choosing a more urban lifestyle than its predecessors.
“This is driven simultaneously by an interest in street life and a resistance to losing hours each working day in commuting,” Ms MacTiernan said.
Encouraging a critical mass of residents in central Perth was important, she said, in order to support more entertainment and hospitality businesses.
“All the physical and regulatory intervention won’t work if you have not got the people living back in the city,” Ms MacTiernan told the forum.
Outside the CBD, projects such as the Perry Lakes redevelopment, urban infill in Cockburn and Alkimos, and revitalisation of the Armadale and Kelmscott town centres were improving the quality of urban spaces.
Ms MacTiernan said increased density in suburban areas, as proposed by the Network City strategy, would have additional benefits, such as decreasing Perth’s per capita carbon footprint.
Further investment in public transport was also required, as transport affordability was almost rivaling housing affordability as an issue for households.
