Planning Minister Alannah MacTiernan’s reiteration that the East Perth Redevelopment Authority (EPRA) will oversee development of Westrail’s Perth-to-Fremantle railway land between the CBD and Northbridge is the first step in finally linking these precincts.
However, the Government doesn’t envisage the railway lines on this strategic 11 hectares going below ground all the way from the Horseshoe Bridge to Mitchell Freeway, as recommended as long ago as 1911 and again by the Perth City’s Realizing a New Vision for Perth report.
The Government’s plan is to sink the lines only a third of the way – between the Horseshoe Bridge and Lake Street – with the remainder of the railway yard eventually being covered by buildings and other concrete structures.
The task ahead of EPRA over the coming 10 to 15 years is therefore to transform the 11ha into a commercial, residential and recreational precinct by mostly constructing over railway tracks.
Called the Northbridge Link Project, it is expected to result in 500 jobs over its long construction phase, to offer more than 100,000 square metres of commercial and retail space and 2,400 residential units, all set over the Perth-to-Fremantle railway lines.
Under this plan, as initially outlined by Premier Geoff Gallop on January 21 2005, one of the first structures to be redeveloped will the Wellington Street bus station that is currently used by 10,000 people daily.
It is to be replaced by an airport-style underground complex, with completion set for around 2011.
Another long-term bonus will be a King Street/Lake Street traffic connection.
Colliers International research manager David Cresp said Perth’s commercial precinct was along St Georges and Adelaide terraces, with the latter thoroughfare now also emerging as a residential quarter.
He said Perth’s commercial space demands had meant both West Perth and Subiaco had become secondary office markets, largely because there had been nowhere else to expand within the CBD.
“The possibilities of expanding the city eastwards are very limited,” Mr Cresp told WA Business News.
“That means northwards is now the only way to go.”
Mr Cresp said the historic Raine Square, diagonally opposite the Horseshoe Bridge was now being assessed for redevelopment into a major commercial and retail centre.
And with the State Government owning the premises directly east of Raine Square, below which Wellington Street railway station is being constructed, that site is also likely to emerge as a major high-rise commercial complex.
If these Wellington Street and William Street developments become significant commercial and retail venues they’ll have launched a trend for the CBD’s commercial precinct to spread northwards rather than continue to take up what little room there may exist east and west of the CBD.
“And both such major William Street and Wellington Street commercial complexes would be close to land that will become available with EPRA’s longer term redevelopment of the railway land,” Mr Cresp said.
“Clearly, both these developments would facilitate the longer term spread of the city northwards.”
