THE William and Wellington streets precinct in Perth, which includes buildings being acquired by the State Government for the $1.4 billion southern rail project, has received interim heritage listing.
Buildings listed include 90 to 160 and 97 to 145 William Street, and 493 to 537 Wellington Street, Perth.
The listing means any proposed development must be referred to the Heritage Council for advice. The council is currently in discussions with the Public Transport Authority as to the form in which the resumed buildings should be retained.
WA Business News understands the building on the corner of Wellington and William streets will be wholly retained, whereas only the facades of the other buildings involved in the rail project will be retained.
Pacific Shopping Centres Australia owns 80 per cent of the William Street properties listed. Spokesman Peter George said he did not expect the heritage listing to depress the compensation figure.
Valuation of the buildings resumed by the State Government will be taken from when the Government registered compulsory resumption of the buildings, on September 5.
Mr George said Pacific Shopping Centres Australia would be pressing on with its $40 million compensation claim and he expected it to be lodged within six weeks.
The State Government has only allowed a $38 million budget to purchase properties for the creation of the new city rail station.
Planning Minister Alannah MacTiernan said the interim listing would assist in planning for redevelopment of the land above new underground platforms for the northern and south-western lines.
“The rail project has created a tremendous opportunity to reinvigorate a neglected part of the city, and give new life to significant buildings in the precinct,” she said.
“The Heritage Council and the Public Transport Authority will continue looking at possible ways of retaining and integrating some of the buildings within the new development.”
A six-week period of public comment, until November 28, would enable owners and stakeholders to comment on the precinct’s assessment documentation, before permanent registration was considered.
