Authority to oversee redevelopment of Subiaco land

7/6/94

The State Government has moved to create a special authority to oversee and manage the redevelopment of former industrial land in Subiaco.

Planning Minister Richard Lewis today introduced to Parliament the Subiaco Redevelopment Bill, which will establish a development body similar to the East Perth Redevelopment Authority.

Mr Lewis said the Subiaco Redevelopment Authority would be responsible for the rejuvenation of more than 70 hectares of underutilised industrial land west of Perth.

The Minister said the new authority would also be responsible for sinking the Perth to Fremantle railway line between the Axon Street bridge and the Hay Street subway.

"It is an exciting proposal that will release for development valuable land presently constrained by the railway line and revitalise rundown former industrial sites," Mr Lewis said.

"The Government is taking the lead in this exciting project and the creation of the Authority is essential to ensuring its timely and successful completion.

"The involvement of the private sector will also be essential to the overall realisation of the project and the maximum use will be made of private sector consultants and contractors."

The Subiaco redevelopment area is bounded by Salvado Road to the north, Haydn Bunton Drive to the east, Jersey Street to the west and Hay Street, Roberts Road and the railway line to the south.

The redevelopment area - which is mostly Crown land or Subiaco Endowment land - will eventually provide for up to 700 new homes, enough to house an estimated 1,600 people.

Mr Lewis said because the project currently involved two municipal districts and many Government agencies, there was a compelling case for creating an appropriate development authority.

"Such an Authority can co-ordinate development to the maximum possible advantage, as with the East Perth Redevelopment Authority," the Minister said.

Mr Lewis said one of the first responsibilities of the new authority would be to prepare a town planning development scheme for the area in consultation with the public.

He said this scheme would include a series of green spaces which would ultimately form part of a network of parks between East Perth and Bold Park.

The main functions of the authority will include:

·       the promotion and co-ordination of land for subdivision;

·       where necessary, undertake the closure and realignment of roads and streets;

·       ensuring that the broad funding and management arrangements are in place to enable the project to be self-funding;

·       arrange for the works associated with the sinking of the railway; and

·       control and co-ordinate the development of underutilised land within the project area.

The board of the proposed new authority will include a chairman, nominated by the Minister for Planning, two representatives nominated by the City of Subiaco, a member of the Board of Directors of the WA Land Authority and a nominee of the Minister for Transport.

Mr Lewis said initial funding for the project would come from a $5 million contribution from the Building Better Cities program.

"This will allow the first stage of railway works to commence while more detailed planning proposals are resolved," he said.

Mr Lewis said preliminary planning was already under way with a view to presenting them to the public before Christmas.

Media contact:  Paul Plowman (09) 222 9595