Dynamic plan unveiled for fewer cars in CBD with cable car to Kings Park, return of light rail

Perth is poised for a radical transformation that would see the city centre shed its reliance on cars to become a pedestrian paradise complete with 30kmh speed limits, a cable car to Kings Park, and the potential return of light rail. The vision also seeks to resolve the identity crisis of the city’s shopping precinct by redefining the roles of Murray Street and the Hay Street Mall, investing in Murray Street as a retail hub and focusing on hospitality and entertainment along the Hay Street Mall. King, Pier, Irwin, and Queen Streets are penned to become suburbia and the City proposes reimagining St Georges Terrace and Wellington Street as multi-modal corridors that prioritise walking and cycling through the addition of the light rail. And beyond the city centre, a ‘Buneenboro Loop’ to the south of Elizabeth Quay would extend the riverside recreational experience towards Crawley and the University of Western Australia. The ambitious plan is likely to face serious hurdles given Transport Minister Rita Saffioti has previously expressed strong reservations about the cost and necessity of the light rail. But Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds is “incredibly optimistic” about the blueprint for a capital city that aims to become “one of the world’s most admired destinations”. Councillors will on Tuesday vote on whether to make the plan — by Danish urban design company, Gehl — a reality. Design and built environment expert Professor Peter Newman, who first brought the Gehl group to Perth in 1993, believes the decade-long timeline is achievable if the State stops dragging its feet on funding. “If the city and State Government do all in the Gehl report, then the CBD will be transformed into a world-best attractive city centre,” Professor Newman said. While the “Tram Boulevards” represent the most significant cost, Professor Newman argues they are the key to the entire project. “I don’t see any big restrictions other than the tramway systems, but the tramway systems are going to unlock most of the rest of the development,” he said. Drawing inspiration from global heavyweights like Paris, London, Berlin, and Copenhagen, the document outlines a 10-year vision to prepare for a population explosion of 55,000 residents by 2036. Professor Newman noted the report builds on best practice from around the world, such as the George Street tramway in Sydney and cycle-way systems in Copenhagen. “They’re not expensive,” he said of the cycling infrastructure. The plan takes direct aim at the current dominance of vehicles, describing the city centre as a place where cycling connections remain fragmented and bus networks are convoluted. The council is also advocating a cable car to Kings Park — an idea first floated in 1972. Despite the report’s focus on “mid-tier systems” for Wellington Street, Transport Minister Rita Saffioti noted last year that the work required to deliver light rail is very costly and may not offer the time efficiencies of the current bus network. “To be honest the cost of those projects is very, very high,” she said in October. “The other thing is how we have such an excellent CAT service and our high frequency bus services, like the 960. “What we’re seeing — especially with our new stations, our more sophisticated bus network — is more people getting on the buses, and CAT service. People love them.” Professor Newman suggested the State Government needs a fresh perspective on funding to overcome these cost concerns, proposing a “partnership process” with developers. The Barnett government proposed a near $2 billion light rail network but abandoned the idea in 2016. “Let’s get ‘TramNet’ up and running with a new model for how they fund it as well as how they build it,” he said, suggesting that land value created by the stations could fund the tracks. “Tran Boulevards can be done with developers, developers who own land or could own land,” he said. “This is not just something for the PTA to do. It has to be a partnership process.” This transit-first approach would be bolstered by a controversial drop in speed limits to just 30kmh in the heart of the CBD, a move designed to prioritise safety for those on foot. Under the proposal, William Street would undergo a dramatic facelift. Currently a primary north-south link dominated by freeway traffic, the City aims to transform it into a pedestrian friendly “Green Spine”. This would involve maintaining only a single lane of vehicle traffic in each direction to make room for pedestrians and cyclists, especially as the new ECU campus at Yagan Square is expected to flood the area with students. Barrack Street would be reinforced as a “Cultural Spine,” preserving views of the Bell Tower while strengthening links to major arts institutions. A new “People’s Walk” is also proposed, which would guide pedestrians from an upgraded Perth Station through a redeveloped Carillon Arcade and down to Elizabeth Quay via a pedestrianised Sherwood Court. The city’s shopping precincts will be reimaged through the designation of specific roles for the two main malls. Murray Street Mall will remain the retail powerhouse for high-end stores, while Hay Street Mall is slated to evolve into a vibrant, entertainment-led destination focused on food, beverage, and independent businesses. This push for “inner-city suburbia” includes supporting new residential neighbourhoods in King, Pier, Irwin, and Queen Streets, with the City advocating for the timely delivery of kindergartens, schools, and community health services. The City of Perth’s plan includes the Buneenboro Loop, which would extend the riverfront experience beyond Elizabeth Quay to link the city and the Swan River in a continuous recreational circuit. The plan even suggests unlocking underused land, such as the fenced-off Government House Gardens, to expand public access to nature. Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds said the vision serves as a ‘lighthouse in the distance’ moment for the city. “This is bigger than a planning document,” Cr Reynolds said. “Every successful city has a clear direction. Without a shared vision, cities drift. With one, they attract investment, talent, residents and global interest. We are set to become a global destination.” Mr Reynolds, who said he will not pre-empt the formal council decision ahead of Tuesday’s vote, remains incredibly optimistic about the proposal. “Perth’s best years are ahead of us but only if we plan boldly, lead with confidence and stay focused on delivering a city centre people are proud of,” he said. “I love this city and I am so excited for its future.”