Property Council WA has released a policy platform it says should be carefully considered by candidates contesting the City of Perth elections.
Property Council WA Executive Director Sandra Brewer said the nine ideas that make up Property Council WA’s Plan for Perth will support the diversification and economic recovery of the CBD, activate underused spaces, put important infrastructure in place for future residents and ensure that all three tiers of government work together to maximise the benefits of City Deal for Perth.
“There’s only one Perth,” Ms Brewer said. “We want to see City of Perth councillors working together to revitalise the CBD. We need to make sure all levels of government collaborate to ensure a Perth City Deal delivers economic diversity, more jobs and a thriving city centre. It’s important to put vital infrastructure, such as schools and playgrounds, in place to support a future residential population of 90,000 by 2050.
“We need cross-government collaboration, including stakeholders such as the Swan River Trust, to ensure that the property sector can work with government to deliver the best possible retail, commercial and tourism experience for the people who live, work and visit Perth.”
As well as cutting council rates for commercial property, Ms Brewer said the City should offer incentives or at the very least eliminate obstacles that limit the ability of owners of underused spaces to invest. “We understand there’s more than $130 million held in reserve in the Perth Parking Levy,” she said. “We’d like the newly elected Lord Mayor of the City of Perth to advocate to the State Government for the partial refund of the 2019-20 levy to building owners. This would alleviate some of the cashflow pressure on tenants who pay for the levy as part of their lease.”
Property Council WA is hosting a City of Perth Lord Mayor candidates lunch on September 15 to allow attendees to determine who is best placed to deliver.
