Sandy Anghie for Laneway Revitalisation
Week 5 Campaign update.
Laneway Revitalisation
Time and time again, I have heard property and business owners talk about the need to upgrade City laneways.
Left unlit, and underutilised, they provide a space for crime and antisocial behaviour. One example is the laneway in Pier Street in the City’s east end. Another is Grand Lane off the Murray Street Mall and Barrack Street.
In the case of Grand Lane, investment and attention by the City of Perth just over a decade ago saw activation in the laneway increase dramatically - leading to a safer environment. Unfortunately in the past year, due a variety of factors, activation has ceased - negatively impacting safety.
Through upgrades to laneways we can help create a safer, more walkable City for everyone.
So, since elected in 2020, I have put forward two policies, supported by a majority of Council, centered around improving laneways.
The first policy I put up (at the December 2020 Council Meeting) focused on laneway lighting across the City neighbourhoods.
While the second (at the July 2021 Council Meeting) asked the CEO to develop a program for revitalising Perth’s laneways, to continue the work started by the City of Perth over a decade ago.
The City’s administration has now completed the work pursuant to both policies. Laneway lighting in the form of public artworks has been installed in 5 laneways across the CBD and West Perth, and the City of Perth has released for public comment its draft strategy for Revitalising Perth’s Laneways.
You can view the City’s strategy and provide your feedback via the link here: Draft Forgotten Spaces: Revitalising Perth's Laneways – Episode 2 | Engage Perth. Submissions close this Wednesday, 5 July 2023.
As Lord Mayor, I will continue to support laneway revitalisation, as one of a suite of policies to help create a safer and more vibrant City.
Youth Action Plan - and Student Accommodation
Last week I announcement my commitment to Youth and Education. As Lord Mayor, I will focus on making Perth one of the great places in the world to live, work, visit – and study – for people of all ages.
It was great to have the opportunity to talk about my plan with Monika Kos on Channel 9’s “The Pulse” and Isaac Mulcrone on Youth Jam Radio. Links here to the interviews: Channel 9’s “The Pulse” and Youth Jam Radio.
In terms of student accommodation, we are obviously in need of a great deal more, with Perth having one of the lowest amounts of purpose built student accommodation in the country.
Recently announced City of Perth incentives for our CBD neighbourhood, working together with State Government concessions, provide some support for development.
City of Perth incentives for our CBD (from 1 July 2023) include waiving all City fees for new residential development applications, and a 3-year 50% residential rate reimbursement for eligible CBD developments.
State Government concessions include 50% land tax exemption for eligible build to rent.
I believe the City’s current incentives should be reviewed after one year with a view to expanding the initiatives beyond the CBD - particularly for Northbridge where we already have significant investment in student accommodation on Stirling Street. I also believe further consideration could be given by the City as to what is needed to unlock more investment in this space. While existing student accommodation happened without City support, market conditions are dramatically different now.
As Lord Mayor, this will be another area of focus and I will have more to say on this later in the campaign. Having students living in our City embeds a vibrant population.
Tech Action Plan supported unanimously by Council
I was very pleased to see the City’s first Tech Action Plan supported unanimously by Council at last week's ordinary Council Meeting.
The Plan started with a Notice of Motion I put forward in November 2021, calling for the city to develop a Tech Action Plan and to investigate ways to attract and support local, interstate and overseas tech businesses. The City of Perth administration engaged with the local Tech sector in the development of the Plan.
And it was a great week for the City’s first Tech Action Plan to be approved, with the prestigious MIT Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program (MIT REAP) underway in Perth (from June 25th – July 1st). MIT REAP is a global initiative that engages with communities around the world to strengthen their innovation ecosystem.
I am committed to making Perth a world-class liveable 24 hour city with inclusive policies that support local businesses and local startups. Encouraging tech startups will help diversify Perth’s economy and assist in attracting and retaining young people.
Week 5 update
Since announcing my campaign for Perth Lord Mayor five weeks ago, I have been visiting residents and businesses across our City neighbourhoods every day to get their direct feedback on what we can do better. Great cities of the world are always striving to be better.
I am focused on continued, progressive improvements to each of our unique city neighbourhoods, to support population growth and to create a 24-Hour City. Because a 24-Hour City is a vibrant and safe city.
In the past week safety has dominated discussions across City neighbourhoods, with a number of City residents, businesses and visitors noting incidences of crime and anti-social behaviour over the past year.
It was also interesting to hear that not only has City retail trade been hit by the massive investment in suburban shopping centres, but Northbridge restaurant trade has also been adversely affected.
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In addition to commitments I have announced to date, I will be announcing a range of further commitments over the coming months. And I will be listening to you - our City’s residents, businesses and community groups. I look forward to hearing your ideas and feedback.
I will be back in touch with regular campaign updates. In the meantime, here is a link to my campaign website.
If you would like to hear more about my campaign platform, or have your own ideas about what the City could do better, I would be pleased to catchup. Please don’t hesitate to reach out via helloperth@sandyanghie.com
To have your say on 21 October 2023 you need to enrol to vote. You are eligible if you live in the City, and also if you own or lease a property in the City.