City of Perth Council Meeting: 13 December 2022

Council met at 5pm on Tuesday 13 December?for our final monthly council meeting for 2022. As usual the below snapshot is my personal view only. I encourage you to view our live stream and visit the agenda page to access officer reports.

1. Council endorses Amendment 41 - establishing the Northbridge Special Entertainment Area

Northbridge is the premier entertainment area of Perth, contributing to the night-time economy and vibrancy of the city. The City of Perth has been working with State Government agencies since 2019 to create the Northbridge Special Entertainment Precinct (SEP). This will be the first statutorily approved Special Entertainment Precinct in Western Australia. This included proposed noise limits on venues that?went too far before Council had its say.

After many years of consultation with industry and ratepayers, and many months of drafting the required amendment to our planning scheme, Council endorsed the Lord Mayor's approach which achieves the following key elements:

1. Existing businesses and ratepayers who run our popular bars, pubs and outdoor venues are protected from unfair noise limits, unnecessary costs and red tape,
2. Entertainment and hospitality remains the primary land use in Northbridge, and?
3. Council has incorporated?a new category to promote Build to Rent in Northbridge to capitalise on the new?ECU campus.

As it is the most important vote taken on the future of Northbridge, I encourage you to view the?debate by clicking here.

2. Events sponsorship?

Council approved $60,000?in event support for the Resources Technology Showcase 2023. To be held in the CBD in April,?the event will?promote innovative breakthroughs in?the resource, space and defence industries in Western Australia.?The technology showcased at the event includes real-life demonstrations of robotics, augmented reality, remote operations and autonomous transport for the resources industry. It also features innovation and technology from the defence and space industries, and how they play a critical role in driving the advancement of technology in this key sector.

3. Local Planning Strategy (LPS)

Council has finally adopted its first LPS. I say finally because this process started back in 2017. It is yet another project delayed by previous administrations that our team had to?clean up.

Our LPS provides?long-term directions and rationale for land use planning and decision-making for Perth's six distinct neighbourhoods. The adoption of the Strategy will ensure the Local Planning Scheme and planning policies can be prepared and adopted in a manner that is consistent with the City’s long-term vision.

The State Government has set a population target of 53,320 people by 2050 for the City’s local government area. This equates to a population of approximately 42,500 people by 2036 (the timeframe of the Strategy). The Strategy is seeking to achieve a more ambitious population of 55,000 residents by 2036 and distributes the population growth across the City’s six neighbourhoods. The specific boundaries and extent of density increases will be determined through the new Local Planning Scheme No. 3. Now this LPS is with WAPC, our priority focus is drafting our new scheme to see these aspirations implemented.

I encourage you to review the LPS and its various attachments by clicking here (starting on page 16).

4. Protecting our community from planning loopholes

Back in June 2022, Council backed my motion to see the City administration prepare a scheme amendment to ensure that any future development applications for land use across the entire City of Perth boundary under the Community Centre definition would be changed from "Preferred" to "Contemplated". This has now been prepared and passed by Council.

This is the right move for our City, our ratepayers and our neighbourhoods because it?achieves three primary goals:

1. Each time an application is lodged citing this land use, proper?community consultation must occur - something that was not required under a "Preferred" use,
2. Applicants can no longer apply their own definition of what a?Community Centre is to suit their aspirations with no regard neighbourhood?impact, and
3. Council?now has?the ultimate discretion in refusing an application based on this use?without having the threat of?State Government interference in a local decision made by democratically elected representatives.

5. Supporting ANZAC Day 2023

After many years of disruption due to COVD-19 restrictions, Council endorsed over $140,000 worth of support to ensure we see a full contingent of honours for ANZAC Day 2023 led by RSL WA with the Dawn Service, Parade, and many other events?as is appropriate and proper?to mark this special occasion in Perth's CBD.?

6. Keeping the Northbridge Piazza name

Council supported the retention of the existing name of Northbridge Piazza. Cr Anghie requested a change to Pride Piazza, but this was rejected. You can view my contribution to this debate by clicking here.

Other important updates:?

• Perth ranks number one amongst Australia's capital cities for office occupancy - a huge result for the CBD economy after years of pain caused by restrictions.?
• Our free parking campaign continues - every single City of Perth car bay (on-street and in our car parks) is free after 6pm every night. We also offer 3 hours free on weekends and public holidays at His Majesty's, Cultural Centre & Pier Street. Find out more here.
• You can view our 2023 meeting schedule by clicking here.

I will be on leave from Council duties from today until we return in?2023 but still reachable via [email protected].

Enjoy your Christmas/New Year break.

Brent