Construction of the Perth Waterfront development has officially begun, marking the end to 20 years of discussions about the project.
Parts of Perth’s waterfront esplanade will resemble a construction site over the next three years while work on the $440 million waterfront development gets underway. Demolition work to prepare the site for construction will continue for the next 12 to 18 months before structural work begins in late 2012.
Scheduled for completion in mid-2015, the project will include offices, shops, cafes, restaurants and entertainment venues to position Perth as a prime location for business and leisure. It will also provide much-needed hotel accommodation and 39,000 square metres of retail space.
Marking the official launch last week, Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett heralded the development as a “significant” step forward that will revitalize Perth’s central business district.
“This is a period of renewal and development that will change the face of Perth and ensure our city can accommodate a rapidly growing population,” he said.
It will also help to address the “critical need” for more residential, commercial and hotel accommodation in the CBD, Barnett added.
After two decades of discussions and debate over the project, Perth Convention Bureau (PCB) chief executive Paul Beeson welcomed the project’s flow-on effects for the meetings and events industry.
“This is a brilliant moment for Perth as a destination [which] expands our offering to potential conference delegates,” he told The Nibbler. “As local beneficiaries we’re delighted that the government has chosen to invest so heavily into the Perth CBD.”
Beeson confirmed that several luxury international hotel brands have expressed interest in the site so far. More details will unfold in the coming months as the next stage of development commences, he added.
