Thursday, June 5, 2008

WHO will benefit? WHO foots the bill?

The concept is entirely funded by the private sector but it has very public benefits. For instance, the finished project would have a new 800 metre “north-facing” swimming beach, two protected family-safe beaches, a 3.2 kilometre public fishing platform, a new surf reef, new public boat launching ramps, a performing arts centre, two new primary schools, a network of pedestrian and cycle paths, a five-star-hotel and a convention centre.

Nick's Comment

My God, Perth is boring. I am a 27 year old male professional. I worked back late last night, then caught up with a friend for a meal in the city. There was nothing open. Dont get me wrong, I love a good pub meal and a pint, but after that, there was nothing to do. We ended up going home.

This new development provides us with the perfect opportunity to mix business with pleasure. How many companies will be fighting to have their offices in Freo over looking one on the more beautiful quays in the world? Imagine finishing work and heading down to that bustling board walk? What are we so afraid of, people making noise? Gee, come on Perth, welcome to 2008 and live a little.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

North Port Quay - Not Simply a Playground for the Rich and Famous.

North Port Quay has been designed to attract the wider community, appealing equally to the owner of a 4m dinghy or a 44m luxury cruiser. There would be those who could sip French champagne from their balcony while others would enjoy a family picnic on one of the three public beaches. Many may choose to catch that evening’s meal by throwing a line into the water from the expansive breakwater. Housing would be a mix of prestige waterfront homes and affordable apartments. Eateries might offer a range of cuisine from five-star to burgers and chips. Late model luxury cars and those a little more ‘experienced’ would be positioned side by side in the ample parking areas created within the development. Nobody would feel out of place at North Port Quay.

Industry, Tourism and Residential Can Exist Side by Side

North Port Quay would be unlike any other development in Australia but the concept of master-planned estates existing alongside working ports is by no means unique.

In fact there are many examples of this harmonious relationship, including New Zealand’s Auckland Harbour where residential, retail and commercial developments live in harmony alongside the shipping and transport operations.

The same applies in Singapore; one of the world’s busiest ports, where residential development stands alongside the harbour.

In Argentina, the working port in Buenos Aires is an immediate neighbour to the residential and commercial development of Puerto Madeira.

In Norway, the port of Oslo is being reshaped to recreate some of the harbour’s most attractive waterfront properties.

And Cape Town’s Victoria and Albert waterfront is located within the heart of the working harbour. This development has been so successful it has become South Africa’s most visited destination.

Dullsville No More

Rightly or wrongly Perth is perceived in the eyes of many as ‘Dullsville’.

North Port Quay would help erase that tag as it develops into one of the world’s most chic tourist destinations and would cause a ripple effect in revitalizing key infrastructure in Fremantle.

When fully established some 1,000 full-time tourism and hospitality employees would cater for the estimated 10-15 million visitors expected to flock there every year.

An Economic Boon

An estimated 15-million visitations would be made annually to North Port Quay generating around $700 million from tourism and retail. This excludes revenue from the operations of the Port of Fremantle.

Some 2,500 people would be employed in construction, retail and tourism over the estimated 10-year life of the project.

Revenue from the lease of the reclaimed seabed plus stamp duty and land tax would be in excess of $100-million.

The City of Fremantle could receive an estimated $12-million in rates from homes and retail outlets in the development.

Environmental Benefits

The 345 ha of seabed on which North Port Quay would be located is so degraded that virtually no marine life or sea grass exists there at all.

When North Port Quay is established a 3.2 kilometre breakwater will arrest the flow of pollutants from Gage Roads allowing the now degraded area where the development would be located to return to its natural state thus encouraging the return of marine life and aquaculture.

The marina would be home to thousands of pleasure craft that are currently using the already-overloaded Swan and Canning Rivers.

From North Port Quay it’s envisaged more and more boat owners would choose to slip their moorings and travel up and down the coast rather than on the rivers.