Over the next 12 months, Perth is proud to be hosting no less than 12 international events. “In spite of being the most isolated capital City in the world, we are doing very well for ourselves,” said Lord Mayor Peter Nattrass. “We have developed a character all of our own.”
He describes Perth as a people oriented, friendly City. Since a boundary restructure in 1994, Council is much more focused on its Central Business District. The creation of three new Town Councils saw large residential areas separated from the City of Perth.
“It was always the case that the vast majority of rates raised came from the CBD,” the Lord Mayor said. “Now the majority of these resources can be spent on this area.”
Two years down the track, Peter Nattrass believes the visual benefits are now very evident. Streetscaping, increased promotion and entertainment have made Perth a more interesting, people orientated City.
“We want to make the City more beautiful than it already is,” the Lord Mayor said. The City’s natural attributes, including the picturesque Swan River and some 250 hectares of beautiful Kings Park, are being further enhanced by improvements to the major entrances to the City, such as Riverside Drive.
“The concrete slabs of the 50s and 60s are being replaced with greenery and flowers,” the Lord Mayor said. To promote the performance, competitiveness and vitality of Perth, as the capital city of Western Australia, Council has recently published ‘City of Vitality – City of Perth Profile’.
Providing a range of statistics, drawing on local, national and international comparisons, this document is designed to highlight Perth as the commercial and community centre of Western Australia. It will be produced twice a year.
