Did you grow up in Perth, or did you move here?
I was born in Kwinana back in 1971 to newly arrived migrants from the Netherlands. I am proud of both my Dutch and Kwinana roots and this heritage has influenced my view of the world and Perth.
I am an advocate for having equality of access in terms of education, employment and amenity. I think the City of Kwinana were very proactive and progressive in their service delivery, however there is no doubt in my mind that these areas are improved by the expanded rail network, providing access to the opportunities of the wider city.
Being a first generation Australian I remember hearing stories about Holland and not being able to get my head around it. A country that has 18 million people in an area about the size of the south-west, but there is still room for agriculture and forests. When I finally got to go there in my 20’s I was blown away by a few things:
- How efficient they are with the land – land is precious so every bit of it is used.
- How compact the cities were – my sister lived 37 kilometres from Amsterdam (Perth to Joondalup), but you travelled through country side, towns and other cities to get there.
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How you can look into people’s houses walking along the street – the culture has adapted to high density living and there were clear rules of engagement in society.
My experience there and my other travels has shown me that density can be done in many ways. I am an advocate for choice, but we can create high amenity and efficient urban areas and still have space for the bushland, suburbs and parks which are so much part of our identity as a City.
Favourite place to eat or get coffee or both!
I live in “old” Burswood, so we are lucky to be walking distance to the best strip in Perth, Albany Highway in Vic Park. I think it works so well because of the density and diversity of people. The mix of heritage houses and old blocks of flats which provide affordable housing mean you get a mix of students, migrants, retirees and families. The strip has some great cafés and a wide array of restaurants and eateries…. with perhaps a saturation of bubble tea venues.
The best way to spend weekends in Perth?
My partner is an art curator, so we regularly have exhibition openings and events on weekends and evenings. Perth has such a vibrant and dynamic art scene, which I don’t think many really appreciate. The Fringe Festival is always a highlight and I was lucky enough to attend the launch of the Perth Festival at the old East Perth Power Station. It is not all high brow and there is a diverse array of events which will keep us occupied.
I also like to embrace the opportunities of the enviable weather, whether it is tending to my own garden, taking the granddaughter to the park or walking the bridges. I must say the new Boorloo Bridge at the Causeway is such a fantastic addition to this experience. I look forward to seeing something happen along the City foreshore and Langly Park which offers such a great opportunity.
What’s your favourite corner in Perth?
Mmmm, now that depends on time of year and context. On the rare lazy Sunday afternoon my partner and I like to head down to Guildford and check out the vintage shops and grab a bevy and bite. When I get visitors to Perth I like take them out to Guildford and the Swan Valley, although there is always the challenge of identifying the designated driver. People are often shocked that we have this type of experience so close to the City.
You’ve mentioned the urban village concept – how would you define it in the context of Perth, and what would it look like in practice?
Urban villages are about having neighbourhoods with density and activity, but also having a distinct identity and sense of community. No matter how big a city gets, you can still have these areas with strong local community spirit and defined sense of place. Think SoHo in New York or Newtown in Sydney or St Kilda in Melbourne.
We have a number of these in Perth, with areas like Highgate, Subiaco and Leederville being good examples. We need to think of central Perth as a series of neighbourhoods and curate local identity and sense of place. I think areas like Terrace Road, Brisbane Street, Goderich and West Perth have potential to be developed into distinct localities as we increase the population and intensity of the City.
Can you share some examples of cities that have density done well?
There are many examples of where density has been done well in different contexts. I do get a bit miffed when people cite historic locations like Barcelona and Venice, only because they developed over generations and there is a cultural component as much as a physical one.
From a contemporary perspective I think Vancouver, Portland and Singapore offer great examples of delivering density. I think each of these have enabled change and increased density through a clear vision and actively delivering not just the housing but the amenity, transport and services to support the change.
I think there also local examples too. The redevelopment of the Shenton Park Hospital, Montario Quarter is a great example in my view, but then I may be bias given my involvement. The key elements are around the early delivery of amenity, existing transport infrastructure, retention of key historic buildings and established trees. This was possible through the scale of the site and a clear vision delivered through a rigorous design and engagement process. I think the project offers a model which we could apply more broadly.
What future developments in the Perth region are you most excited about?
I am very excited to see the transition of Fremantle through the Port relocation and redevelopment of North Quay, Victoria Quay and Rous Head. I know this is a major change in Fremantle’s identity, however there is such an opportunity to embrace the opportunity offered. There are many examples of where changes in technology, industry and scale have seen cities need to redefine themselves. This is an opportunity develop the Fremantle of the future, which I think is very exciting. I have been very pleased to see a vision process being undertaken, with Future Fremantle Place and Economic Vision released after extensive engagement with the community.