FAQs
When will the construction phase of the East End and PPZ begin?
Construction is proposed in 3 stages:
· Stage 1 – commencing mid-2020 – Hay Street (Victoria Avenue to Irwin Street) & Irwin Street (St Georges Terrace to Hay Street) and
· Stage 2 – commencing late 2020 – Hay Street Pedestrian Priority Zone (Pier to Irwin Streets)
· Stage 3 – timing to be confirmed – Pier Street (St Georges Terrace to Wellington Street)
Will I still be able to access the East End during construction?
Yes. The City will continue to support ‘business as usual’ in the East End during the construction phases.
A general notification of works will be mailed out after the contractor has been appointed to provide information to the community about road closures and detours, construction dates, hoarding etc.
Branded hoarding will be put in place around sites under construction zones to guide the community to businesses who will still be operating.
Where possible, access to all buildings and services will be maintained through the East End.What about parking in the area?
City
of Perth parking will be impacted during the construction, however where
possible this will be limited to ensure accessibility to the East End for all
users.
What is the next level of Stakeholder Engagement and community consultation?
· February 2020 – Initial meetings with retailers and businesses in the project zone will be advised of upcoming construction works.
· February 2020 – an Expression of interest will be sent to key identified stakeholders with the intention of convening a Construction Reference Group (CRG).
· March/April 2020 – Follow up meetings will be held with impacted stakeholders during Stage 1 and 2 construction phases to advise updated construction timeframes and deliver project postcards and business continuity guidelines
· April 2020 – the first CRG meeting is anticipated to take place in April 2020
How will I be kept informed about progress of the project?
The City will continue to coordinate all ongoing publicity to keep the community fully informed and engaged in upcoming works.
Updates will be delivered in many ways including:
· the City Newsletter
· City of Perth website
· Engage Perth
· City media and social media outlets
· Footpath decals
· Postcards
· Project signboards
· Construction Fencing and Hoarding
· A project information board at the Kings Hotel Hoarding
· CAT Bus advertising
Banners and totemsWhat is a pedestrian priority zone?
Streets make up the majority of public space in our city. Streets play an important role as arteries to get around, as destinations, as well as offering the opportunity to socialise, conduct business, dine or sit and relax. A Pedestrian Priority Zone will change the character of the street, providing more space and amenity for pedestrians, and less space for vehicles. Key features of the pedestrian priority zone are:
- Low speed traffic environment
- Wide pedestrian footpaths
- Horizontal deflection within the road carriageway
- Street furniture and street trees to help delineate the carriageway
- Paving across the carriageway
- Wide designated pedestrian crossings in key areas for the visually impaired
- Greater opportunity for outdoor dining, encouraging activation within the street
- Upgrade lighting, including catenary lighting over intersections to support human scale and slow traffic
Is the Hay Street Pedestrian Priority Zone a shared space?
The United Kingdom Department of Transport Local Transport Note 1/11 (LTN) defines a shared space/pedestrian priority zone as:
“A street or place designed to improve pedestrian movement and comfort by reducing the dominance of motor vehicles and enabling all users to share the space rather than follow the clearly defined rules implied by more conventional designs.”
Throughout the world the definition of Shared Space has led some designers to believe that the street should be a single space that is shared. LTN suggests a more accurate definition of this would be a level surface (without kerbs) from building to building. In some cases there are level surface schemes that suit the street, e.g Exhibition Road, London, however in many others it does not. Shared space cannot be a ‘one size fits all’ concept as every city street has unique characteristics and has its own set of functional requirements.
The Hay Street Pedestrian Priority Zone will be a hybrid design responding to its unique context. The design aims to address known flaws with shared space schemes, particularly around developing an inclusive space for all users; people with disabilities and the elderly. For these reasons the new street design will be known as a Pedestrian Priority Zone, removing the preconceptions around shared space schemes.
Why pedestrian priority
The street already shows signs of a potential pedestrian priority space. Pedestrians frequently cross the road at intersections, without waiting for traffic signals, and cross mid block regularly.
Increased pedestrian activity is also envisaged along Hay Street due to its large scale surrounding developments in the private realm, including Westin Hotel, Kings Hotel and Pier Street Student accommodation (see Figure 5), and its link to the Optus Stadium.
Main Roads Western Australian (MRWA) has strategically set out the goal of providing a safe, reliable and sustainable road-based transport system within ‘Keeping WA Moving’ (MRWA 2016). As part of this and in recognition of improving community amenity, shared space concepts are being investigated.
In 2017 the MRWA engaged the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) to undertake a feasibility study and apply a pedestrian priority concept to an intersection in Perth. In consultation with the City of Perth, ARRB and MRWA selected the Hay Street and Irwin Street intersection.
It is also noted that Hay Street, including the intersection with Irwin Street, is located within a pedestrian priority zone within the City’s Transport Strategy (City of Perth 2016).
I heard that a PPZ Public Education Campaign is being planned. When will that be rolled out?
Development of the public education campaign, to support the PPZ will deliver key messages around the change in road user hierarchy and to ensure road users are aware of the changed speed limit. Development of the campaign will begin shortly and will be advertised approximately one month prior to construction.
In the meantime, if you would like to see an artist impression flythrough of the project, check out the video on the Engage Perth East End Revitalisation page here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=8&v=-3tl5dsnWmE&feature=emb_title
Where can I find out more about the PPZ Public Education Campaign?
Keep
an eye on East End Revitalisation Engage Perth Page here: https://engage.perth.wa.gov.au/east-end-revitalisation for further updates.
What does the East End Revitalisation aim to achieve and how has it been prepared?
The 2018 Masterplan has been informed by a detailed revision of the 2014 Hay Street Masterplan, key strategic documents, site analysis, community engagement. pedestrian metrics, detailed traffic modelling, and consultation and coordination with agencies such Main Roads WA (MRWA).
The Plan carefully considers the needs of different uses and functions such as parking, outdoor dining, street trees, vehicle and bus movements. As some of these uses compete with others, the Plan aims to provide a balance; for example, more space can be provided for pedestrians and street activity without comprising other functions.
What is the East End Business Improvement Model?
The City is currently
undertaking a three-year targeted East End Improvement Model program within an
area bordered by Barrack, Murray, Pier and Hay Streets. The aim of the
program is to assist in addressing a number of identified dilapidation issues,
and to leverage the benefit of the City’s $1.5 million upgrade to McLean
Lane. This also includes targeting the City’s suite of small business,
business improvement and heritage grants products plus a specific East End
Improvement Model Grant to assist in improving the capacity of businesses to
attract activity and to enhance the target area for a community benefit
What is the first stage of implementation?
What projects or activities has the City already undertaken within the East End?
The City has already completed a large number of projects within the East End to support activation:
- Two-way conversion of Murray Street (Barrack to Pier Street) and integrated cycle route - 2014
- Two-way conversion Hay Street (Barrack to Pier Street) and streetscape enhancement - 2015
- Minor Urban Interventions program - Murray Street Bird Cages and Hay Street Outdoor Dining - 2015
- City of Perth Library - 2016
- Lighting enhancement project upgrades - 2017
- Laneway upgrade - McLean Lane - 2017
- Urban Forest tree planting - Hay Street - 2017
- East End Business Improvement Model - ongoing
What have others been doing in the East End?
Other initiatives and developments have been completed or are underway in the East End, highlighting the commitment to the area:
- Cathedral Precinct - 2015
- Westin Hotel - 2018
- QT Hotel - 2018
- Kings Hotel upgrade - pending
- St Andrews Church development - pending
- Anzac House development - underway
- Student accommodation - pending
- Historic Heart murals, temporary planter boxes, small museum app, architecture walks - 2017
- Activate Perth Activated Art Walk - 2018
What are the art opportunities within the East End Revitalisation
The City has established a working group to identify opportunities for the integration of permanent and/or temporary works of public art in the East End area. This group consists of members of the City’s Arts, Culture and Heritage, Coordination and Design, and Economic Development teams, along with external arts industry representatives. The rich history and heritage value of the area is a primary consideration for the group, and will inform the development of projects. Further community consultation relating to the development and commissioning of works in the area will be conducted where appropriate.
The Hay Street East Masterplan was adopted in 2014. Why has it taken so long to get to this stage?
Why is the Hay Street East Masterplan now part of the East End Revitalisation?
Why do we need a Masterplan for Hay, Irwin and Pier Street
The existing streetscape layout was constructed in the late 1990s as part of the State Government’s Perth City for People & Central Perth Access Plan. The demand for various uses has gradually changed over time, some of which has been triggered by recent development and investment, prompting a need to revisit these streets. In 2014 Council approved the Masterplan for Hay Street, Barrack Street to Victoria Avenue.
The East End Revitalisation Project aims to enhance the environment, character and quality of the precinct through revitalisation of the streetscape in Hay, Pier and Irwin Streets. Hay Street is a key east-west avenue that links the CBD to East Perth with its ultimate connection to the river as part of the Riverbank Development.
Streets make up the majority of public space in our city. Streets play an important role as arteries to get around, as destinations, as well as offering the opportunity to socialise, conduct business, dine or sit and relax.
Why is Irwin Street North being upgraded this year?