WA PREMIER Mark McGowan yesterday visited the site of a North Perth project for the first time since including funding for it in the State Budget.
The State Government will contribute $250,000 to the $750,000 North Perth Common, a community championed project that will see the corner of Fitzgerald and View streets revitalised as a grassy piazza hang out spot which could host small scale events.
City of Vincent Mayor Emma Cole said talks about the project began last year.
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READ NOW“In terms of it being a project, (talks began in) 2016, but it has been talked about for some time before,” she said.
“More than 120 people responded with feedback on where the project should go when we sought public comment and the long term plan is to connect Fitzgerald Street to Angove Street.
“It is North Perth’s time to shine.”
Resident of 21 years Ida Smithwick, who is part of the project working group, said the area was desperate for a spot to sit and chat with friends.
“If you look around a lot of people sit and chat in the shopping centre for hours and if you go down to Hyde Park you see them sitting down there, and I think we just need something here,” she said.
Perth MLA John Carey said the area had to compete with suburban shopping centres.
“The reality is we have to compete with the big shopping centre developments in WA,” he said.
“We know we have to work on driving more small business and economic activity and life in the inner city areas.”
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