Shenton Park could play role in Metronet and congestion reduction

“Initially the Metronet team will be tasked with looking at the business cases for the new proposed lines, but part of that is looking at the heritage lines and how we can encourage more use of public transport, and if that means getting better connectivity and reducing the traffic we’ll also look at that,” Lands Minister Rita Saffioti said.

Ms Saffioti announced expressions of interest for the first two blocks to be redeveloped on the 16ha hospital site last Friday.

As she spoke, Shenton College students negotiated traffic clogging the adjacent Selby and Nash streets’ intersection, next to which Landcorp’s first stage comprises about 1500 new townhouses and apartments and a 5000sq m shopping area. Congestion caused by multiple cars from apartments and student numbers at the already crowded Shenton College was among concerns about redeveloping the hospital site and bush on the site’s west side, affecting the viability of neighbouring bush used by endangered cockatoos.

Ms Saffioti said the Government’s proposal for selective students at Subiaco’s Perth Modern School to go to a new Perth CBD site would take pressure off the college because Subiaco-area students would then go to any new high school at the Perth Modern site.

Bush used by the cockatoos was a separate issue from the “good” amount of bush left at the hospital but Ms Saffioti would be briefed about it and any plans for neighbouring UWA land to be developed.

Expressions of interest in the first stage of the hospital’s redevelopment, comprising the Montario Quarter of two mixed-used R160 lots of 10,0000sq m on Selby Street and 8500sq m near the heritage Victoria House, open this week.

Landcorp chief executive Frank Mara said heritage-listed Victoria House in the second block could be the development’s centrepiece and be used for aged care and community purposes.

Nedlands Mayor Max Hipkins, whose council will get a influx of new ratepayers, said while the councillors were “comfortable” with the development, the status of the bush at the west end of the site had to be confirmed.