Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas has proposed a bold redevelopment plan for the city's eastern riverfront, aiming to transform Langley Park into a recreational hub with restaurants, playing fields, and a swimming lagoon. The plan includes planting around 3,000 new trees and rerouting Riverside Drive away from the river.
The project, estimated to cost billions of dollars, could take between 10 and 20 years to complete. Zempilas compared it to the Perth Stadium, which cost almost $2 billion, arguing the foreshore plan offers greater public benefit. However, he acknowledged the difficulty in providing precise costings, stating, 'The actual costings it is hard to say.'
The WA government has expressed skepticism. Environment Minister Reece Whitby called the plan an 'uncosted billion dollar pipe dream' and questioned whether it is Liberal Party policy. He also accused Zempilas of blocking government efforts to improve the city. Liberal leader Libby Mettam declined to endorse the plan, calling it a local government matter.
Zempilas defended the proposal, saying it aligns with Labor's vision for the CBD and that his potential future in parliament is irrelevant. The City's Riverfront Masterplan is expected to be endorsed by council next month, followed by detailed costings and public consultation.
The plan is the latest in a series of proposals to redevelop Langley Park, including a 1991 design competition and a 2016 Liberal government plan to close Riverside Drive. Previous attempts have not materialized.
