Project Vision

– a world-class civic and cultural, mixed-use precinct

The former East Perth Power Station is a derelict site of more than 8.5 hectares bounded by East Parade, Summers Street, the Swan River and the Graham Farmer Freeway.

Unused since December 1981, the East Perth Power Station consists of a complex of industrial buildings, including a range of remnant machinery and equipment that is believed to be unique in the world because it contains the five different stages of power generation technology that occurred in the 20th Century.

The former Power Station's buildings and infrastructure are at the core of the precinct, while the surrounding landscape consists of trees and broad areas of paving or cleared land.

The 2004 draft Masterplan vision is to achieve:

"A waterfront culture and arts precinct with a mix of living and working opportunities, to create a place of character and enjoyment for Perth's citizens and tourists."

In addition to considerations such as views and landmark features, the urban structure of the 2004 draft Masterplan is based on four major planning elements:

Celebration of a future cultural facility – to be achieved through a possible new grand entry building on the western side of the existing Power Station and a new civic space that creates a forecourt to the culture facility, opening vistas to the river.
The new Summers Street bridge extending over East Parade, providing a dynamic feel to the development and creating an opportunity for a major landmark and gateway structure for the site and the northern entry to the city centre.
A connected street system to support active ground floor uses combined with a connected network of public spaces, a high quality pedestrian environment linking to public transport and a road system with good links to the regional road network and adjacent areas.
Creation of three north-south green spines providing access to the middle of the site, maximum sunshine, planting and drainage to the interior of each development site and a strong sense of environmental sustainability.

Mixed-use is the preferred land use for the East Perth Power Station precinct because it:

Provides a critical mass to support the development of significant civic and cultural uses.
Provides the best intensity of land-use (residential, commercial, office and/or retail) suitable for a Transit Oriented Development.
Creates an active urban environment with active street edges.
Facilitates the type of development that maximises the benefit to the wider Perth community.
Acknowledges the relationship to neighbouring communities.