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February 2025 Update

CEO Update

Kaya! Welcome to February 2025 and the first edition for this year of the Perth Update, our monthly publication filled with news about the exciting developments to make our city more liveable.

It’s where we celebrate the good news about Perth and advocate for our best and brightest future.

Summer is a time when Perth comes alive and where Perthites get to enjoy our much celebrated beaches and outdoor living.

The recent heatwaves are a stark reminder of our future challenges and the need to establish climate resilience and maximise our urban tree canopy – the lowest in Australia (not good news- I know). We will be actively following our submission for the Perth & Peel Greening Strategy in 2025.

As you can see from my video, I was asked to present to the WA Planning Commission’s board on Committee for Perth’s priorities and the Perth 2050 report. It was great to see their interest in our future focus for the Perth metro area. During the meeting with the Commissioners, I highlighted our recent research demonstrating increased community support for higher density and we discussed ideas for density done well. I look forward to reporting back to you about these ongoing, important discussions.

Thank you to everyone who took part in our 2025 Member Survey. If you have not, please take some time as the deadline has been extended to Friday, 7 February 2025. Your feedback helps us to understand our members’ needs. We will provide a detailed update in the next newsletter, and at our 2025 Member Event.

Isn’t it exciting to see the new development plans being submitted for approval across our region? From the long-awaited Carillon City renovation to the Woolstores makeover in Fremantle, while work has begun on the Perth Cultural Centre upgrade. All are game-changing projects that will revitalise and improve public realm.

Now into its third year, Perth Design Week is helping to engage the broader community in these pivotal conversations about purposeful design – and in a first for Committee for Perth, we are partnering with PDW to launch its 2025 program. I hope you can join me there!

Welcome to Committee for Perth’s newest team member, Kelly Woodall (yes, a second Kelly in our team of six!) who has hit the ground running as our new Events and Member Experience Coordinator. With years of experience delivering events and a stellar career, we are lucky to have her join our team. Kelly’s looking forward to meeting you at our events and we encourage members to make sure you reserve your place in any upcoming events you want to be part of. Visit the events page on our website as we’ve got more to come!

So much to do in Perth at the moment! Fringe World – the third biggest Fringe Festival in the world – is on in Perth until 16 February and Perth Festival starts on 7 Feb activating the old East Perth Power Station, Perth Town Hall and other spots across the metro area. The Twilight Food Markets are in Forrest Place every Friday until the end of March, catch the Coastal Explorer bus to some of our most pristine beaches to Hillarys Boat Harbour, the 35th annual Rottnest Channel Swim sets off from Cottesloe on 22 February, the Whispers of Soul exhibition is on in Mandurah all month, and I’m so pleased to hear the amazing Empress Josephine’s Garden exhibition has been extended until May 2025.

It is going to be a BIG – and decisive – year for Perth, especially with 25 years left before 2050. We will be working with leaders, members and the community on delivering a vision for the Perth we want to live in for generations to come. We hope you want to be part of this too.

Until next time,
Paula Rogers
Chief Executive Officer
Committee for Perth

What’s New

VISIT

600 YEARS OF KINGS PARK

Despite the lowest tree canopy of any Australian capital, Perth is also home to one of the largest inner-city parks in the world, Kings Park and Botanic Garden. Named Australia’s top attraction in the 2024 Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards, Kings Park is also the oldest designated park in Australia – it’s 600 years old this year! To mark the milestone, Ballardong-Noongar artist Kam Bin-Sallah has created a stunning mural at the Kaarta Gar-up look out. The work is designed to be temporary so head along soon – and tag us in your photos at #shareyourperth.

LIVE

FIRE WARNING

The recent deadly Californian wildfires have been a brutal reminder that Australian urban cities – like Perth – aren’t immune from natural disasters. With the Swan Coastal Plain having a similar environment to LA, is it time to be planning for Perth to be a fire-resistant city?

WORK

AWARD WIN FOR HOMELESS INITIATIVE

An initiative tackling Australia’s homeless crisis, Advance to Zero, has won Bronze in the World Habitat Awards. Our new member Anglicare WA runs the service in Mandurah and its one of only three nationally to achieve a measurable reduction in rough sleepers!

INVEST

AI HEALTH INNOVATION

The start of the new year seems to have brought an acceleration in AI innovation. Health care delivery is being transformed by artificial intelligence, with world-leading projects underway here in Perth. To help maintain that momentum, $5 million has been recently been awarded to a range of digital health projects – $3 million going to UWA researchers – through the state’s Future Health Research & Innovation Fund.

STUDY

RISE OF STUDENT ACCOMODATION

With global urban strategy & design firm, Gehl, returning to Perth for the Towards 2036 project, it’s fitting recommendations from its 2009 report are coming to fruition, such as developing the waterfront and activating the city with student life. With 12 months until the ECU City campus opens, member Urbis believes we’re set to boost our student accommodation supply in the CBD by about 4,500 beds.

Committee For Perth
(08) 9481 5699 Level 14, Parmelia House 191 St Georges Terrace, Perth
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Acknowledgement of Country

Committee For Perth acknowledges the traditional custodians throughout Western Australia and their continuing connection to the land, waters and community. We pay our respects to all members of the Aboriginal communities and their cultures; and to Elders both past and present.