The Creative Quarter is set to become the home for a bustling open-air, weekend market, attracting local, interstate and international visitors as part of the East Perth Redevelopment Authority’s (EPRA) urban renewal strategy for the area.
The Perth Rotary Club has been named as the successful tenderer, through a process run by the Department of Culture and the Arts, to establish and manage the markets.
To ensure the markets project sets off on the right foot and provides the maximum contribution to the Creative Quarter and local business and residential community, this week EPRA hosted a ‘Markets Workshop’ to map out an Action Plan.
EPRA’s Acting CEO David Beattie said key Creative Quarter stakeholders were invited to join with EPRA and Rotary as well as a special guest - The Rocks Market Manager, Daniel O’Connell – to assist in the development of Perth’s market model.
“Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority’s (SHFA) The Rocks Market is a highly successful weekly event, which attracts local, interstate and international visitors and Mr O’Connell’s experience has been invaluable in setting up our own markets project,” said Mr Beattie.
“The collaboration between EPRA and the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority has stemmed from our joint membership in the Place Leaders Association, which is a national partnership arrangement facilitating the sharing of information and resources across member agencies.”
Representatives from Rotary, EPRA, the Department of Culture and the Arts, the Department for Planning and Infrastructure, the City of Perth, BIG N, WA Library, WA Museum and WA Art Gallery workshopped several ideas with Mr O’Connell throughout the morning.
The Rocks Market Manager Daniel O’Connell said Perth was the only capital city in Australia that did not have a market and he was excited by the Perth market plan.
“The Creative Quarter is the perfect location for the Perth markets and I’m excited by the wonderful concept these markets represent. I think the real winner of the development of these markets will be the Perth community,” said Mr O’Connell.
Mr Beattie said the workshop assisted in the development of a comprehensive management plan and in resolving the location and layout of the markets.
“The workshop has seen the development of an action plan which shows a collaborative way forward in getting the markets up and running,” Mr Beattie said.
“We believe that the plan will find the balance between addressing issues raised by Creative Quarter institutions and other stakeholders, while still maintaining the benefits a vibrant market will bring to the Creative Quarter and Northbridge.”
“The market will be a significant activator for this part of the city and will be an important consideration in the development of EPRA’s urban renewal proposal for the Creative Quarter precinct,” Mr Beattie said.
In August 2004, Cabinet approved an extension of EPRA’s boundaries to include the Creative Quarter and Central TAFE, to allow EPRA to develop an Urban Renewal Strategy for the area. Work is well under way with a Project Manager already appointed and a vision capture workshop with key stakeholders planned for March this year.
The redevelopment of the Creative Quarter will introduce a mixture of new land uses into the precinct including residential and commercial premises.
For more information about the Creative Quarter's Urban Renewal Strategy please contact the EPRA Community Information Line on 1800 639 726.