Source : Perth Now news
One of the main entries to the Perth CBD could become an avenue of light under a plan to light up more than 500 trees on the riverfront.
The City of Perth council voted unanimously at its August 25 meeting in favour of a proposal from Cr Catherine Lezer that the city look at installing decorative lighting on palm trees on Riverside Drive between Barrack Street and Adelaide Terrace.
The investigation will look at if it is feasible and how much it is likely to cost.
Options will be considered as part of the annual review of the city’s four-year corporate business plan.
There are more than 500 trees on Riverside Drive: about 164 palm trees in the central median between Barrack Street and Adelaide Terrace; about 239 various trees on the southern side of Riverside Drive between Barrack Street and Adelaide Terrace; and about 130 various trees on the northern side across the Terrace Road carpark, Langley Park and Ozone Reserve road frontages.
But the number and type of trees on Riverside Drive could be affected by the city’s draft riverfront masterplan and the State Government’s Aboriginal cultural centre.
The proposed design for the cultural centre includes replacing non-native tree species with native species to strengthen the connection between the site and the river.
The city’s draft masterplan also proposes replacing palm trees with native species and realigning Riverside Drive.
Cr Lezer said the two plans should not act as “handbrakes” to lighting up the city.
She said astronaut John Glenn had called Perth the “city of light” but one of its main front doors — Riverside Drive — was “sitting in the dark”.
She said she was not seeking a blank cheque but only an investigation.
“It’s just asking admin to give us options to light up the riverfront, boost evening traffic, and make the precinct safer and more welcoming,” Cr Lezer said.
“Look at the Ferris wheel. It was brilliant. It was fun. It was a vibrant addition to the riverfront. And it proved that people want life, light, and energy down there.
“It was a trial, but I genuinely hope to see it come back, but in the meantime, this motion keeps that momentum going.”
Cr Chris Patton said the lighting was a great idea but was worried if it was feasible.
“It’s about a kilometre. It’s going to be a lot of cabling to trench, but I think why not look into it further,” he said.
A staff report said installing lighting was feasible but “logistically challenging”.
Staff preferred the proposal be considered as part of the city’s business plan so other projects the community was waiting for would not get pushed back.
It could also be considered in conjunction with projects for Ozone Reserve and Langley Park.
“Assessing the sites holistically together, rather than separately, avoids investing in infrastructure council’s own plans may soon supersede,” the staff report said.
In 2021 the city placed light projects in Northbridge, the retail core, West End, West Perth, Hampden Road, East Perth and Claisebrook in a bid to reclaim its “city of lights” name, as well as a light artwork on the Adelaide Terrace footbridge.
Perth and Rockingham left their lights on for Glenn after a suggestion from The West Australian journalist Bill King.
Then Perth lord mayor Sir Henry Howard said it would be a waste of money but premier David Brand gave it his backing.
People left their back lights on and hung white sheets on clothes lines to reflect the light.
Glenn’s craft Friendship 7 passed over Perth at 11.37pm on February 20, 1962.
“Just to my right I can see a big pattern of lights, apparently right on the coast. I can see the outline of a town and a very bright light just to the south of it,” he said.
“The lights show up very well and thank everybody for turning them on, will you.”
