Elizabeth Quay (often abbreviated as EQ) is a mixed-use waterfront precinct in the Perth central business district. Encompassing an area on the north shore of Perth Water near the landmark Swan Bells, the development was named in honour of Queen Elizabeth II during her Diamond Jubilee.Cardy, Todd (2012). Perth Waterfront precint (sic) will be called Elizabeth Quay – PerthNow. Published 28 May 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2013.About Elizabeth Quay – Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
The project includes construction of an artificial inlet on what was previously the Esplanade Reserve, and modifications to the surrounding environs including Barrack Square, with the project opening nine sites for potential development. Completed facilities were initially projected to include 1,700 residential apartments, of office space and of retail space.
Planning Minister John Day and Premier Colin Barnett turned the first ground at the Esplanade Reserve on 26 April 2012,Trenwith, Courtney (2012). Work begins on $440 million Perth Waterfront project – The Sydney Morning Herald. Published 26 April 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2013.Perth waterfront works commence – ABCNews. Published 26 April 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2013. and Barnett announced the name Elizabeth Quay on 28 May 2012. Construction of the inlet and associated infrastructure were completed in January 2016, ahead of the Perth International Arts Festival and Fringe World. The quay was officially opened on 29 January 2016. Construction of the associated buildings will be completed at varying times thereafter, with the firstThe Towers at Elizabeth Quayopening on 15 November 2019.
Description The Elizabeth Quay precinct is centred around an artificial inlet that opens to the Swan River at its south. At the eastern side of the mouth of the inlet is an islet, which contains the Florence Hummerston Kiosk (which hosts a hospitality complex), the Bessie Rischbieth statue and a playground, and is connected to the eastern shore by a short bridge and to the western shore by the longer Elizabeth Quay Bridge, a pedestrian and cycling bridge which spans the mouth of the inlet.
On the eastern shore are 24 public short stay moorings for recreational boats, as well as the Meet Our Australian Sailor sculpture on the south-eastern shore near the islet. The eastern side contains The Towers at Elizabeth Quay, a development consisting of a 28-storey Ritz Carlton Hotel and an adjacent residential tower, as well as two smaller buildings containing food and beverage outlets. The north shore, designated the Landing, features the sculpture Spanda at its centre, with a carousel immediately west of the public artwork. Directly north of the Landing, across Geoffrey Bolton Avenue which bisects the area from west to east, is the 19-storey Nine The Esplanade office tower development, with the 29-storey One The Esplanade tower containing the Australian headquarters of Chevron Corporation located in the north-east of the precinct. To the north-west, adjacent to the Nine The Esplanade development, is an empty lot yet to be developed ; this lot has been slated for the future 56-storey Fifteen The Esplanade mixed-use development.
The western shore features the Elizabeth Quay Jetty for Transperth ferry services to South Perth as well as commercial moorings. To the north-west is a shaded water park and play area and a building containing public toilets and a food and beverage outlet, with the mixed-use EQ West development consisting of two towers (52-storeys and 25-storeys, under construction ) taking up the rest of the precinct to its west and south-west. The art piece First Contact stands on the south-west shore, near the western entry to the Elizabeth Quay Bridge.
Announcement and construction In February 2011, Premier Colin Barnett and Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi confirmed plans for the project and funding which included , equivalent to in , from the 2011/12 state budget. The total government outlay would be with recovered from property sales to developers.
The project created significant changes to adjacent features such as Riverside Drive,Extra freeway lane to ease congestion – ABCNews. Published 4 March 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2013. Barrack Square and environs. Other nearby sites such as Supreme Court Gardens and Langley Park were affected through changes in use or additional use. Nearby heritage listed Lawson Apartments and the Weld Club were affected due to pile driving and obstruction of views. The JJ Talbot Hobbs memorial, a feature of Anzac Day ceremonies for over sixty years, was relocated to the entrance of the Supreme Court Gardens. The Esplanade Kiosk, built in 1927 in the Federation Arts and Crafts style, was dismantled and rebuilt, brick by brick, as a kiosk on the island feature in the new inlet.Florence Hummerston finds new home at Elizabeth Quay – Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority. Published 11 November 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
While some of the trees in the reserve and surrounding areas were retained, the Moreton Bay figs along Barrack Street were removed and replaced with London planes.
The state government identified project returns in the order of on the sale of real estate sites to commercial developers, with the whole development projected as a investment opportunity.Perth Waterfront Project Overview Information Sheet – Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority. Retrieved 22 February 2013. There was debate on the speculative nature of the estimates.Thomson, Chris (2012). Waterfront secrecy slammed – One Perth. Published 5 February 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2013.An Ugly, Stupid Idea—the Perth Waterfront – WA Policy Forum. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
The Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority (MRA) launched a publicity campaign for the development, with the slogan "The river. The city. Together again." and also had a range of panels on screens surrounding the development site repeating anecdotes about the former esplanade area, as well as text of the material found on the website, and other public relations material.
On 21 April 2012, the MRA released new design guidelines for the development and called for submissions on a second amendment to the Metropolitan Region Scheme.Perth Waterfront design guide revealed – Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority. Published 21 April 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2013. The Minister for Planning granted approval for public comment on the redevelopment scheme and amendments, and the Metropolitan Redevelopment Board approved the Draft Perth Waterfront Design Guidelines.The West Australian, 25 April 2012, page 44, Classified advertisements – Notification of proposed Amendment No.2 to Redevelopment Scheme 2 and Draft Perth Waterfront Design Guidelines MRA chairman Eric Lumsden made comment on the MRA role in the process.The West Australian, 25 April 2012, page 21 Perth's transformation depends on careful planning
Contractors ARM Architecture were the architects on the development. Urban planner Richard Weller was a lead consultant. Weller commented about the development as an experiment on bringing in new high rise development in the CBD.
The Perth firm Hocking Heritage Studio has identified its involvement with the project.
Leighton Contractors and its parent CIMIC Group, were awarded the principal construction contract in December 2012. Construction included a new inlet, associated roads, parks, promenades, and an island with connecting bridge within a parcel of land. The contract value was $210 million as at 31 December 2012.
Opposition campaigns
Following the announcement, the proposals created extensive public debate and opposition due to its supposed failure to sustain respect for heritage, and potential risks to the ecology of the river.Thomson, Chris (2010). Heritage showdown dogs Langley Park – OnePerth. Published 5 November 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2013.Bannister, Brooke (2012). Perth's waterfront development debate – 720 ABC Perth. Published 21 February 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2013.Thomas, Beatrice (2012). – The West Australian. Published 23 February 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2013.Thomas, Beatrice (2013). Waterfront quarrel over land value – The West Australian. Published 2 February 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2013.Mullany, Ashlee (2012). Architects challenge foreshore plan – PerthNow. Published 18 February 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2013.Extract from Hansard [ASSEMBLY — Tuesday, 28 February 2012] p357c-359a Mr Michael Sutherland; Mr John Day; Mrs Michelle Roberts; Speaker
At a "Foreshore Forum" in 2011, organised by the History Council of Western Australia, speakers examined the history and heritage of the site, and expressed concerns about the way in which the heritage aspects of the site were to be interpreted. Speakers suggested that a thorough archaeological examination of the site for European artefacts associated with the early commercial maritime activities and later recreational bathing activities on the site should be included as part of any digging for the proposed inlet. Subsequent discoveries during the excavation process have included a set of timber poles and timber "steps", consistent with pier construction of the 19th century and the formwork for the Barrack Square retaining wall.
Concerns were raised about the impact on the Perth road network resulting from the diversion of Riverside Drive traffic around the new inlet.Submission: MRS Waterfront Amendment – CityVision. Published 19 October 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2012.Traffic Chaos – thecitygatekeepers. Retrieved 24 March 2012Closure of Riverside Drive Concerns City – City of South Perth. Published 6 December 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2012
As part of the proposed works the Graham Farmer Freeway had additional lanes installed in the Northbridge Tunnel to encourage motorists to bypass the city. The Royal Automobile Club raised early concerns that loss of the emergency lanes might affect emergency response times.Harvey, Ben and Alex Massey (2011). Waterfront traffic woes surface – The West Australian. Published 17 February 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2012 Although a tunnel, either under the inlet, or as part of one of the suggested alternative schemes, has previously been dismissed, the suggestion that a tunnel might be built at some time in the future has not been totally dismissed.Parker, Gareth and Beatrice Thomas (2011). Lib MP urges tunnel under river inlet – The West Australian. Published 10 November 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2012
A lobby group named City Gatekeepers headed by urban planner Linley Lutton was formed to oppose the plans. The group described the plans as being "badly flawed" and forced through without opportunity for public consultation or comment. Between 500 and 2000 people (depending on the source of the crowd estimate) attended a protest rally organised by the group on the Esplanade on 26 February 2012. Kate Doust, MLC, presented two petitions against the development, one with 8667 signatures and a second with 662 signatures, to the Western Australian Legislative Council on 6 March 2012.Petition against waterfront presented to Parliament – WA Business News (subscription-only content). Published 6 March 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2013. A third petition, containing 1,117 signatures, was tabled on 29 March 2012. The City Gatekeepers also released a number of alternative concept designs, one of which included a land bridge over Riverside Drive, and all featuring the retention of all or most of the Esplanade, based upon the heritage values of the site.
Similar comments have been made by other planning and design professionals and by the Western Australian Policy Forum.Perth's Foreshore Furore – IndesignLive. Published 20 January 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
CityVision also released a number of alternative plans.Perth Waterfront Proposals – CityVision. Published 7 January 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2013.