AN East Perth resident who’s dug deep into the City of Perth’s masterplan for Langley Park has called it deceitful, unlawful and a betrayal of promises by former lord mayor Basil Zempilas – and she says more and more neighbours are waking up to its implications.
A long-time Terrace Road resident, Vicki Raniszewski has been one of the most vocal opponents of the plan, which includes a car park, commercial developments, and buildings she says were deliberately hidden from public view in early concept plans.
“I’ve been fighting this on my own for a while… I basically went down [to a community meeting] speaking actual factual things that people weren’t aware of, and also the plans that are very deceitful that were put out by City of Perth.”
According to Ms Raniszewski, much of the East Perth community remains unaware that Langley Park is both heritage listed and an A-class reserve, which she believes should give it the highest level of protection under WA law.
“When I bought my apartment on Terrace Road, I actually did due diligence before I purchased,” she said.
“That’s how I basically knew it had been heritage listed the year prior to me purchasing and was listed as an A class reserve, which I thought fantastic. No one can ever touch it whatsoever.”
She says that protection is now being ignored in favour of a development push that includes high-rise hotels and a multi-level car park — despite community opposition and a lack of state-level consultation.
“There was obviously something there that was plus eight metres high,” Ms Raniszewski said of the “underground” car park in the plans. “I said it’s not underground. It’s eight metres high… Went to the architect, and the architect said, ‘Yes, it is. We’re looking at probably a three-storey high car park. If we put grass on top of it, we are able to deem it as underground’.”
Not disclosed
The proposed developments, she says, also include two 16-storey hotels — information she says was not disclosed in public-facing material.
“I said, ‘the two hotels?’ He said, ‘Yes, they’re there’. And he pointed. And I went, Yeah, but they’re not shown on the map. It’s shown for potential high-rise accommodation.”
Ms Raniszewski, who claims to have gathered images and side views from earlier versions of the riverfront masterplan, said the sheer size of the proposed underground car park shocked many at a recent public forum.
“It starts at the front of where I live, at the West Australian Apartments, and it goes past four residential buildings all the way down, which people weren’t aware of.”
She also criticised the lack of early consultation with the WA Heritage Council, saying the body had only been invited into the process last month, despite planning starting as early as 2020.
“I went to the state Heritage Council. They weren’t consulted until last month. And this has been going on for how long?”
WA Premier Roger Cook has poured cold water on the plan as well.
In a letter to a resident dated May 9, Mr Cook said no state funds would be used to support developments on Langley Park.
“There are a number of prohibitive factors regarding the City of Perth’s plan, including cost, community support, and the fact it is earmarked for an A-Class reserve,” Mr Cook said.
“While I generally support projects that attract more people to visit and live in our city, the City of Perth’s plan is not the answer.”
Ms Raniszewski says while the community supports beautification measures — “extra trees put in and park benches to beautify the park and have more shade” — she insists the proposed structural developments go too far.
She also questioned why an Aboriginal Cultural Centre was planned for nearby, leading to the loss of 980 car bays, when the city had revitalised its cultural centre.
Ms Raniszewski’s frustration peaked during a packed community meeting in East Perth.
“There was well over 100 people that turned up, and they were fired up because we warned them. We’ve just had enough of being ignored and being lied to.”
The City of Perth was contacted for comment, which we hope to get for next edition.
by STEVE GRANT