AT LEAST 12,000 people could be living in Perth’s CBD by 2036 under a sweeping new blueprint to turn the city centre into a greener, denser and more walkable capital – with maybe a cable car to Kings Park.
The Towards 2036+ report sets a long-term, place-based vision for transforming Perth into what it describes as a more liveable, connected, climate-resilient and culturally distinctive capital, arguing the next decade will be pivotal.
It predicts a “critical mass” of residents — supported by projects such as Elizabeth Quay, Perth City Link and the new Edith Cowan University city campus — will help sustain retail, entertainment and community life, reducing reliance on one-off events to generate activity. The City’s broader catchment would have 55,000 residents.
• The report shows the Freeway disappearing under a green entrance to the city and a cable car.
The report says Perth’s city centre is improving but still lacks the vibrancy, residential density and seamless connectivity expected of a capital city. It points to fragmented public spaces, car-dominated streets and a limited sense of cultural identity as ongoing challenges.
Developed through collaboration between the City of Perth, the WA government and Danish urban design consultancy Gehl, the strategy builds on earlier work and aligns with state planning frameworks including Metronet precinct planning and the State Infrastructure Strategy.
At its heart is a call to treat the CBD as a lived neighbourhood rather than a nine-to-five business district.
Five guiding principles underpin the plan: creating a vibrant and magnetic city; a well-connected city; a climate-resilient city; a city with diverse identities and stories; and a city that invites people to explore and stay. These are supported by 20 directions and five major “key moves”.
People first
Among the most significant physical changes proposed are green, pedestrian- and cycling-focused corridors along William Street and Barrack Street; redesigned “people-first” transit corridors on St Georges Terrace and Wellington Street; and a continuous walking and cycling loop along the Swan River linking major green spaces. The report says the council should look at “novel” transport options, resurfacing the idea of a cable car linking the city to Kings Park.
The plan calls for reduced on-street parking and traffic lanes to make room for trees, shade and social activity, a cohesive cycling network, upgraded public spaces such as Forrest Place, and the reconfiguration of Hay Street and Murray Street malls to reflect changing retail trends and more mixed uses.
Structural reforms are also proposed, including simplifying the bus network into clearer high-frequency corridors, exploring light rail or east–west mass transit, lowering speed limits to around 30km/h, guiding cars to edge-of-centre parking and adopting “superblock-style” principles to reduce through-traffic.
The report highlights low residential density as one of Perth’s biggest weaknesses compared with other Australian capitals, along with poor pedestrian and cycling connections between the riverfront, Kings Park and Northbridge.
It also identifies limited tree canopy, urban heat, underused public spaces and weak cultural storytelling — particularly around the city’s Whadjuk Nyoongar foundations — as barriers to a more distinctive identity.
The overall message is blunt: physical upgrades alone won’t be enough. Without more residents, simplified transport and coordinated leadership across agencies, Perth risks remaining a quiet, car-dominated core.
If delivered, the strategy promises a city centre that is greener, denser and more people-focused — one that draws residents, workers, students and visitors into a capital designed for everyday life, not just office hours.
by STEVE GRANT