An extension of the free CAT bus service is needed to help struggling business in East Perth, according to the City of Perth.
The council voted at its April 29 meeting to ask for the CAT service that runs in the Perth CBD to be extended to Point Fraser.
But it has pumped the brakes on calling for more public transport from Claisebrook to the river to give the Point Fraser proposal a better chance.
The city had previously asked for the CAT route to be extended to Point Fraser in July 2023 and January this year.
Both times the Public Transport Authority said Point Fraser was serviced by bus route 24, which ran from every 10 minutes to 30 minutes, and believed it was adequate.
It said there would need to be a significant increase in riverfront development and activity to justify more public transport.
A proposal from East Perth resident Vicki Raniszewski said there was already “significant” movement between East Perth, Victoria Park and the Perth CBD.
“The proposed diversion would allow the Blue CAT service to depart Barrack Street Jetty and travel along Riverside Drive (eastbound), stopping at Fraser Point near the landing of Boorloo Bridge, before continuing via Adelaide Terrace and St Georges Terrace and reconnecting with its existing route at Barrack Street,” it said.
“While Transperth route 24 operates within the surrounding area, many residents, tourists and visitors are unaware of this service.”
Cr Catherine Lezer said the CAT service needed to be extended to Point Fraser as the Boorloo Bridge had provided a link between Victoria Park, Heirisson Island and the Perth CBD.
“With over 10,000 residents in East Perth and visitors staying in approximately 2100 hotel rooms along the Adelaide and St Georges terrace corridor, they would gain better access to the Swan River foreshore and the broader CAT network with this one small change,” she said.
“I want to also point out that the City of Perth parking website shows that Point Fraser carpark has 269 parking bays, which we know are subject to the Department of Transport’s Perth parking levy.
“Initially these funds were specifically intended to support the CAT service and yet there is no CAT service operating anywhere near the vicinity of Point Fraser.
“This means that while users of the facility are contributing to the levy, they and the broader East Perth community receive no direct benefit from the service it’s meant to fund.”
Deputy Lord Mayor David Goncalves wanted the city to also push for better public transport links between Claisebrook and the river but withdrew it after city staff said it would hurt Point Fraser’s chances.
General manager planning and sustainability Maria Cooke said the city needed to put its “best foot forward” in the argument for extending the route to Point Fraser.
“It’s quite a different business case to the minister or to the State member for that particular route as opposed to the Claisebrook connection to the river, which is a very different justification and would draw on a different set of data and requirements,” she said.
CEO Michelle Reynolds said staff had not had enough time to consider Cr Goncalves’ amendment and the council needed to be clear about what it was advocating for.
“The initial submission is around Point Fraser with the intention to really support the efforts of the Boorloo Bridge as a tourism destination,” she said.
“North to south bus links is a bigger issue and one that obviously … has a bigger impact on the network.”
Cr Chris Patton said the focus had to be on Point Fraser as businesses there were struggling.
“I somewhat agree with the administration: if we ask for too much, we risk diluting,” he said.
“We need a bus to Point Fraser. That’s got to be the sole focus.”
Nearly half of the council declared an interest in the proposed extension and did not take part in the vote.
Crs Viktor Ko, Liam Gobbert, Raj Doshi and Adam Pacan said they had properties that would be affected by the route’s expansion — leaving the council with a buffer of just one member before being unable to form a quorum.