THE WEST AUSTRALIAN
Golden Group managing director Andrew Sugiaputra has outlined plans for a radical shake-up of perceptions about the benefits of high-density living, as he mulls developing a potentially plastic free, well-serviced, vibrant residential community on the Burswood Peninsula next to Belmont Park Racecourse.
In an entertaining address to Perth’s land developers, Mr Sugiaputra said Perth might be a great city but it struggled to overcome a perception from outside that it was a boring retirement village where the shops shut early.
“We are the size of Los Angeles with about 20 or 25 per cent of the population,” Mr Sugiaputra told an Urban Development Institute of Australia WA lunch on Friday.
“We have less population within 5km of the CBD than Adelaide — go figure.
“We also have the highest numbers of restaurants and small bars per capita — no wonder bars and restaurants are struggling.”
He acknowledged the legitimacy of the Australian dream of owning a quarter-acre block but said change was needed.
“Business as usual won’t cut it any more. The world is changing and we need to adapt as a city if we are to stay relevant,” he said.
As part of that, he outlined Golden Group’s $3.8 billion plans, which include 4500 apartments, 60,000sqm of commercial and 32,000sqm of retail space and 10ha of public open space with a riverfront town square, to start in the fourth quarter this year.
Golden Group will soon apply for approval for the first two towers, likely 30 storeys each.
“There are many challenges that that lay ahead of us and I’m confident that with . . . your support we can make this development into something that Perth will be proud of,” he said.
He hoped it would prove to a sceptical public that high-density living done well would create a cultured, metropolitan Perth.