Accommodation in Kings Park unlikely after tiny cabins trial
A bold push to allow tourist accommodation in Kings Park has seemingly fizzled out after last year's tiny cabin trial, with neither the Tourism Minister or Environment Minister keen to talk about a future for overnight stays.
The company that brought in the three tiny cabins last June around drawcard event Lightscape has also confirmed it won't be returning when the lights and sound spectacle returns next week.
'We really appreciated the opportunity to trial the concept at Kings Park and while the response was positive overall, we've decided to focus on our regional expansion for now,' a Heyscape spokesperson confirmed to PerthNow.
Your local paper, whenever you want it. Cabins in Kings Park look unlikely to return. Credit: Stephen Scourfield / The West Australian
WA's new Tourism Minister Reece Whitby, who was environment minister when the accommodation trial was supported, referred questions about the prospect of future accommodation for Kings Park to new Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn.
Mr Swinbourn did not answer any of PerthNow's questions this week and a written response — attributed to a State Government spokesperson — was non-committal.
'The Heyscape overnight stay experience provided a novel, world-class experience in an extraordinary location,' the statement read.
'Any future proposals will be informed by the Heyscape review, which provides valuable insights into key considerations for accommodation experiences.'
Last year's State Government-backed trial allowed the three cabins to be set up in the park for the three-week duration of Lightscape, providing a rare overnight accommodation experience for some of the event's 180,000 visitors. The cabin by the DNA Tower. Credit: Stephen Scourfield / The West Australian
At the time, Premier Roger Cook called it a 'start of a new era for Kings Park' as the State Government explored new opportunities for hospitality and accommodation within the park.
'Kings Park is one of WA's best attractions and my government wants to bring Kings Park to life,' he said.
'That means more for visitors to do as they experience one of the world's biggest and best inner-city park.'
But the accommodation audition drew a mixed response, with plenty taking issue with the $495 per night price tag for being too steep.
Community group Friends of Kings Park also slammed the trial because of the potential to 'ruin' the A-class reserve.
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Perth Now
9 hours ago
- Perth Now
Accommodation in Kings Park unlikely after tiny cabins trial
A bold push to allow tourist accommodation in Kings Park has seemingly fizzled out after last year's tiny cabin trial, with neither the Tourism Minister or Environment Minister keen to talk about a future for overnight stays. The company that brought in the three tiny cabins last June around drawcard event Lightscape has also confirmed it won't be returning when the lights and sound spectacle returns next week. 'We really appreciated the opportunity to trial the concept at Kings Park and while the response was positive overall, we've decided to focus on our regional expansion for now,' a Heyscape spokesperson confirmed to PerthNow. Your local paper, whenever you want it. Cabins in Kings Park look unlikely to return. Credit: Stephen Scourfield / The West Australian WA's new Tourism Minister Reece Whitby, who was environment minister when the accommodation trial was supported, referred questions about the prospect of future accommodation for Kings Park to new Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn. Mr Swinbourn did not answer any of PerthNow's questions this week and a written response — attributed to a State Government spokesperson — was non-committal. 'The Heyscape overnight stay experience provided a novel, world-class experience in an extraordinary location,' the statement read. 'Any future proposals will be informed by the Heyscape review, which provides valuable insights into key considerations for accommodation experiences.' Last year's State Government-backed trial allowed the three cabins to be set up in the park for the three-week duration of Lightscape, providing a rare overnight accommodation experience for some of the event's 180,000 visitors. The cabin by the DNA Tower. Credit: Stephen Scourfield / The West Australian At the time, Premier Roger Cook called it a 'start of a new era for Kings Park' as the State Government explored new opportunities for hospitality and accommodation within the park. 'Kings Park is one of WA's best attractions and my government wants to bring Kings Park to life,' he said. 'That means more for visitors to do as they experience one of the world's biggest and best inner-city park.' But the accommodation audition drew a mixed response, with plenty taking issue with the $495 per night price tag for being too steep. Community group Friends of Kings Park also slammed the trial because of the potential to 'ruin' the A-class reserve.
Daily Telegraph
a day ago
- Daily Telegraph
‘We won't wait': Brutal reality of life without light rail for Palm Beach
Don't miss out on the headlines from Gold Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News. Mayor Tom Tate warns council will dig up the southern stretch of the Gold Coast Highway to the border for critical infrastructure work, regardless of whether the light rail proceeds. Worn-out underground infrastructure, including pipes, must be replaced in the next few years in Palm Beach, Currumbin and Tugun, he says, something that had been planned to occur during construction of the multi-billion dollar tram extension to the Gold Coast Airport. Artist impression of Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 4 between Tugun and Coolangatta, including Gold Coast Airport and the NSW border. Picture: Department of Transport and Main Roads. But with the project's future in doubt and under State Government review, city leaders have used Friday's council budget to underline the critical need for the tram to be built promptly, saying even a delay until after the 2032 Olympics would force the roads to be dug up twice – once for the pipes and again years later for the light rail Mr Tate followed his budget speech by urging the state government to back in the trams, saying he didn't want to have to perform a 'double-bypass' on the heart of Palm Beach. 'While the state government does their review and consultation, we need to continue planning for underground infrastructure upgrades along the southern end of the Gold Coast no matter what and there is $10m already allocated for (upgrades to) kilometres and kilometres of water pipes, sewer pipes, storm water pipes under the highway,' he said. 'If the (state) report comes back that we have to move and the state wants to delay light rail Stage 4, we won't wait (because) we will have to go and rectify (the) sewer and water now. Mayor Tom Tate and Deputy Mayor Mark Hammel discussing the budget. Picture: Andrew Potts 'It means you've got to dig it up twice, double expenditure and the pain of opening the roads up in Palm Beach and that's what (critics) don't understand.' Council committed $13.8m to progressing light rail Stage 4 in its 2024-25 budget last year but did not list specific new funding for it in this year's budget. However, budget documents do list progressing the business case on the project as a key action for improving connectivity in the city the next financial year, subject to state government approval. The long-planned light rail stage 4 from Burleigh Heads to the border via the airport has paused as the new state government kept its pre-election promise to review the route and perform community consultation, which closed in early May. It is not known when the results of this will be released. Business leaders across the city have backed the extension as essential as the Gold Coast population soars. Artist impression of Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 4 between Tugun and Coolangatta, including Gold Coast Airport and the NSW border. Picture: Department of Transport and Main Roads. Deputy Mayor and city planning boss Mark Hammel said delays and uncertainty around the future of stage 4 were having a serious knock-on effect on the council's own planning for transport infrastructure for the future. 'It's the state government that sets the regional plans projections of the city's future population and it also sets projection of where they expect most that population to be and the coastal strip from Paradise Point to Coolangatta is where the largest proportion of this city's future population will go, light rail or no light rail,' he said. 'We're looking to make investments in infrastructure to support that population growth and the investment the state government needs to make is in public transport to allow that sustainable growth to occur down there, so it is a concern. 'They need to come through with investment in public transport and while Stage 4 is the next (element), that's not the end of it – it's just the next (piece) in a series of projects to deliver the city's long-term public transport network with the heavy rail and the light rail as the two spines connected by east-west links. 'The frustration is the longer we delay this next stage, we waste precious time and energy and increasing costs to see it delivered with every year goes by. 'That's also having an effect on those east-west connections which open up other opportunities for not just population growth but connecting the entire city to high frequency public transport.' It comes weeks after an 'Enterprising City' report, by KPMG, underlined the critical role of light rail in the city's future as it looked forward to 2030 and the city's economy as it evolves from a tourism town to a modern metropolis. 'Longer term, stage 4 of the light rail from Burleigh to the Airport and investments related to the 2032 Olympic Games will further enhance the Gold Coast's attractiveness,' it reads. 'The Gold Coast has always had an unbeatable lifestyle, but the continued creation of highly-skilled jobs and investment in world-class infrastructure truly makes it a global city.' Originally published as Gold Coast light rail Stage 4: Brutal reality of life without tram extension to Coolangatta via Gold Coast Airport
West Australian
2 days ago
- West Australian
Unlocking Pilbara housing possibilities a 'clear priority' for Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas after tour
Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas has taken aim at the State Government during a regional tour to the Pilbara, declaring housing is 'clearly not something they're doing well'. Mr Zempilas wrapped up the tour on Friday June 6 in Exmouth, after stopping in at Port Hedland and Karratha to meet with local businesses and industry. 'Housing is obviously something the State Government are not succeeding at now,' he said. 'One of the important reasons to travel to the regions and come out to experience the issues for local people first-hand is to get a sense of what the government are doing well and what they're not doing well, and housing is clearly something they're not doing well throughout Western Australia.' The Opposition Leader also cited Premier Roger Cook's announcement to build 100 homes for Perdaman workers in Karratha, saying it's 'barely going to touch the sides, and is only for workers'. 'To be able to grow the City of Karratha, for example, then we're going to need to be able to grow the population of the city, but you can't grow the population if there's nowhere for people to live,' he said. 'Housing is a huge priority for the entire Pilbara region, so finding ways to unlock the potential of the Pilbara by unlocking possibilities with housing seems to be a very clear priority, and it's certainly one for us to take back and give strong consideration to.' Housing and Works Minister John Carey said the State Government made significant commitments to boost regional housing, noting Government Regional Officer Housing, funding regional headworks through the Infrastructure Development Fund and delivering a Regional Housing Support fund to further support key worker construction. 'In coming years, we'll see even more economic growth in the Pilbara,' he said. 'This will include further expansion into clean energy, critical minerals, tourism and advanced manufacturing. 'These growth industries will require more local workforces and more housing. 'The Opposition remains devoid of any policies for regional WA, including housing in the Pilbara. 'In fact, the Opposition regularly campaign against residential development and have promised to increase planning system red tape.' Mr Zempilas said key issues such as healthcare in the Pilbara were also linked to housing. 'You can't get professionals up here if they don't have anywhere to live,' he said. 'It's very clear, that this has been, or still is, the most expensive city in Australia to live. 'Weekly rents are in the vicinity of $1200-$1300 per week, that's not affordable in many places. 'I appreciate there's a complexity to life in Karratha, there seems to be two speeds to the economy — those that are working in the resources industry and doing very well and able to manage or justify that sort of rental expense, but there are clearly many who are on the minimum wage, or even below the minimum wage, and that affordability is not in their realm.'
