Jeff Fogarty, president, Scarborough & Districts Progress Association.
THE recent debate about “tourist/trading precinct” and what it really means has become a bit farcical.
Has it, as Liza Harvey MLA for Scarborough states in her recent letter, been “mistakenly associated with the purpose of tourism rather than trading hours for large retailers”?
Or does it mean that such precincts that attract many tourist dollars for our State will finally get some State Government financial assistance and support for local business including special trading hours?
The City of Stirling is to be congratulated for seeking the support of the State Government via the Premier to reconsider its decision not to include Scarborough Beach as a “Tourist Precinct”.
The passage of Amendments 457 and 458 clearly state that “tourism” is part of the scheme objectives for Scarborough Beach.
Not only has the City consulted the community but it has also consistently sought tourism status for Scarborough Beach from both Liberal and Labor State governments.
As president of the Scarborough and Districts Progress Association I can say one issue that most agreed upon during the consultation process was that local residents and businesses alike supported the tourism component of the scheme.
It is interesting to note that the planning minister is seeking an amendment to the City’s new local planning scheme to ensure that Rendezvous Observation City Hotel tower will remain a hotel to support tourism at Scarborough Beach.
Scarborough Beach as part of a “Tourism Precinct” network is more in keeping with the future direction of the locality and given that the State Government has clearly delineated areas as either “Perth Tourist Precincts” or as “Special Trading Precincts” it is obvious that Scarborough Beach more appropriately fits into a “Tourist Precinct”.
It is true that Scarborough Beach is beautiful and has some excellent infrastructure given the recent money spent by the City of Stirling.
In addition the forthcoming entertainment program at Scarborough Beach as part of the summer events for 2010 will further reinforce the vibrancy of the locality.
For the record, we are still waiting for the State Government to contribute its share of the money required at this regional locality and it is hoped that Scarborough Beach will be officially recognised as a “Tourism Precinct” and finally get the impetus we need to get Scarborough moving.