The Perth Waterfront, now known as Elizabeth Quay is a plan to develop the perth city fore shore with a view to attracting more tourists and investors to Western Australia. The plan covers some 10 hectares of river frontage right next to the city center. The centerpiece of the plan is a 2.7 hectare inlet surrounded by shops cafes and restaurants. The Perth Waterfront plan details the creation of more hotels and short0term accomodation for tourists and those temporary travellers such as miners working to the north of the state.
The Perth Waterfront development also encompasses the zoning of significant commercial space for office blocks and entertainment venues. In April 2012 Premier Barnett officially commenced development of the Perth Waterfront by turning a clod of sand on a spot marking the development; however the project is not expected to be completed before 2022 and given Perth's construction history could take significantly longer. User polls suggest the project would probably never be finished to the current plan.
The ambitious time-frame for opening of the public space around the commercial sectors of the development suggests the 2.7 hectare inlet can be dug and filled with water in only three years, meaning the state government and private contractors are on a very tight schedule.
The Plan for Elizabeth Quay also involves shutting down one of the busiest roads in the city which has led to outcry from citizens. Whilst the State Government has not released any plans for a Perth city congestion charge many citizens suggest this will be necessary to decrease the number of cars entering the city and the Elizabeth Quay region.
The State Government has predicted that four million people will visit The Elizabeth Quay Waterfront annually. This figure includes those who will work in the area as well as the existing 500,000 visitors to the Bell Tower and is and is only eight times the number of people that visited the Perth Zoo (1998-99) in a year.
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