A world of new ideas for Perth

Since starting as CEO for Committee for Perth, I find I travel differently, constantly comparing and looking for ideas for Perth. In October I spent four weeks in Spain and Dublin and these are my top 10 ideas and inspirations that I have brought home. 1 The impact of place branding From Bilbao and Toledo to Seville and Granada, you couldn’t miss how these cities promote their “brand”, providing so many “Insta ops” (opportunities to take and post Instagram images). Like our Yagan Square PERTH sign, but in more opportune spots. Think Kings Park with the city backdrop and our city’s name in lights. A drawcard for visitors, who would promote Perth to the world with their selfies. 2 One BIG thing Bilbao has been transformed by the Guggenheim and Granada has the ancient Alhambra. Will Perth’s “one big thing” be our new Aboriginal cultural centre? Those major tourist attractions certainly help draw the crowds. Imagine the possibilities for Perth. 3 Gallery entry for locals Time and again we noticed special rates to encourage locals to visit their galleries and museums during quieter times, like free entry between 7pm and 9pm. Could we do something similar to encourage more visitors back to the WA Museum Boola Bardip, like we do with the free travel on trains on Sundays? 4 QR codes QR codes are a central part of life in Spain, from train and museum tickets to gallery guides and restaurant menus — saving paper and containing everything on your phone. While Perth got used to QR codes during COVID, we have not embraced them to the same extent as the Spanish. 5. Apartment living Sixty five per cent of Spaniards live in apartments, according to Eurostat — one of the highest rates in Europe. I think this is why there is more outdoor dining and intergenerational community activity long into the night. Every night, we saw people of all ages out and about, chatting and sharing stories. A definite benefit of higher-density living. 6 Active transport Interestingly, I saw no hire scooters on our travels, but electric bikes were everywhere. In Dublin, the Irish Government has introduced a cycle to work scheme where anyone can get a new bike free through their work. The employer pays the cost, and the employees repay it in instalments and do not get taxed on their payments. That’s active support for active transport! 7 The power of renewables and wind In Spain, wind turbines were everywhere throughout the country. A quick Google search confirmed it is the fifth country in the world for wind energy — how impressive is that? It reminded me again of the opportunity it presents for Perth and Western Australia. 8 Very little police presence Perhaps it was because more people are outside all times of day and night. Population equals safety? I’m not sure. I do know we rarely heard sirens or saw police walking around, yet we felt safe all the time, so it had nothing to do with police presence and was most likely the large numbers of people. Another reason to densify Perth! 9 Mobile pets Pets are as mobile in Europe as the rest of us. It became the norm to see cats and dogs in backpacks and on trains in special carriers. On a train in Spain, a fellow passenger had her dog by her feet and when the train stopped, the dog was popped in a bag, and they went on their way. No fuss — perfectly normal. 10 Perth is not that far . . . Whenever we mentioned we were from Australia, the constant reply was ’Oh that’s so far away!’ — and I would tell them Perth is the closest city in the nation to Europe, and has direct flights to London, Rome and Paris. If Europeans can go to Bali for a week, they can just as easily come to Perth. It’s up to us to change that perception by reminding family and friends in Europe — Perth is getting ever closer! While holidays are amazing, and I find the wonders of the world fill my soul, I always love coming back to the iridescent blue sky of Perth. Arriving home, we got through Perth Airport in super-quick speed. The staff are focused on getting you through and it’s a joy. + Paula Rogers is CEO of the Committee for Perth, which is an independent not-for-profit organisation that challenges and advocates for change on behalf of its members to make Perth consistently one of the most liveable cities in the world.