Perth’s cityscape is a sight for sore eyes.

The skyline is dotted with cranes and there are more construction workers in high visibility vests than bespectacled bankers.

Traversing the length of Wellington Street is akin to taking on a military obstacle course.

Despite the inconvenience caused by road blocks, damaged pathways and disrupted bus services, there is a real sense of transformation about the place.

When tarpaulins and scaffolding were finally pulled from the facades of several buildings on Wellington street recently, it was a chance for the people of Perth to glimpse what has been going on behind the scenes.

City of Perth Chief Executive Frank Edwards says the economy is driving the changes.

“We are in a period where lots of construction is reaching completion.

“OneForty William Street will be completed soon. Raine Square is rapidly coming to completion and a number of residential and commercial premises are coming to an end as well. Certainly things like the BHP tower are going to take some time to finish.”

He says exciting changes are set for Forrest Place.

“It’s going to be a wonderful rejuvenation of the main city square that has hosted so many events in the city over the years. It was looking a bit tired and rundown and these changes will recreate it when the city is being rejuvenated across the board.”

The long wait

Ruth Durack from the Urban Design Centre of WA says the changes have been a long time coming.

And, she’s eager to see what’s hiding behind construction site fencing.

“Does it all really have to take so long? Perth often seems to me like an exuberant little kid who’s just dying to race out into the garden to explore, but is held back by a paternalistic carer who’s spent so long organizing shoes and socks and a proper fitting hat and sunscreen and mosquito guard.”

A case in point is the redevelopment of the city’s foreshore with countless draft plans released by successive governments over the last two decades.

But, it is now a step closer to reality with the Perth waterfront taskforce having just delivered a business case for the project to state cabinet.

The latest plans include creating an inlet with an island, three to five storey developments on the waterfront and a cable car linking it to Kings Park and Northbridge.

Colin Barnett has even put his political career on the line over the project, saying he’ll quit as Premier if the first sod isn’t turned by 2012.

‘I am absolutely confident we will get the waterfront project up, why wouldn’t it, it will be the best real estate in Perth, fabulous real estate, right on the Swan River,” he said in March.

It is also hoped work on sinking the train line and the bus station thus creating the Northbridge Link will begin before the end of year.

Meanwhile, the East Perth Redevelopment Authority has begun a process of rejuvenating the Perth Cultural Centre, hoping to make it a safer, more desirable entertainment precinct.

The lag

Despite the construction, Ms Durack says Perth is a long way from becoming a leader in the area of urban development.

“Not until we stop trying to regulate everything and fit it into a nice, clean, neat, little functional box. Good cities are places that frequently delight, sometimes shock, occasionally frighten, but constantly surprise.

“We will always be just a sleepy, dull city that is a good place to raise children unless we can break out of the straightjacket of over regulation – at least in some parts of town. ”

Ms Durack says encouraging the arts is also essential.

“We need to let all the arts flourish – music and dance, street theatre and confronting temporary installations are just as important as edgy architecture and provocative public art.”

This important time in Perth’s history is being immortalised on film for future generations.

The City of Perth has commissioned two West Australian photographers to chronicle the changes.

Frank Edwards says their work forms an exhibition now on display at Council House.

“The purpose is to capture the city during this period of construction. It is so we have a photographic record of the city with all these cranes and these buildings partially completed.

“And then we will be able to repeat it in the future and have a wonderful photographic record of all these changes as they happen.”