A vibrant foreshore entertainment district, an indigenous cultural centre, cheap inner-city housing for students, voting at 16 and gay marriage are some ideas for improving Perth that Australia’s 2008 youth ambassador to the United Nations will take to today’s C2030 Summit.
One of many speakers at the summit, Elizabeth Shaw, 25, said a bold plan to bring the river to the city should be at the top of the State Government’s to-do list. 
Ms Shaw, of Claremont, is on the City of Perth youth advisory council.
She said it was time Perth realised its potential. “We need to stop talking about things like connecting the city to the river and just do them,” she said.
“When you’ve got a space like the foreshore, you’ve got to be bold and innovative and take risks.”
Ms Shaw’s vision for the foreshore included a variety of housing for all social economic backgrounds, a range of restaurants, live music, wine bars, a rowdy pub, an art gallery, a public space for weekend markets and an indigenous cultural centre.
Diversifying usage on each city block to achieve a balance of retail, housing, business and industry combined with deregulated trading hours would keep the city activated and vibrant at all times.
Ms Shaw said attracting and retaining skilled local and international students could be improved by building high-density housing in the city and making it an exciting place to be.
“We need a big resident population to create flow-on services,” she said.
JOSEPH CATANZARO : www.thewest.com.au
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