Constructive connections give City of Bayswater a competitive edge

Located just six kilometers north-east of Perth’s CBD and close to the international airport, the City of Bayswater is capitalizing on significant state government investment that is putting the vibrant inner-city municipality on the map.

City of Bayswater CEO Jeremy Edwards said it was an exciting time for the city, welcoming the state government’s recent investment in road and rail projects throughout the area, including the construction of new train stations in Bayswater, Noranda and Morley as part of METRONET.

"The A$336-million redeveloped Bayswater Train Station will be the second largest in WA [Western Australia] and will connect the Midland Line, Forrestfield-Airport Link and Morley-Ellenbrook Line," he said.

"Coupled with the state and federal governments’ A$400-million upgrades to the Tonkin Highway Corridor that will reduce travel times and improve access to our industrial and commercial areas, you won’t find a city location with better connections."

"I welcome potential investors to get in touch to discuss the range of opportunities available to contribute to the area’s expansion."

Upgrades to the Bayswater Train Station followed the handover of planning control for the area to DevelopmentWA in 2021. This was part of the state government’s strategy to attract greater investment and support the revitalization of the town center, a goal that will also be achieved through the City of Bayswater’s new Local Planning Strategy.

Guiding planning and development across the city over the next 10–15 years, the new Local Planning Strategy aims to develop vibrant town centers and support future growth through creating well-planned, walkable neighborhoods with robust public transport links. This will encourage a range of housing options and provide opportunities for employment closer to home.

"The City of Bayswater is on the cusp of great things. Significant state government investment has resulted in new opportunities for investors, and our council endorses the city’s focus on attracting investment as part of its commitment to economic development," Edwards says. "We currently have several key sites that are ripe for development, and we are keen to help investors navigate the planning process. I welcome potential investors to get in touch to discuss the range of opportunities available to contribute to the area’s expansion."

Selecting the right talent

A priority for Edwards since joining the city in 2022 has been selecting new executive team members to drive the organization forward.

Three recent appointments have rounded out the city’s Executive Leadership Team (ELT), each bringing a mix of local government knowledge and industry experience to guide the city’s transformation.

Former City of Stirling Deputy Mayor and Councillor, and former Director of Urbanista Town Planning, Bianca Sandri, joined the city as Director of Community Services in October 2023, bringing to the role a passion for serving the community.

"You won’t find a city location with better connections."

Following her success transforming the City of Swan’s digital and financial systems, Kym Leahy joined in May 2023 as the city’s Director of Corporate Services.

Luke Botica, who has been with the city for two years, was an internal promotion to the role of Director of Infrastructure and Assets. A qualified engineer with more than 24 years’ experience in local government, Botica brings strong technical expertise to the team.

Edwards credits the ELT’s balance of commercial acumen and community-mindedness for the positive direction of the city, and believes great things are to come for the city and its stakeholders.

"We are committed to driving organizational improvement, transforming the city’s digital systems, creating and attracting investment opportunities within the city and delivering the highest quality service to the community," Edwards says.

"I’m confident the diversity of experience, age and gender on the ELT and the different perspectives and passions at the decision-making table will ensure we achieve this.

"As an organization, we have built a strong reputation for providing the services our community values, and I am proud to lead a team of staff who are passionate about making our city a great place to work, live, visit and invest in."