Can you cook an egg on Elizabeth Quay
Elizabeth Quay looks great, but it could do with some shade during a heat wave....although it might do for frying an egg.
PT0M32S 620 349I made my first trip to Elizabeth Quay on Friday and I have to say it is magnificent and destined to become an iconic WA attraction.
I've been a committed supporter for this type of concept after experiencing similar, but bigger developments in Sydney's Darling Harbour and Melbourne's Southbank.
In fact, in an earlier Ray's Rant, I called for an extension of EQ all the way along the foreshore to where the Hyatt is - and a replica development on the South Perth side from the Narrows to Coode Street.
Shade is in short supply at the $440 million development. Photo: Matthew Tompsett
OK, so it's probably not doable in the current economic climate. Let's put it down in the wish list for 2050 and beyond.
EQ is another great attraction to add to the state's tourism attraction bundle and it will provide an economic boost through further construction and jobs.
I know there's a lot more to come in terms of hotels, shops and so on before it reaches its full expression, but it will be worth waiting for.
Bone dry.The water park at Elizabeth Quay on Friday. Photo: Ray Sparvell
That's the good news. The bad news is that, right now in the middle of a heatwave, it is hotter than Hades and shade is in short supply.
This has the unintended consequence of delivering, at best, mixed reviews and, at worst, creating a negative first impression. EQ deserves to be recognised as an unmitigated success.
I just wonder whether planners were out to lunch when the comfort of visitors in a post-opening summer was discussed.
Searing temperatures in Death Valley? Or is it just an off-shoot of Elizabeth Quay? Photo: Getty Images
Maybe the subject never came up – at least maybe it never considered the impact on visitors of a testing heatwave in the low 40s for five straight days.
I made my first visit around 2pm on Friday and trekked from the Bell Tower side. There were a few hardy visitors – or perhaps international tourists who were unaware of the deadly effects that our summer sun can have in a very short space of time.
I found a group of parched, wilting and disappointed children at the bone dry BHP Water Park. They could only cool themselves with popsicles.
The struggle was real...
Fortunately, I found a drinking fountain as I was feeling the effects of the heat after a mere 20 minutes or so.
I'm no wilting flower – with a substantial body of physical exertion in testing heat over many years.
The problem is the vast expanse of light grey pavers that seem to be generating their own climate – unfortunately that climate has been borrowed from Death Valley in south-eastern California.
In fact, the experience brought to mind the 1977 French Foreign Legionnaire film, March or Die, where the soldiers are tormented by a harsh and unforgiving desert.
And to some degree that's what has been created at Elizabeth Quay: a lovely set of bleached bones, tantalisingly surrounded by cool water.
It is not beyond the realms of possibility that someone – young, old or in between, could fall victim to heat stress during what should be an enjoyable experience.
I had to cut short my visit on Friday and seek an air-conditioned venue where I could rehydrate.
I have certainly spoken to a number of people who say they will be giving EQ a miss until the thermometer drops.
At paving level, which must be 10 degrees or more hotter than the ambient temperature, it was nearly hot enough on Monday to fry an egg, something that was attempted by our video journalist, James Mooney.
The cackleberry was certainly starting to sizzle on the pavers and it would only have been a matter of time.
A Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority spokeswoman said shade would improve at the precinct as vegetation became more established and the buildings on the private development lots started to go up.
"Elizabeth Quay is home to more than 400 trees, shrubs and plants - an increase of approximately 50 per cent from the original landscaping plan," she said.
"These trees will mature over the coming years to provide more shade across the precinct and in the interim the MRA has installed 29 large umbrellas throughout the public realm."
I must confess I missed these 29 large umbrellas, though I was desperately seeking shade. Perhaps I was having a man look.
Mind you, I might have started to have become heat delusional.
Umbrellas aside, I'm not sure I can wait five or 10 years for the trees to grow up.
Perhaps the MRA might need to consider a more comprehensive summer shade plan for the venue; structures that aesthetically complement the architecture and art of EQ, but are temporary in nature and could be removed as natural or building shading take over.
How about some groups of fine water misters to take the edge off a visit?
Every new development is going to have teething troubles and this is just one of those.
It's a valid criticism. Anything that negatively impacts a visitor experience at EQ should be addressed.
The worst response would be to do nothing and leave us to wait for the trees to grow.
EQ deserves better.
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