Photo: The West Australian
Perth’s CBD has long established rooftop restaurant-bars including The Aviary and Bob’s Bar at the Print Hall, Elizabeth Quay has the Reveley, Northbridge the Mechanic’s Institute, Subiaco, the New Normal and Fremantle has the National Hotel Rooftop and Sweetwater in East Fremantle.
Despite having the best estuary and ocean views from its Eastern and Western Foreshores and the Mandurah Ocean Marina, Mandurah lacks what other locations have recognised are major tourism draw-cards and great places to hang out. Mandurah has still to open its first roof-top venue.
Do mandurah hospitality developers and operators lack entrepreneurial vision? Or, is local government, licensing regulations and red tape to blame?
Mandurah will only come of age as a tourism destination when it provides consumers what they want and allow them to enjoy our natural attractions while eating and drinking as they can elsewhere in the greater Perth region.
We might also consider the plight of visitors who arrive on out foreshore and look for a convenience store to provide essential items. Leading up to Christmas, I I was asked by a number of Asian tourists where they could find a 7-Eleven or other convenience store and had to point them to the nearest supermarket, while hoping it was still open.
As for trying to buy a bottle of wine to enjoy at one of the foreshore of boardwalk precinct eateries, you better be prepared for quite a hike or go thirsty if it’s after 8pm.
Maybe it’s something for our community leaders, business organisations and savvy hospitality operators to think about?
