New stadium proposed in Perth
Austadiums • Sunday 13th June 2004
The West Coast Eagles, Fremantle Dockers and possibly even Perth Glory could have a new $300 million home ground in Cockburn under a proposal to be lodged with the WA State Government within a month.
The City of Cockburn confirmed yesterday it had flagged the proposal with Sports Minister Bob Kucera in a meeting this week which included Fremantle Dockers chief executive Cameron Schwab.
The council also hopes that the multi-purpose venue, which could attract major rock concerts, would become WA's new home of cricket and be suitable for football.
Development of the stadium on Government-owned land adjacent to the Kwinana Freeway would be part of wider plans which include a new Cockburn town centre, another sporting facility to cater for athletics and whitewater canoeing, a business park and a central train and bus station.
Cockburn mayor Stephen Lee said the council had developed plans for the multi-purpose stadium for the past year. He said it had worked closely with the Dockers and wanted to schedule urgent meetings with the West Coast Eagles and the WA Football Commission.
Mr Lee said the council would be doing a disservice to its current and future ratepayers if it did not flag the site as the best available option in the metropolitan area.
The proposal would take advantage of a projected population of 200,000 people within a 10km radius of the development precinct within 10 years, which would be a 13-minute car drive from Perth.
Mr Schwab said the Dockers were committed as a club to their Fremantle Oval home where they had spent $4 million, but believed WA would soon require a flexible stadium which housed football and cricket.
He said for the Dockers to be part of any such proposal, it would have to offer a significantly better home ground option to Subiaco Oval.
West Coast chief executive Trevor Nisbett said he had not been approached about the proposal. He would not rule out the Eagles' involvement, but said he would have to weigh up the benefits of such a move against development progress at Subiaco.
Mr Kucera said the Gallop Government supported in principle the City of Cockburn's proposal and has called for detailed plans to be given to a working committee headed by Department of Sport and Recreation director-general Ron Alexander, which is assessing the future of Perth's major sporting venues.
Mr Kucera said the Cockburn site already featured key criteria for a new stadium, such as significant transport infrastructure and land which had been zoned only for industrial use.
But he said the Government would only consider a partnership deal which would require significant investment from the sporting codes.
The City of Cockburn confirmed yesterday it had flagged the proposal with Sports Minister Bob Kucera in a meeting this week which included Fremantle Dockers chief executive Cameron Schwab.
The council also hopes that the multi-purpose venue, which could attract major rock concerts, would become WA's new home of cricket and be suitable for football.
Development of the stadium on Government-owned land adjacent to the Kwinana Freeway would be part of wider plans which include a new Cockburn town centre, another sporting facility to cater for athletics and whitewater canoeing, a business park and a central train and bus station.
Cockburn mayor Stephen Lee said the council had developed plans for the multi-purpose stadium for the past year. He said it had worked closely with the Dockers and wanted to schedule urgent meetings with the West Coast Eagles and the WA Football Commission.
Mr Lee said the council would be doing a disservice to its current and future ratepayers if it did not flag the site as the best available option in the metropolitan area.
The proposal would take advantage of a projected population of 200,000 people within a 10km radius of the development precinct within 10 years, which would be a 13-minute car drive from Perth.
Mr Schwab said the Dockers were committed as a club to their Fremantle Oval home where they had spent $4 million, but believed WA would soon require a flexible stadium which housed football and cricket.
He said for the Dockers to be part of any such proposal, it would have to offer a significantly better home ground option to Subiaco Oval.
West Coast chief executive Trevor Nisbett said he had not been approached about the proposal. He would not rule out the Eagles' involvement, but said he would have to weigh up the benefits of such a move against development progress at Subiaco.
Mr Kucera said the Gallop Government supported in principle the City of Cockburn's proposal and has called for detailed plans to be given to a working committee headed by Department of Sport and Recreation director-general Ron Alexander, which is assessing the future of Perth's major sporting venues.
Mr Kucera said the Cockburn site already featured key criteria for a new stadium, such as significant transport infrastructure and land which had been zoned only for industrial use.
But he said the Government would only consider a partnership deal which would require significant investment from the sporting codes.
