15,000 Indoor Stadium for Perth
Austadiums • Sunday 21st September 2003
Perth is to get a $100 million multi-purpose indoor concert and sports arena.
The new stadium - which would host rock bands, tennis and basketball - will seat 15,000 people.
The State Government's preferred site is the Perth Entertainment Centre, which will be replaced or refurbished.
The plan is linked to Burswood demolishing the dome and media magnate Kerry Stokes selling the Entertainment Centre site to the Government.
The implications for taxpayers are still unclear. It is not known what price Mr Stokes is asking for the Entertainment Centre, although $25 million is one estimate.
Mr Stokes bought it for $18 million in 1999.
Taxpayers could also be asked to contribute to the cost of building the new arena, as happened with the convention centre.
Burswood has a contractual obligation to provide an indoor concert and sporting facility. It cannot demolish its dome unless it provides a similar facility.
The new arena would accommodate 15,000 spectators, compared with 8500 in the Entertainment Centre and 20,000 at the Burswood Dome. Department of Housing and Works director-general Greg Joyce confirmed there had been negotiations with Mr Stokes and Burswood.
Mr Joyce said the Government was expected to resolve the issue in the next few weeks.
Expressions of interest would then be called to either build a new facility on the Entertainment Centre site, which would cost about $100 million, or upgrade it for $40 million.
The Government's first preference is to rebuild on the Entertainment Centre site.
Such a move would also have implications for the sinking of the railway.
"They (Burswood) have signalled their intention to close the dome facility and we're currently in negotiation with Burswood management to ensure that the state has a facility," Mr Joyce said.
"I think you could say it (the timeframe) is immediate. They are pressing and we are pressing."
A spokeswoman for Burswood confirmed the negotiations with the Government.
"We are, as always, open to considering options for our involvement in the state's entertainment and events industry going forward," she said.
"Our previous position on the dome still stands – it is an under-performing asset that we need to review in the interests of our shareholders. In doing so, we will consider a range of options."
The new stadium - which would host rock bands, tennis and basketball - will seat 15,000 people.
The State Government's preferred site is the Perth Entertainment Centre, which will be replaced or refurbished.
The plan is linked to Burswood demolishing the dome and media magnate Kerry Stokes selling the Entertainment Centre site to the Government.
The implications for taxpayers are still unclear. It is not known what price Mr Stokes is asking for the Entertainment Centre, although $25 million is one estimate.
Mr Stokes bought it for $18 million in 1999.
Taxpayers could also be asked to contribute to the cost of building the new arena, as happened with the convention centre.
Burswood has a contractual obligation to provide an indoor concert and sporting facility. It cannot demolish its dome unless it provides a similar facility.
The new arena would accommodate 15,000 spectators, compared with 8500 in the Entertainment Centre and 20,000 at the Burswood Dome. Department of Housing and Works director-general Greg Joyce confirmed there had been negotiations with Mr Stokes and Burswood.
Mr Joyce said the Government was expected to resolve the issue in the next few weeks.
Expressions of interest would then be called to either build a new facility on the Entertainment Centre site, which would cost about $100 million, or upgrade it for $40 million.
The Government's first preference is to rebuild on the Entertainment Centre site.
Such a move would also have implications for the sinking of the railway.
"They (Burswood) have signalled their intention to close the dome facility and we're currently in negotiation with Burswood management to ensure that the state has a facility," Mr Joyce said.
"I think you could say it (the timeframe) is immediate. They are pressing and we are pressing."
A spokeswoman for Burswood confirmed the negotiations with the Government.
"We are, as always, open to considering options for our involvement in the state's entertainment and events industry going forward," she said.
"Our previous position on the dome still stands – it is an under-performing asset that we need to review in the interests of our shareholders. In doing so, we will consider a range of options."
