The state government’s appointment of BGC to build the Perth Arena by early 2010 has again raised questions as to the future of the ageing Burswood Dome.
The state government’s appointment of BGC to build the Perth Arena by early 2010 has again raised questions as to the future of the ageing Burswood Dome.
With discussions pending over the fate of its major stadium proposal, Burswood Entertainment Complex-owner PBL is understood to be considering purchasing the interests to about 6.9 hectares of green-titled land around the dome from the Town of Victoria Park for future development.
Although the land is vested with the Burswood Park Board, it is also tied up with the government’s Casino (Burswood Island) Agreement Act 1985, under which the town has the right to own the land in the event it is no longer needed for public purposes.
Victoria Park CEO John Bonker said the town would have to be compensated for its loss, with a sum close to current market value.
Mr Bonker confirmed the town and Burswood had discussed the compensation deal late last week.
“It’s been like a game of ping pong for some time but I hope we can reach some in-principle agreement within the next three to four months,” he said.
The town has declined to reveal how much it is seeking, however the parcel is understood to be worth more than $80 million at current market rates.
Mr Bonker said it wanted the optimum result for its ratepayers and the best long-term development outcome for the peninsula.
Burswood general manager communications, Sonia Mackay-Coghill, said it had been inappropriate for Burswood to consider any development on the dome site to date, however it would consider any positive development on the peninsula that enhanced the sports, leisure and tourism infrastructure of Western Australia.
In that regard, Ms Mackay-Coghill said Burswood looked forward to working with the government to explore the possibility of locating a major stadium and associated retail, commercial and entertainment precinct on the peninsula.
In its final report handed down last week, the government-appointed Major Stadia Taskforce identified Subiaco’s Kitchener Park and the East Perth power station site as its preferred location for a 60,000 seat multi-purpose stadium, pricing Burswood’s proposal at $1.15 billion and out of the game.
“The only reason Burswood was not identified as the preferred site for the stadium development is that it has been represented as costing taxpayers an additional $300 million compared to East Perth and Kitchener Park. This is not an accurate representation of the opportunity,” Ms Mackay-Coghill said.
Burswood remains convinced there is a strong opportunity to fund the gap by attracting private investment in car parking as well as developing about 10ha of surplus land on the peninsula for residential development.
Ms Mackay-Coghill said it had not offered any direct financial contribution to the government to help fund the cost of the stadium to date.
