WA:Opposition slams Burswood stadium plan

AAP General News (Australia)
12-16-2011
WA:Opposition slams Burswood stadium plan

PERTH, Dec 16 AAP - The West Australian government has chosen a costly, debt-boosting
option for the site of a new 60,000-seat stadium in Perth, the state opposition says.

Premier Colin Barnett announced on Friday that the government would build "one of the
world's great stadiums" on the site of a golf course beside the Swan River at Burswood.

Mr Barnett told reporters the government was working on a cost of $700 million for
the stadium, with another $300 million for rail and other transport costs.

But he conceded the stadium had yet to be designed and a final price could not be put on it.

"It's certainly going to be an entry statement to Perth, and I would hope it's a spectacular
piece of architecture in its own right."

Construction is due to start in early 2014 and the stadium, designed for many sporting
codes and concerts, is set to open for the start of the 2018 AFL season.

Mr Barnett said the site had been a rubbish tip and dumping site for power-station
waste, but drilling and surveys had shown that should not be a barrier to building a stadium.

"It's a contaminated site, but it will have clean fill over it and it will be sealed," he said.

Extra piling would be needed because the site was on a Swan River mud foundation, and
at least 3.5 metres of extra fill would keep the stadium above any flooding of the river,
the premier said.

But opposition frontbencher Roger Cook said it was clear the premier had no idea what
the final cost of the stadium would be and $700 million was simply the starting point.

"Sure, you can build the stadium at Burswood, but you have to pay extra."

Mr Cook said the extra cost involved at Burswood would be better spent on new schools,
policing and other essential services.

He said Labor would pursue its plans to redevelop Kitchener Park in Subiaco at a lower cost.

"This premier is spending like a drunken sailor and driving the state's debt up."

The new stadium will have the third-largest seating capacity in Australia and provision
for expansion to 70,000 seats.

The government has appointed global firm Populous as architectural consultants for the project.

Populous has worked on big stadium projects around the world, including the Wembley
stadium in London, Yankee Stadium in New York, and the Etihad and Suncorp venues in Australia.

Media and casino tycoon James Packer joked at a business function in Perth this week
that the premier had "put it in the right place", with his Burswood Entertainment Complex
set to benefit from increased visitors to the area.

"I think that the Burswood peninsula will end up being one of the waterfront precincts
that has the opportunity to be something special," Mr Packer said.

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