Austadiums Forum

Burswood sports stadium gets Government nod

PLANS to build Perth's long-awaited sports stadium at Burswood have been given the nod of approval from State Cabinet.

Ministers have backed a plan to build the 60,000-seat venue near the State Tennis Centre in Burswood - the preferred venue first revealed by The Sunday Times in January.

Perthnow understands the cost of building the stadium has been estimated by the Government at under $1 billion.

But it is yet to outline the costs involved with upgrading transport - including a ferry terminal, footbridge and train station - to link to the Burswood Peninsula.

Geotechnical testing is also yet to be done at the site, which is expected to throw up engineering problems because it was once used as a rubbish tip.

Despite predictions that the cost will be kept well below $1 billion, a government-commissioned taskforce has put the total cost at $1.147 billion.

The taskforce, headed by former under-treasurer John Langoulant and including other prominent people such as Sport and Recreation Department director-general Ron Alexander rated Kitchener Park, also listed Burswood as the third-best location for the venue.

According to the taskforce's figures, a new stadium at East Perth would be cheaper than Burswood at $821 million, and Kitchener Park at $849 million.


West Coast want state-of-the-art Subiaco facility

West Coast will use the imminent stadium announcement to kickstart plans for an NFL-inspired multimillion dollar upgrade of its training facilities that would make its Subiaco base the envy of the rest of the AFL.

The Eagles' plans are set to include the long-awaited social club facility for fans, which West Coast also wants to build at Patersons Stadium.

The club will need approval from the WA Football Commission, and funding is yet to be finalised. The WAFC is understood to be keen to retain Patersons Stadium as a football ground in the long term.

Eagles chief operating officer Richard Godfrey and general manager of special projects and technology Digby Moullin went on a research trip to the US earlier this season, where they viewed cutting-edge training centres.

The pair visited several NFL training facilities, including those of the Dallas Cowboys and the Giants and Jets in New York.

West Coast's current facilities at Subiaco, built in 1999, have now been overtaken by some of the poorest clubs in the competition.

Eagles chief executive Nisbett said the Eagles now trailed other clubs in the area of sports science and it was imperative to build new premises that were world class.

AndrewM wrote:Ye of little faith..A Premier not delivering on his promises?? He's gonna build a railway to my place (in ellenbrook) just so I can get to the footy too!

Egan wrote:The expansion to 70,000 would probably happen if Perth won the Olympics/Athletics World Championships.