The East Perth site has to be cleaned up at Government cost to be able to be used anyway so that cost is already a given at some stage.

The Town of Vincent is already doing handstands at the thought of getting the full deal instead of their preferred patch up. So they are onside in principle.

The only sticking issue is Allia who will move out of the loop for a price. They don't have the whip hand unless they have a chain legal agreements leading to the State Government giving them exclusive rights to a football venue.

These sorts of issues are why local government should keep out of major infrastructure provision. Firstly they can't afford to build them and secondly they are in a compromised position of being both game keeper and poacher with regards to planning issues. Ownership has to be a state issue.

PS. I reckon they would struggle to fit a 60,000 seat stadium on East Perth.

Allia have been prepared to be bought out for many years...




Yes but if you read the Stadium Commitee Meeting reports they have already rejected any ownership of the venue being held by the State Government. As they have invested significant capital for it to be a money earner for their council...



Gallop only wanted to spend 6 million dollars and thought state funds should not be used for stadiums. Thus he got the council to pay half and then they onsold the management rights...

I read the Committee report months ago when you first pointed it out to me. The Town of Vincent should never have made the investment in the first place because they could not deliver the full package. Effectively the investment is worthless as soon as Glory's deal runs out. They should cut their losses and run and not get involved in stuff they can't afford in future.

I believe in unicorns......

Gyfox, what I am saying is that the Town of Vincent are going to do what the Town of Cambridge did to the Perry Lakes development...

This is Perth

A whole host of politics to dust off to get this venue built...even with this announcement...

So a few lawyers will make a killing for a few months. Hopefully it will take them long enough to sort out so that by the time they do plans will be developed to the point that shows that MES is not a suitable site after all.

You have to blame the state government as well.

In 2004 there intentions are to only upgrade MES for the bare minimum and commit to a final capacity of MES of 20,000. No larger at all. They wanted to not overlap Subiaco Oval in bids for events...

The development is basically built to the desires of Nick Tana and Perth Glory, they build a shed for the Glory and do not think about any other sport.

They did not think World Cup Soccer, they didn't even think Super 14.

Gallop than promised a stadium to get the Western Force. This changed the plans of rectangular sport when he saw the massive surge in interest of Rugby Union.

But when MES was built it was thought of as a venue needed by only one sport and Gallop as a premier did not even want to spend money on Subiaco. He was forced when the WAFC nearly went bankrupt - luckily for them the WAFC is a government run committee so it was easy to pay off the loan and not have to repay it.

As what Gallop was trying to do before.

WAFC went on redevelopment without government backing - nearly went bankrupt

WACA went on redevelopment without government backing - nearly went bankrupt

WA Womens Hockey went on redevelopment for Hockey World Cup - nearly went bankrupt

All of them had to be bailed out, with other than the WACA a non payable loan back.

Gyfox, lawyers?

There is no other site that the Government will put the rectangular stadium.

Power Station site is not as close to Public transport or entertainment amenities as the present site is.

Another history lesson is that MES is East Perth's hold stomping ground.

Most WAFL grounds are still owned by council. Thus why MES is still owned by the Town of Vincent...

Makes my point entirely. Major public infrastructure is a state responsibility and the state should pay for it.

Having said that Aurora Stadium is interesting to look at. Paid for by all 3 levels of government. Was Council owned, was taken over by a (state) quongo. Has been handed back to a Council authority on a partnership deal between the state and the council. All 3 levels of government agree on any upgrade, all 3 levels of government fund it and the AFL is asked to chip in what it can which is so far nothing I think. They were there with bells on to make their announcement when Albenese announced the Feds contribution to the latest $7M upgrade but the state minister told them they would be laughed off the stage if they announced a generous contribution of.... $200,000.

Have been involved in quite a few $1 contracts in my time. Town of Vincent gets paid $1 for ownership of the land and improvements. Government spends $160 M on upgrade and Town of Vincent raises rates on a $160+M property add infinitum.

I agree

Just letting you know of the history of sporting infrastructure. The WACA were prepared to go bankrupt before moving to Subiaco Oval

Its going to take a shitfight before it is built, unless the council do increase the rates.

But then it comes down to hire fees at a new stadium and how much they are going to be?

And that comes back to whether sports facilities are seen as a "Community Service Obligation" or a business.

The WA Sports Trust would probably run it...

It would be interesting to see whether new facilities would result in increased costs for sporting organisations...

IMO these sorts of facilities ought to be partly subsidised by government. It is an investment in the well being of people both through participation and the positive health outcomes of enjoyment.