Super stadium push sparks Subiaco buyout

The WA Football Commission has started a multi-million-dollar buyout of properties next to Subiaco Oval as it continues to push for Perth's new super stadium to be built at the ground. 

Documents obtained by The West Australian reveal commissioners Neale Fong and Wayne Bradshaw last month signed deals worth almost $900,000 for adjoining townhouses on Subiaco Road. 

Mr Bradshaw confirmed yesterday that the commission needed to buy nine properties to undertake its preferred $235 million ground redevelopment. 

The commission paid $441,000 for 3/196 Subiaco Road early last month and last week bought 2/196 Subiaco Road for $449,000. 

The land grab started despite the rejection of the WAFC plans by the State Government task force, which favoured nearby Mueller Park and the East Perth powerhouse area for a new multi-purpose stadium. 

Under the WAFC proposal, 62 Homeswest flats and nine private properties on Subiaco Road would be procured or bought and demolished to make way for improvements that would lift Subiaco Oval's capacity to 60,000 seats. 

Mr Bradshaw said the commission would look at buying more Subiaco Road properties "if they became available". 

He said the WAFC might consider increasing its debt beyond the current $10.4 million mark to fund the purchases. 

"There is a range of options and that would be one of them," he said. "If the properties were to become available and we could afford them we would buy them. We aren't racing out knocking on the door with an offer, but if something came up we would have a look at it." 

Meanwhile, the WAFC could face a multi-million-dollar claim from WAFL club Subiaco if AFL matches are played at a new venue. The Lions, who moved to Medibank Stadium in 2004 after 96 years based at Subiaco Oval, have tenure to WA football headquarters until 2011. Subiaco are entitled to 500 tickets at all AFL games at the ground and use of their former clubrooms at the western end of the arena. 

By combining AFL tickets with meals in their function hall, the Lions generate about $1 million a year, making them the richest club in the WAFL. 

However, Subiaco also has a 21-year option after the expiry of the current deal and could seek a payout from the WAFC if similar facilities are not replicated at a new venue. 

Mr Bradshaw said Subiaco's plight, like that of co-tenant West Coast, was an issue that had to be considered because of the huge costs football faced if it was forced from Subiaco Oval.