Perth Stadium Bill

Perth Stadium Bill
Title	Perth Stadium Bill
Legislature	Parliament of Western Australia
Introduced by	Colin BarnettBarnett Ministry
Introduced date	2011
Status	Enacted
Related legislation	Metropolitan Region Town Planning Scheme, Electoral Act 1907 (Western Australia)

Perth Stadium Bill

The Perth Stadium Bill established statutory and administrative arrangements to deliver a new multi-purpose venue in Burswood adjacent to Swan River in Perth, Western Australia. It created governance, land and financing mechanisms to support construction of what became Perth Stadium, shaping interactions between the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, the Western Australian Legislative Council, the Barnett Ministry, and agencies including VenuesWest and the Western Australia Treasury Corporation. The measure influenced relationships with private contractors such as Multiplex, John Holland Group, and stakeholders including Australian Football League, Cricket Australia, and Football Federation Australia.

Background and purpose

The Bill responded to venue deficiencies revealed by events like the 2003 Rugby World Cup and growing demand from franchises including West Coast Eagles, Fremantle Football Club, Perth Glory FC, and touring acts such as Taylor Swift and AC/DC requiring modern facilities. It aimed to replace Subiaco Oval and upgrade infrastructure for international fixtures sanctioned by Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), International Cricket Council, and World Rugby. The proposal intersected with planning instruments like the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority Act 2011 and land interests tied to Burswood Island Casino operators including Crown Perth.

Legislative history

Introduced by members of the Liberal Party of Australia (Western Australian Division) within the Parliament of Western Australia, the Bill proceeded through readings in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly and scrutiny by committees such as the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations. Opponents in the Australian Labor Party (Western Australian Branch) and minor parties including the Greens Western Australia and National Party of Western Australia raised amendments debated during committee stages. Debates referenced precedents like the financing models used for Melbourne Cricket Ground redevelopment and the Sydney Football Stadium project, and cited fiscal oversight bodies including the Auditor-General of Western Australia.

Provisions and key provisions

Key statutory provisions established a project authority to oversee procurement, land tenure arrangements for the Burswood site, and exemptions from certain planning approvals under the Planning and Development Act 2005 (Western Australia). The Bill created powers for compulsory acquisition involving entities such as the Western Australian Land Information Authority (Landgate) and articulated operational responsibilities for VenuesWest. It specified tenancy allocations to sporting bodies including Australian Football League and Cricket Australia, ticketing controls referencing operators like Ticketmaster and Ticketek, and security regimes coordinating with Western Australia Police Force and event safety standards aligned to Sporting Venues Guidelines.

Financial arrangements and funding

The Bill authorised funding mechanisms involving capital appropriations from the Treasurer of Western Australia and borrowing through the Western Australia Treasury Corporation. It set out commercial arrangements with private-sector contractors including project consortiums such as CPB Contractors and investor interests engaging infrastructure financiers like the Clean Energy Finance Corporation in related sustainability works. Cost estimates were compared with megaprojects like the Perth Arena and referenced fiscal benchmarks overseen by the Department of Treasury (Western Australia) and reviews from the Independent Market Operator on economic impacts for Perth central business district and regional tourism promoted by Destination Perth.

Planning, construction and project delivery

Project delivery followed procurement guided by principles used in prior projects such as the Mitchell Freeway extension and the Elizabeth Quay development managed by the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority. Major contractors, including Brookfield Multiplex and international firms like Lendlease, engaged subcontractors from the construction sector represented by unions such as the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union. Engineering design firms collaborated with venue operators VenuesLive and consultants from the Engineers Australia membership. The stadium’s build phase implicated transport agencies including Main Roads Western Australia and public transit providers such as Transperth to deliver access improvements to Burswood train station.

Political debate and public reaction

Supporters in the Liberal Party of Australia (Western Australian Division), business groups including the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia, and sporting administrations argued the Bill would secure marquee events like AFC Asian Cup fixtures and boost local clubs such as the Perth Wildcats for indoor venue scheduling. Opponents including the Australian Labor Party (Western Australian Branch), Greens Western Australia, and community groups such as Save Subiaco Oval Coalition criticized costs, site choice, and impacts on heritage associated with Subiaco and cited concerns raised by the Treasury and the WA Council of Social Service. Media outlets including the West Australian and ABC News (Australia) covered rallies, opinion pieces by columnists, and editorial responses from commentators such as Paul Murray.

Legal challenges and implementation outcomes

Legal contests involved litigation invoking statutes administered by the Supreme Court of Western Australia and reviews under planning frameworks overseen by the State Administrative Tribunal of Western Australia. Challenges cited compulsory acquisition provisions and environmental assessments coordinated with agencies like the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Post-enactment outcomes included delivery of a 60,000-seat venue operated under agreements with VenuesWest and hosting events by Australian Football League, Cricket Australia, and international tours. Subsequent audits by the Auditor-General of Western Australia and parliamentary committees evaluated cost overruns, legacy use, and economic impact claims involving stakeholders such as Tourism Western Australia and the City of Perth.

Category:Acts of the Parliament of Western Australia Category:Sport in Perth, Western Australia