Billion-dollar partnership to transform central Perth

September 25, 2020

A new billion-dollar partnership between the Federal Government, Western Australia Government and City of Perth has been finalised, that will see the Perth CBD transformed with new educational campuses, a new esports stadium, upgrades to the Perth Concert Hall and $100 million to redevelop the Western Australia Cricket Association (WACA) Ground.

The $1.5 billion Perth City Deal aims re-energise central Perth, creating thousands of jobs while creating improved cycling infrastructure, better sports facilities and facility upgrades.

ECU CBD Campus
Key to the partnership is $695 million to bring Edith Cowan University (ECU) into the CBD with a new ‘vertical’ university building to be created next to the city’s Yagan Square.

When completed in 2025, it will host more than 9200 students and teachers; offer programs across technology, business, creative and performing arts; and be home to the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), ECU’s internationally-recognised performing arts school which has given rise to stars such as Hugh Jackman and Tim Minchin.
WAAPA will host 300 performances at the new campus every year, set to attract thousands of spectators into the city.

Executive Dean of WAAPA, Professor David Shirley, who was Director of the Manchester School of Theatre at Manchester Metropolitan University prior to his appointment in 2019, said the campus would showcase WAAPA as a world class destination for performing arts, advising “the campus will position WAAPA in league with Julliard or Tisch in the United States, or the Guildhall School in London. It will truly internationalise WAAPA and make it attractive on a global stage, with state-of-the-art, digital technology and world class facilities.”

It will also make live performance much more accessible to the general public, by bringing it into a central location, and working more closely with other arts organisations such as WASO, Black Swan, Blue Room Theatre and the WA Ballet.

Murdoch and Curtin Universities
$360 million from the Western Australia Government will help Murdoch and Curtin universities expand and establish new presences in the CBD.

Murdoch will create a vertical campus and eSports (gaming) Stadium linked with Singapore and East Asia while Curtin University, which is already scattered throughout the CBD, will build a ‘knowledge and innovation precinct’ with the addition of a 'historical heart' development in the city's east end

WACA
$100 million will be spent in redeveloping the WACA to include an inner-city swimming pool.

This follows last month’s news that the Western Australia Government is to commit $30 million in funding towards the transformation of the WACA Ground into a 10,000-seat ‘boutique venue’.

Other funding commitments include:

• $42 million for upgrades to the Perth Concert Hall
• $20 million to spruce up the ageing Perth Cultural Centre
• $20 million for the East Perth Power Station upgrade
• $4 million for a pre-feasibility study for an Aboriginal Cultural Centre
• $105 million for a greater CBD transport plan including cycling and walking infrastrcuture upgrades. The pillar of this is the already-announced Swan River Causeway Bridge
• $36 million for better facilities for homeless people
• $18 million for an Australian Space Robotics, Automation, and AI Command Control Complex for startups and other businesses to develop robots for use in space and operation of robotic and remote asset management activities in space
• $10 million for an Indigenous business and employment hub
• $4 million for a pre-feasibility study for an Aboriginal Cultural Centre

Federal Finance Minister and Senator Mathias Cormann said the city deal had been worked on for some time, advising “we have negotiated an ambitious City Deal that unlocks Perth’s incredible future potential while continuing to develop it into a vibrant, exciting and liveable capital city.”

The deal was welcomed by WA Property Council Executive Director Sandra Brewer who said it would give Perth a competitive edge in attracting new investment to the city post-COVID.

Brewer stated “while we have called for a more ambitious City Deal that covered more of metropolitan Perth, today’s announcement unlocks a range of opportunities for new housing, office and entertainment developments that will reignite our CBD and drive growth.

“We’re pleased that a significant proportion of City Deal funding will go to fixing some of the challenges with CBD transport, such as poor pedestrian access, incomplete bike paths and wayfinding - all helping to create a more people-friendly city."

Commissioner for Perth, Andrew Hammond, said the City of Perth welcomes the investment as a “transformative landmark deal between all three tiers of government”, noting “the City’s commitment includes $25 million toward the redevelopment of the iconic WACA, specifically funding the addition of a community aquatic facility.

“We look forward to working in partnership with the Federal and State Government and the wider community to bring the Perth City Deal to fruition and secure the future prosperity and liveability of our great city.”

Images: ECU's proposed Perth campus as part of the Perth City Deal (top), plans to redevelop the WACA Ground into a 10,000-seat ‘boutique venue’ (middle) and the Perth Concert Hall (below).

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