- Negotiations begin to redevelop the Perth Convention and
Exhibition Centre
- The
proposed plan delivers a new tourism and economic hub for Perth, showcasing
Kings Park and providing new waterfront facilities, housing, commercial and hospitality
venues
- Business
case to be finalised and presented to the State Government in mid-2024
New plans for an iconic waterfront precinct have been
unveiled today, as the Cook Labor Government enters negotiations to redevelop
the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The proposed redevelopment is set to transform Perth's
waterfront and create a long-term economic boost for Western Australia,
unlocking a new pipeline of construction jobs for the future and creating new
local jobs across a diverse range of industries.
PCEC was built in 2004 with a lease held by Wyllie and
Brookfield until 2039. Wyllie and Brookfield, while working with the State
Government, have identified an opportunity to redevelop the precinct.
A concept proposal has been submitted by Wyllie and Brookfield,
and the State Government is now formally evaluating the proposal for the future
of the PCEC.
The proposal would create an iconic waterfront precinct on
the Swan River, with a world-class and highly competitive convention space
to attract major business events to WA.
It would deliver a new tourism and hospitality hub for Perth
which includes improving connectivity to Elizabeth Quay, showcasing the Swan
River and Kings Park, and delivering a new public realm including outdoor
theatre on the Swan, as well as new public waterfront facilities and new food
and beverage venues.
The existing Convention Centre building would be
significantly refurbished to increase capacity and capability to attract new
major business events, while development opportunities would be provided for a
new premium hotel, residential apartments across the affordability and
accessibility spectrum, and commercial and innovation space.
Early estimates, based on an independent economic study,
indicate the redevelopment would provide billions of dollars in economic
benefit to the State, driving significant tourism and hospitality activity for WA.
A business case for the redevelopment will now be finalised
and presented to the State Government for evaluation in mid-2024.
Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:
"There is huge potential on our riverfront, and this proposal
would deliver an iconic new precinct that opens up major tourism and
hospitality opportunities for WA, helping to diversify our economy and create
local jobs.
"The Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre is the oldest
and smallest major convention centre in Australia. My Government wants to see
the precinct redeveloped to attract lucrative business events, while creating a
place of pride on the river for all Western Australians."
Comments attributed to Tourism Minister
Rita Saffioti:
"This
is a massive opportunity to transform our city's waterfront and truly cement
our status as a world-class destination to visit and do business.
"A
redeveloped Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre will be particularly
important in attracting major business events to our city, which would be huge
for our local economy in bringing more visitors strong business events tourism
will help underpin further tourism investment in this State."
Comments attributed to Lands Minister John
Carey:
"As
the Minister for Lands and the Member for Perth I know firsthand, and most
people would agree, that this is prime riverfront land that has been severely
underutilised for far too long.
"We
can do much better than a box on the river.
"This
is a first exciting step in re-imagining the Perth Convention and Exhibition
Centre, which gives us the unique opportunity to look at options to boost
housing supply and to create another iconic tourism and hospitality destination
in the heart of the Perth CBD."
Comments attributed to PCEC Joint Venture
Partners Managing Director Melissa Karlson:
"The PCEC joint partners, Wyllie and
Brookfield, have been collaborating on potential solutions for the PCEC site
for over 12 months with a view to unlocking a major master-planned waterfront
precinct that gives back to the city and to all West Australians.
"Our joint concept proposal to the State
Government would deliver for Perth a world class Convention Centre at the heart
of a vibrant, connected, always-on waterfront precinct – an exciting city
drawcard and a place for all people to live, work, play and visit.
"We look forward to continuing to collaborate both with Government and the
precinct's various stakeholders, including Noongar community representatives,
to deliver a transformative precinct that further draws the CBD to the Swan
Riverfront."
