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by: Gerard Ward
The plans for a new indoor stadium are being discussed, and may give Perth a new venue to hold large events.
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Once a thriving shelter of amusement, the now unused Perth Entertainment Centre (PEC) is an indoor arena built in 1974 to hold crowds of up to 8,200 people. In it’s heyday it was the ‘centre of attention’.
In more recent years it was the venue for annual high school Rock Eisteddfods and National Basketball League games but since its closure in 2002 Perth has struggled to attract big acts (and the NBL Perth Wildcats have moved out to the Perry Lakes Athletic Stadium.)
The PEC is owned by Channel Seven Network chief Kerry Stokes, who closed the indoor stadium because it was losing $1.5 million a year.
The building is still standing though, because the land it stands on can’t be used for any other purpose. Designated as an ‘entertainment sector’ by the Perth City Council it can’t be sold off for development into apartments or parking complexes.
After the PEC closed the Burswood Dome became Perth’s major venue for large shows, but it’s fallen on similar economic hardship and been scheduled for demolition in 2008.
At this stage, plans about the stadium’s future are still being debated. Premier Geoff Gallop has said that he hopes to construct an indoor stadium with a capacity of 14,000 people and a retractable roof for tennis matches at an estimated cost of $160 million, to be jointly funded by industry and government coffers.
The Minister for Housing and Works Francis Logan’s media advisor, Kent Acott said the only piece of the puzzle missing is the authorization by Kerry Stokes.
He said: “The Perth Entertainment Centre is owned by Kerry Stokes and, therefore, he will decide what happens to it.
“Obviously, any decision he makes would be subject to the approval of the relevant planning authority. In this case, the East Perth Redevelopment Authority (EPRA).”
EPRA is involved because the new stadium plan coincides with it’s ‘Northbridge Link’ project, which includes construction on the western side of the stadium’s carpark.
According to EPRA’s media office the Northbridge Link will “neaten up the bridge between Perth and Northbridge. With an underground train system, there is room for construction and new business to thrive.”
The current plan is for the Northbridge Link to be built around the existing stadium, allowing construction of the new stadium to be independent of the Link’s progress.
One group that’s looking forward to the redevelopment of the PEC site is Events Industry Association. EIA President Camille Bradsmith, said that the absence of venues is having an effect on Perth.
She said: “Since the Burswood Dome, there has not been a place for Perth to hold large-name bands. Without a venue, it will be difficult to entice bands and concerts for the next three years. Perth may not have any large events for the time being.”
With this new construction expected to start October 2006 and finish in about two years time, Perth will have another chance to shine.
Only then will we get such exciting acts as the ‘Wiggles on Ice’ and ‘John Farnham: Back from Retirement’.
Let us all hope that this time the entertainment will come from bands playing inside the stadium, and not the spray tags covering the outside billboards.
If we build it, they will come.
