An alliance involving three large engineering and construction firms has been selected to deliver what the Western Australian Government says will be the state’s premier entertainment and sporting precinct.

On Friday, the Western Australian Government announced that has awarded the $202.4 million main construction contract to deliver Perth Park to civil construction firm Seymour Whyte, heavy engineering and construction services firm Civmec and consulting engineering services firm Aurecon.

The Government has also released the final designs for the project.

Set to open in late 2027, Perth Park is set to be a world class sporting, entertainment and community precinct.

It’s development will be the next step in a multi-decade transformation of the Burswood Peninsula, which is located on the banks for the Swan River east of the Perth CBD.

This has already seen the development of Optus Stadium, the Crown Towers precinct, Matagarup Bridge and new tourism and hospitality venues.

The park’s final design aims to create a seamless connection with the stadium precincts and other sporting and entertainment locations.

Features will include:

• A 12,000-capacity outdoor amphitheater. This will be Perth’s first dedicated outdoor amphitheater and will host concerts and events for up to 12,000 people
• A multi-purpose building that will provide event, function and sporting facilities for the community with space for motor sport and cycling along with other public amenity.
• A multi-use track that will support cycling training and competitions as well as an annual motorsport event.
• A new hospitality venue that will provide an opportunity for the private sector to invest in a year-round food and beverage venue
• Landscaped parkland, that will provide space for large-scale festivals and for family and community enjoyment throughout the year. As well as new trees (see point below), this will include new public amenities such as walking and cycling paths, limestone tracks, children’s playgrounds, barbeque and picnic facilities as well as an outdoor community basketball half court.
• Planting of more than 600 new trees. This will more than double the existing tree canopy and will include a new urban forest.

The final design includes two cycling tracks. This includes a 1.25 km event criterium that will be part of a multi-use track as well as an 845m circuit track. The latter of these will include lighting to a standard which meets AusCycling standards. This will provide a safe circuit and a shared path to use at night.

The final design also includes more parking spaces. This will make it easier for more people to visit both the parkland as well as existing hospitality and tourism locations.

(image supplied by Civmec)

Final cost uncertain

Speaking to reporters on Friday afternoon, Western Australian Treasurer Rita Saffioti reaffirmed the Government’s expectation that the project would be delivered within the $217.5 million budget that was promised at the last state election.

But she acknowledged that costs remain under pressure in light of current building sector challenges.

“Our ETCs [estimated total costs] is $217.5 [million], there’s no doubt there’s pressure on that budget, but we’ll continue to target that number,” Saffioti told reporters on Friday as reported by the ABC.

” … there’ll continue to be budget pressures as there are on all of our contracts.”

“If there’s changes to that ETC, then we’ll make them at later dates but currently that’s our estimated total cost.

“Like every project, there’s always possibility of changes.”

Saffioti also confirmed that the hospitality venue which is planned for the park is not included within its $217.5 million budget.

This is because the venue was not envisioned as part of the original plan.

(image: supplied by Civmec)

Agreement reached to secure land

In addition to the awarding of the construction contract, the Western Australian Government has also announced that the Government has secured an in-principal agreement to own land that was closest to the Crown Towers casino and resort complex that was needed for the southern leg of the track.

Should the agreement be approved, Crown will hand back approximately 3.697ha of land parcel known as Lot 551, to be incorporated into the 28ha Perth Park project site.

In exchange, the State will provide Crown with approximately 1.85ha of State-owned land on the south-western side of the Crown complex currently used for parking.

(image: supplied by Civmec)

Next steps in transformation

Aside from the three  main firms listed above, other project team members FSG and Menard (geotechnical); Populus, Carabiner and Urbis (urban design/landscape architecture); and 361 degrees (stakeholder management).

In a statement, Saffioti welcomed the signing of the contract.

“Over the past 15 years, the Burswood Peninsula has transformed through the development of the Crown Towers precinct, Optus Stadium, Matagarup Bridge and a range of new tourism and hospitality facilities,” Saffioti said.

“Perth Park will be the next step in the transformation of the Burswood Peninsula and elevate the area into a world-class hub for sport, entertainment, culture and the arts.”

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