'Debt-free' Perth Arena reaches major milestone

Premier Alan Carpenter has used the first concrete pour of the $335million Perth Arena to announce the project will be delivered debt-free to Western Australians.

The Premier and Housing and Works Minister Michelle Roberts today inspected works at the Perth Arena site.

"Construction of a specialised entertainment and indoor sports venue with a 680-bay car park underneath is a complex exercise, but works on the Perth Arena site are progressing well," Mr Carpenter said.

"The work starting today involves construction of the below-ground car park, and today's concrete pour is the first of 24 to take place over the coming months.

"Based on our preliminary understanding of the results for the 2007-08 financial year, we will be allocating to a special purpose account funds, to enable the debt-free construction of the Perth Arena.

"We have already used cash surpluses to ensure the New MetroRail project and the Fiona Stanley Hospital have been and will be delivered debt-free.

"This is an example of ensuring the benefits of today's economic boom will leave an important and economically responsible legacy for future generations."

Today's concrete pour used around 400 cubic metres of concrete, delivered by some 80 concrete trucks that operated for several hours non-stop from 7am.

At the same time, the structural steelwork for the arena is under way off site, including the fabrication of the two large 'megatrusses' for the arena's retractable roof.

Mrs Roberts said Perth Arena would provide a minimum of 12,000 seats for sporting events and up to 14,000 for concerts.

The arena would feature more than 500 corporate seats, an upmarket club lounge and a retractable roof. Completion was anticipated in 2010.

The Minister said the world-class facility would help WA secure international large-scale rock concerts, orchestral performances, opera, indoor moto-cross, basketball and netball.

"Perth Arena will ensure WA attracts world-class performers and international sporting events," she said.

"It will also be the new, quality home of the Hopman Cup.

"Perth Arena has been designed with a great deal of input from the special events industry to ensure major events can be set up and dismantled quickly and efficiently.

"Over the past two years, some of Australia's leading concert promoters have been briefed on the Perth Arena project and they're very impressed by what they've seen and are looking forward to staging events here."

The Premier also today announced that The WA Sports Centre Trust, as the Government owner of the facility, would shortly begin a tender process to appoint an operator to manage Perth Arena, subject to a satisfactory commercial arrangement.

"We expect the process to take place over the next six months and to be able to appoint an appropriately-skilled manager as early as possible," he said.

"This will allow the operator to begin the exciting start-up process, including securing world-class acts for the whole community to enjoy upon opening.

"To ensure Perth Arena operates to its fullest potential, it will be critical to have the best management structure in place.

"The State Government is building better infrastructure to service the future needs of all Western Australians."

Premier's office - 9222 9475

Housing and Works Minister's office - 9213 6600