Swan Bells: spending to stop

8/4/01
The State Government today announced that it had shelved the proposed second stage of the controversial Swan Bells and Barrack Square project.
Deputy Premier and Treasurer Eric Ripper said the Government's funding priorities were health, education and police and it could not afford the second stage of the Swan Bells project given the debt legacy of the Court Government.
Mr Ripper said while some Western Australians had clearly warmed to the Swan Bells, the second stage of the project - which had a $24.5 million price tag - had not been budgeted for by the previous Government.
"It is also disturbing that there has been a cost blowout of more than $2 million in Stage 1 of the project, partly as a result of an expensive pre-election fitout and launch," the Minister said.
Mr Ripper said promised elements of Stage 1 - including extra landscaping and mooring facilities for private boats - had been abandoned by the previous Government as project costs went out of control.
The new Government would stem the cost blowout by only completing essential work.
"Like the Constitutional Centre in West Perth - which spent most of its annual Budget in the first half of the financial year - this is another of the former Premier's personal projects notable for a lack of financial control," Mr Ripper said.
He said the future management of the Swan Bells was still being considered by the Government. The Coalition Government had arranged for entry fees to be charged from April 11, 2001.
Media contact: Darren Foster, 9222 8788