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To be reported in tomorrows West Australian.
State flags rugby, soccer arena
Saturday July 25 2009
Peter Kerr
A rectangular stadium will be built by the State Government, potentially as early as 2012, after it rejected a Town of Vincent proposal for a $75 million patch-up of Members Equity Stadium.
Although the plans are yet to be detailed, Sports Minister Terry Waldron confirmed yesterday that the government would negotiate with the council, rugby and soccer authorities with the aim of delivering a firm proposal by the middle of next year.
Meanwhile, the Government will provide Rugby WA with a $2 million interest-free loan to improve facilities at Members Equity Stadium, where the Western Force will play next year.
It is understood the Government’s preferred option is a progressive rebuild of Members Equity Stadium.
The template the Government is working on is believed to be the $160 million multi-purpose Skilled Park rectangular stadium on the Gold Coast. It was built in two years and designed for rugby and soccer. It holds about 27,000 spectators and includes 100 open corporate boxes and 25 closed corporate suites as well as offices and associated facilities.
“This Government has been a strong advocate for a rectangular stadium to meet the needs of our State football and rugby codes and I will be working to deliver that vision over the next 12 months,” Mr Waldron said.
“There will obviously be a need for some interim measures to help bring Members Equity to an acceptable standard... and the Government will be providing a $2 million interest-free loan to Rugby WA to develop interim infrastructure.”
“This will help the Western Force host home games during the Super 14 season and benefit other users.”
The Government had feared the Town of Vincent’s proposal could blow out to more and $100 million without the full benefits of a new stadium and would have been complicated by the management lease that Nick Tana’s Allia Holdings has at the site.
The decision will throw the spotlight back on development options for Subiaco Oval, which the Government has said it would not revisit until 2011.
Mr Waldron would not be drawn on the issue but the WA Football Commission has said it will ask the State and Federal governments to fund the $300 million first stage of a rebuilding program at Subiaco Oval, taking its capacity to more than 50,000.
Rugby WA chief executive Vern Reid said he was delighted with the new rectangular stadium plan.
“It will be a terrific boon for rugby in WA and the Western Force and vital for out long-term viability,” he said.