- Negotiations begin to redevelop the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre
- The proposed plan delivers a new tourism and economic hub for Perth, showcasing Kings Park and providing new waterfront facilities, housing, commercial and hospitality venues
- Business case to be finalised and presented to the State Government in mid-2024
New plans for an iconic waterfront precinct have been unveiled today, as the Cook Labor Government enters negotiations to redevelop the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The proposed redevelopment is set to transform Perth's waterfront and create a long-term economic boost for Western Australia, unlocking a new pipeline of construction jobs for the future and creating new local jobs across a diverse range of industries.
PCEC was built in 2004 with a lease held by Wyllie and Brookfield until 2039. Wyllie and Brookfield, while working with the State Government, have identified an opportunity to redevelop the precinct.
A concept proposal has been submitted by Wyllie and Brookfield, and the State Government is now formally evaluating the proposal for the future of the PCEC.
The proposal would create an iconic waterfront precinct on the Swan River, with a world-classand highly competitive convention space to attract major business events to WA.
It would deliver a new tourism and hospitality hub for Perth which includes improving connectivity to Elizabeth Quay, showcasing the Swan River and Kings Park, and deliveringa new public realm including outdoor theatre on the Swan, as well as new public waterfront facilities and new food and beverage venues.
The existing Convention Centre building would be significantly refurbished to increase capacity and capability to attract new major business events, while development opportunities would be provided for a new premium hotel, residential apartments across the affordability and accessibility spectrum, and commercial and innovation space.
Early estimates, based on an independent economic study, indicate the redevelopment would provide billions of dollars in economic benefit to the State, driving significant tourism and hospitality activity for WA.
A business case for the redevelopment will now be finalised and presented to the State Government for evaluation in mid-2024.
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
"There is huge potential on our riverfront, and this proposal would deliver an iconic new precinct that opens up major tourism and hospitality opportunities for WA, helping to diversify our economy and create local jobs.
"The Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre is the oldest and smallest major convention centre in Australia. My Government wants to see the precinct redeveloped to attract lucrative business events, while creating a place of pride on the river for all Western Australians."
As stated by Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti:
"This is a massive opportunity to transform our city's waterfront and truly cement our status as a world-class destination to visit and do business.
"A redeveloped Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre will be particularly important in attracting major business events to our city, which would be huge for our local economy in bringing more visitors strong business events tourism will help underpin further tourism investment in this State."
As stated by Lands Minister John Carey:
"As the Minister for Lands and the Member for Perth I know firsthand, and most people would agree, that this is prime riverfront land that has been severely underutilised for far too long.
"We can do much better than a box on the river.
"This is a first exciting step in re-imagining the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, which gives us the unique opportunity to look at options to boost housing supply and to create another iconic tourism and hospitality destination in the heart of the Perth CBD."
As stated by PCEC Joint Venture Partners Managing Director Melissa Karlson:
"The PCEC joint partners, Wyllie and Brookfield, have been collaborating on potential solutions for the PCEC site for over 12 months with a view to unlocking a major master-planned waterfront precinct that gives back to the city and to all West Australians.
"Our joint concept proposal to the State Government would deliver for Perth a world class Convention Centre at the heart of a vibrant, connected, always-on waterfront precinct an exciting city drawcard and a place for all people to live, work, play and visit.
"We look forward to continuing to collaborate both with Government and the precinct's various stakeholders, including Noongar community representatives, to deliver a transformative precinct that further draws the CBD to the Swan Riverfront."
