City of Perth to look for alternate aquatic centre location

Following the voting last week by City of Perth Council against having an aquatic facility as part of the redevelopment of the WACA, Council is now investigating an alternate location.

The City of Perth Council voted unanimously not to proceed further with the aquatic facility at the WACA after receiving a business plan from independent economic advisers ACIL Allen that comprehensively evaluated the project.

In the business plan presented to Council, ACIL Allen estimated the WACA aquatic facility would cost ratepayers $152 million over 40 years and the annual subsidy over the Long-Term Financial Plan would require a 3% increase in the rates yield each year.

ACIL Allen also identified that other Councils operating similar aquatic facilities benefited as they also earned revenue from other onsite assets within the complex such as cafes, and health and fitness centres. The City of Perth’s request for revenue sharing has not been agreed to by the WACA.

In rejecting the WACA swimming pool proposal, the Perth Council voted unanimously to request that the City of Perth prepare a business case for an alternative aquatic facility.

The City of Perth reaffirmed its commitment to the Perth City Deal.

Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas said he had always maintained the view that Council would only agree to a $25 million contribution to the WACA pool if it was a good deal for City of Perth ratepayers.

Lord Mayor Zempilas noted that Council has an obligation to always be “responsible, provide prudent financial management, accountability, transparency and put the ratepayers of the City of Perth first.

Lord Mayor Zempilas claims “the City of Perth would not have owned the aquatic facility at the WACA and we were also unable to negotiate revenue sharing for other services on-site such as a gym, café, retail outlets and creche.”

The move, which will see Perth remain the only state capital in Australia without a public pool, has been criticised by Western Australian Premier, Mark McGowan who argued that the council’s decision to walk away from the deal “failed the local community”.

Premier McGowan advised “the council has gone back on an agreement put in place between the City, the Federal Government and the State Government.

“This is part of the broader $1.5 billion Perth City Deal funded by the State, Commonwealth and private sector, with the City only required to contribute $35 million to the overall package*.

“The City has a misguided view that they don’t need to be part of a $1.5 billion package for our city.”

By not contributing to the WACA pool, the City of Perth will now be making a less than 1% contribution to the Perth City Deal.

Image courtesy of Zoggs.