Long-awaited development gets tick of approval
Long-awaited development gets tick of approval
Perth’s rubber-stamped Waterfront redevelopment will make Western Australia a MICE magnet, but further stalling on the project could cost the city millions in lost revenue, the city’s convention bureau has claimed.
After sitting on the agenda for the past 20 years, the WA state government has finally approved plans for the $440 million Perth Waterfront development, which will see offices, accommodation, shops, cafes and entertainment venues added to Perth’s Swan Riverside by mid 2014.
The move has been welcomed across the board, with West Australian Premier Colin Barnet heralding it a milestone which will ensure Perth remains a “comtemporary, liveable and globally competitive city”.
After two decades in the pipeline, Perth Convention Bureau (PCB) chief executive Paul Beeson said it’s a long overdue investment in Perth’s business market which will allow the city to compete with Sydney and Melbourne.
“NSW is not the only state to see investment in infrastructure… This will open up new opportunities and enhance Perth’s reputation as one of the most livable cities in the world and a creative space to do business,” he said.
Noting that the plans had been “continually pushed back” to the detriment of Perth’s MICE market, PCB chairman Ian Laurance stressed it was critical for the development to go ahead.
In fact, he conceded any hold ups would “cost the WA economy substantially in lost delegate dollars” by delaying sufficient accommodation and facilities for delegates.
“We are being constrained more and more by lack of accommodation capacity,” he said, adding that the current infrastructure was inadequate for conferences over 5,000 delegates. “The waterfront development [will] address this fundamental need… and enhance the city’s appeal as a convention destination.”
Laurence stressed that 300 new hotel rooms were needed each year over the next decade to cater for future demand. The Perth Convention Bureau expects to deliver a record $101 million in delegate revenue to the state this year with the arrival of 42,585 delegates.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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