Belmont Park plans ready to ride after short spell

PERTH could soon have a new tourism and entertainment precinct at Belmont Park after Planning Minister John Day tabled a rezoning amendment in parliament last week.

The amendment to the Metropolitan Region Scheme seeks to rezone 73 hectares of land at Belmont Park for mixed residential, tourist and recreational use.

Mr Day said the racecourse and associated facilities would be upgraded as part of the development.

The indicative development plan is subject to further detailed local structure planning, while further public consultation will also be sought.

Previous plans submitted by the developer, the Western Australian Turf Club, otherwise known as Perth Racing, were withdrawn in 2007 after the Swan River Trust and the Environmental Protection Authority raised a number of environmental concerns.

Perth Racing chief executive Alasdair Robertson said the turf club's amendments to the original plans were made in conjunction with those agencies.

"We've taken all of their considerations into account," he said.

"The indicative development plan we've agreed to with the Swan River Trust and [the EPA] is not about the development yield, it's about quality and amenity as well."

The plans call for four high-rise towers to be built at the southern end of the racecourse and up to nine smaller towers at the city end of the Burswood peninsula.

Along with the towers, up to 16ha of recreational ground would be made available on the inside of the track and three kilometres of rehabilitated foreshore would be opened up to the public.

Due to the historic nature of the racecourse and its close proximity to the city, Mr Robertson said the turf club would be choosy when picking a development partner.

"It's not just about money, its not just about a subdivision, to be honest, it's the landmark piece of land in Perth," he said.

"As a result we have a social responsibility, not just a commercial responsibility to work with the right people."