Major Stadia Taskforce chairman John Langoulant has warned that access to Subiaco Oval would be disrupted for up to three years if the state government opted for a major redevelopment of the existing stadium.
Major Stadia Taskforce chairman John Langoulant has warned that access to Subiaco Oval would be disrupted for up to three years if the state government opted for a major redevelopment of the existing stadium.
Mr Langoulant also implored the government to resist pressure from sporting groups seeking "compromise" upgrades of existing stadiums.
"What we say to the government is, don't wilt to that pressure, stay with the taskforce," he said.
"Keep strong, keep the vision and the passion, I say that particularly to the premier."
Mr Langoulant's comments represent a challenge to the WA Football Commission and its influential chairman Neil Fong, who in the past has backed an upgrade of the existing oval.
"We do not want to see Subiaco redeveloped on the cheap," Mr Langoulant said.
"Don't be persuaded to take ad hoc approaches to the development of major facilities, which has been the history of those developments and one of the reasons we have extremely poor major sporting facilities in this state today."
He pointed to the redevelopment of the MCG in Melbourne and the Gabba in Brisbane as good examples.
Mr Langoulant's comments followed reports that premier Alan Carpenter agreed with criticism of the East Perth option by Labor backbencher John Hyde.
"Everybody in government needs to take a big step back from this process," Mr Langoulant said.
"It is very unhelpful for the government and others to be making inaccurate remarks before the taskforce has had an opportunity to continue its work."
He declined to comment specifically on the premier's comments but did criticise Mr Hyde.
"I was particularly disappointed with John Hyde's comments that 50 houses would need to be demolished. That is just wrong."
Mr Langoulant also rejected suggestions a 60,000-seat stadium would not fit on the East Perth site.
"The stadium will fit on the East Perth site with a very small number of properties needing to be redeveloped."
The taskforce has estimated that 19 properties, including four houses, would have to be resumed for the East Perth option, whereas the two Subiaco options would involve resumption of a greater number of properties.
Mr Langoulant insisted that all three options were still live.
"This is an interesting issue which is circulating through the community, that there is only one option alive here, and that's the redevelopment of Subiaco.
"I can assure the community of Perth that we are looking at all three options and the government, as recently as about half an hour ago, indicated to me that all three options were alive and well."
The taskforce's interim report indicated support for the construction of a new stadium, at either East Perth or on Kitchener Park next to the existing Subiaco Oval.
Mr Langoulant said today the taskforce always planned to look at the redevelopment of Subiaco as a third option.
"All I've said about that, is it presents real difficulties, more so than development on a greenfields site."
He said access to the stadium during redevelopment would present major challenges.
"Herein lies the real issue about redeveloping Subi because we are only dealing with a stadium with a 43,000 capacity.
"It's not an MCG where you can redevelop and still have 73,000 people going there every week.
"We have football clubs, like the Eagles, that will fill that stadium every week.
"So if we start to redevelop it, there will be some members of the community that will not be able to go to football regularly for more than probably two or three years."
Mr Langoulant said previous reviews had been compromised by partisan pressure.
"In the past, a committee like mine has been given terms of reference to go and do the work and the pressures from the sports and other people in the community have become almost overbearing for government.
"They have allowed it to be overbearing because they have entertained that sort of debate.
"I'm saying to government step back from this debate, don't entertain particular vested interests knocking on your door wanting to promote a particular cause.
"Allow the taskforce to do that and give the government a comprehensive report on the best way forward."
The taskforce is due to present its final report in March 2007.
