LNG conference target for convention centre relaunch

Developers want to cut the ribbon on a major upgrade to Perth’s convention centre by the end of the decade and use a global oil and gas conference as its launchpad onto the world stage.

Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre’s leaseholders on Tuesday unveiled a proposal to redevelop the maligned building through construction of a bold waterfront precinct featuring a wharf, floating theatre, public open space and hospitality venues.

Wyllie Group executive director Melissa Karlson said the project team had its eyes set on the 2029 LNG World Conference to be among the first major events to use the facility.

Perth missed out on hosting the 2023 conference to Vancouver because the convention centre was too small.

“While the catalyst for this development is most certainly the need for a world-class redeveloped convention centre our project is offering so much more than that,” Ms Karlson said.

“We have spent years creating a master plan per precinct that will be activated night and day, a precinct that will not only welcome that national and international delegates, but that will become part of the fibre of the local community.

“We are now chasing LNG29. That event will bring $100 million over four days.”

She said the project had received backing from major mining companies and tourism stakeholders.

Under early plans released on Tuesday, the existing 16,500 square metres of exhibition space will be retained and expanded to 20,000sqm, which could also be used for concerts and other functions.

A land bridge would be built over the roads between the existing building and the river to open the space up to the foreshore and Elizabeth Quay.

Brookfield Properties development and property senior vice-president, Nick Ozich, said the build would cost hundreds of millions of dollars but forecasts indicated would make a tidy return on investment.

He said development would need to begin by 2025 to have the building ready for the LNG conference.

An initial cost estimate is expected to come in mid-2024 and Premier Roger Cook has already hinted he would tap the federal government for financial support.

Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti said the major facelift also presented an opportunity to transform Perth’s public transport and pedestrian links.

“One of my ambitions has always been that William Street crossing where you have buses, vehicles and pedestrians at mass, [which will be] replaced with a pedestrian bridge,” she said.

“And of course, our bus port needs an upgrade as well.

“This gives us an opportunity to address these … connection issues which need to be addressed over the next few years.”

PCEC was opened in 2004 and Wyllie and Brookfield hold a lease over the site until 2039.

The centre quickly gained its nickname, the cockroach, due to its unfortunate resemblance to the insect when viewed from Kings Park.

Housing Minister John Carey said he wanted to ensure new housing options were included in the design scope.