Langoulant wants sporting agreement

John Langoulant has moved to take some of the heat out of the debate over the state’s future stadium needs.

As head of the state government’s Major Stadia Taskforce, Mr Langoulant oversaw the recently released interim report that provoked an angry response from those associated with the Cockburn Central bid for Western Australia’s proposed new multi-purpose state-of-the-art stadium. 

The report effectively ruled out the prospect of a new 60,000-seat arena in the Perth’s southern suburbs.

Despite a recent broadside from City of Cockburn Mayor Stephen Lee, among others, Mr Langoulant has revealed that he is entirely comfortable with the taskforce’s position and pleased with the response to the interim report.

And, in what may be seen as a change in direction on the stadium issue, Mr Langoulant told WA Business News he thought the government would be favourably disposed to go forward on the $600 million new stadium project.

Previously, Mr Langoulant had flagged the possibility of the government not taking any action on the taskforce’s recommendations when its final report is tabled in the first quarter of next year.

“The government has adopted the recommendations of our interim report, and now we need all sports to come together and dispense with their self interests to get a stadium for the whole community,” Mr Langoulant said.

The approach of the state’s major sporting stakeholders has now emerged as the key issue of the stadium debate.

“We now wait for the government to provide the terms of reference for the next stage of our work, and we expect it will ask us to take a hard look at governance issues,” Mr Langoulant said. “Aussie Rules is a major stakeholder, so we need to make sure it is not disadvantaged in the process, but we also need to consider emerging sports like rugby and soccer, as well as major cricket matches.”

The taskforce also expects the terms of reference for its next stage will include a closer examination of the interim report’s three recommended sites – Kitchener/Mueller Park, the East Perth power station and a Subiaco Oval redevelopment.

This could be bad news for the hard working Cockburn bid team.

Mr Langoulant said the identification of suitable locations had been a difficult issue, but outside of Perth Racing changing its mind on Belmont Park there didn’t appear to be another venue to consider.

“From a taskforce point of view, Cockburn is off the list, but until the government finalises its terms of reference on what sites it wants us to consider it is not out of the running,” Mr Langoulant said.

Of the three potential sites, Mr Langoulant has a preference for the old East Perth power station, saying it had fewer issues than the other sites.

The taskforce is aware of planning, size and other issues across its preferred sites, as well as disrupting existing use if it went ahead with the redevelopment of Subiaco Oval.

But, with a view to developing a total entertainment precinct around the venue, it believes East Perth has strong credentials.