Seven seeks Ent. Centre partner

Seven Group Holdings will seek a development partner next year to create a mixed-use commercial, residential and office precinct on inner city land made vacant by the demolition of the Perth Entertainment Centre.

Seven Group chief executive Peter Gammell and Planning Minister John Day announced earlier today that demolition of the Entertainment Centre would commence early next year to make way for the Perth City Link.

Mr Gammell said the Seven Group had not yet finalised its plans for the 2.5 hectare site, but said there would be between four and six "substantial" buildings as part of the plan, which will be a staged construction over the next three to five years.

"It is one of the key sites in Perth and we have the opportunity to build some really spectacular buildings," Mr Gammell said.

"(The cost) will certainly run into the hundreds of millions of dollars and we will be looking for a partner to do that."

Mr Gammell said there were no specific plans in place to relocate Seven's offices from Dianella to the inner city, but conceded a hotel development could be on the group's radar.

"Certainly Perth is looking for hotels, and certainly in conjunction with EPRA we'll be talking about the types of development that are going in this area," Mr Gammell said.

"It is possible (for a hotel) either on our site, or EPRA's site, in this area I think almost certainly that there will be a hotel development."

The Entertainment Centre has been vacant since 2002, and sits on an integral piece of land which is needed to link the city centre and Northbridge and allow for the sinking of the Fremantle train line.

Mr Day said a land swap had been negotiated between Seven and the state government to facilitate sinking of the rail line, which is scheduled to commence in March next year.

Transport Minister Simon O'Brien announced in September that a Brookfield Multiplex and Laing O'Rourke joint venture and a joint venture between John Holland and GHD had been shortlisted as the preferred proponents for the $600 million rail component of the link.

The alliance contract will be awarded in March 2011. The rail project is scheduled for completion in 2014.

The sinking of the Wellington Street Bus Station is due for completion in 2016.