WACA pool $25m offer extended

The City of Perth has extended the deadline over a $25 million contribution towards the WACA pool but costs could pile up due to legal issues with its funding agreement.

A 50-metre, six lane swimming pool is part of the $100 million redevelopment of the West Australian Cricket Association grounds in East Perth.

The council placed a six-month deadline on the state government to enter into a funding agreement for its $25 million contribution, which has since lapsed.

City councillors unanimously voted at a meeting last night to extend the deadline to December, with the council agenda revealing there were outstanding legal issues as recent as April.

Cr Brent Fleeton said he hoped a development application would be lodged in the coming months.

“I am frustrated that it’s been six months since we passed the resolution and we still can’t reach an agreement for a pool,” he said.

“We don’t have the same budget to keep paying lawyer fees that the state has. The state has the State Solicitors Office, we don’t, so ratepayers are paying for the state's delay here and it might be laughable to the state when we raise these issues.

“But we raise them because ratepayer money is at stake, over and above the $25 million, so I hope that the WACA project hasn’t blown out by too much.”

According to the council agenda, the most recent meeting held between Minter Ellison, on behalf of the city, and the SSO was on April 5.

Planning Minister Rita Saffioti previously told Business News the city’s deadline had no bearing on construction timeframes.

"The six month funding agreement was an arbitrary timeframe set by the Council in relation to its financial contribution," she said.

"It was set by the council and not discussed with the state government.

“Work is well underway at the WACA. Initial works such as the demolition of grandstands and oval lengthening have been completed."

Ms Saffioti said the city’s decision to step away from the project meant the project was in the hands of the state and WA Cricket.

“It is important to note that it was the City of Perth which delayed the commencement of all of the works when it initially failed to support the aquatic facility,” she said.

The city did not respond to Ms Saffioti’s remarks but Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas doubled down on the city’s responsibility at the meeting last night.

“The delays are not ours. We are not responsible for the delays,” he said.

“With those legal fees, we are protecting the ratepayers investment and having come this far, I think it is important that we see the job through properly.

“We want to see this delivered... The delays aren’t ours, it is costing us but it's important that we protect that investment.”

The initial plan was to have the city, WACA and the state government enter into one deal but the state government has since advised two separate arrangements with the city and WACA.

The WACA redevelopment is under the Perth City Deal, which includes local, state and federal governments investing a total of $1.5 billion.

The state government initially requested a $35 million contribution towards the deal from the city, with $25 million going to the development of the WACA public swimming pool.

However, the councillors unanimously voted to investigate alternative locations for the "iconic aquatic facility" in July.

Despite the initial refusal, the council then decided to commit $25 million as a one-off capped contribution towards the pool development and no future contributions for the maintenance, management or operation, at its meeting in August.

The city’s contribution hinged on the pool’s design, specifications and quality being to its satisfaction.