Perth’s turf set for residential revamp

SURPLUS land at sporting facilities is becoming home to residential enclaves as developers, town planners and the Department of Sport and Recreation look to unlock the hidden value in Perth’s hallowed turf.

In the most high profile redevelopment, WACA members last week voted to approve a proposal by developer Ascot Capital to build four 20-storey residential and commercial towers, one ten-storey commercial block and an eight-storey residential development within the WACA Ground precinct.

Under the plan the WACA will remain as a venue for international and domestic cricket while also acting as a source of income from commercial and residential opportunities in the towers.

The WACA received development approval for the project from the East Perth Redevelopment Authority in 2009.

WACA chief executive Graeme Wood said the planned redevelopment, which will be funded without taxpayer or government contributions, was one of the most significant events in the history of cricket in WA, and would shore up the financial future of the sport.

Another sporting facility getting a residential revamp is at Claremont, where the Western Australian Planning Commission last month announced its approval of the Town of Claremont’s north-east precinct structure plan.

The plan calls for 11,700 square metres of commercial office space, 3,400sqm of retail and 527 dwellings clustered around the Claremont Oval, which will continue as a WAFL venue.

Town of Claremont principal urban planner Ben Rose said because a WAFL oval was so well integrated into its suburb, it was perfect for medium-density developments adhering to principles set out in the Western Australian Planning Commission’s draft urban planning framework, Directions 2031.

“The WAFL ovals have a very long history in urban metropolitan Perth,” Mr Rose told WA Business News.

“They’ve grown up as Perth has grown up, and if you look at the seven or eight ovals, including the Mandurah one, they are all located within walking distance to train station, they are all located along strong movement networks for cars, and a lot of them have good parking around them.

“They also all interact quite well with the local layout because the residential area hasn’t been designed and the football oval worked in there, the football ovals were there and the residential elements have grown up around them.”

Mr Rose said he had been in informal discussions with planners from the towns of East Fremantle and Bassendean and the City of Mandurah regarding similar WAFL ground redevelopments.

“Every local government or local authority will have its own set of issues, so the issues that we are experiencing here might not apply to Bassendean, for example, but in terms of general processes and development outcomes they’ve been following it quite closely.”

Meanwhile, at Perry Lakes, LandCorp is has kicked off the first stage of civil works for up to 600 dwellings to be built on the site of the former athletics stadium, with the street layout designed to reflect the shape of the athletics track.

LandCorp metropolitan general manager Luke Willcock said the land sales from the residential development would fund the costs associated with building the new athletics track and field facilities, basketball stadium and rugby headquarters at Perry Lakes.

He said more than 800 people had registered interest in the project, and the first lots will be available for sale in early 2011.

“As the redevelopment will deliver a variety of lots from single residential sites to town houses and a variety of apartment types and sizes, the interest has been commensurately broad,” Mr Willcock said.

“Developers and builders have shown interest in sites surrounding the running track and apartment lots, while there has been strong interest in the apartments and town houses from the general public.

“As an urban infill project, it will demonstrate a diversity of housing types while also utilising recycled material from the demolition of the old stadium.”