Discontent over the $217 million project, initially planned as a motorsport street circuit in Burswood but framed in recent weeks as a landscaped outdoor space with an amphitheatre and multi-use road circuit, has reached a fever pitch in recent days.
On Sunday, the state published a summary of a business case, independently prepared by ACIL Allen, which claimed the project would generate $61 million in economic activity annually.
The fine print of the summary included a disclaimer stating that the information underlying the report was provided by the state and had not been independently verified.
Mr Cook today rejected suggestions that the report was not transparent and highlighted the multi-faceted nature of the road project.
“There are all kinds of hocus pocus conspiracy theories surrounding the development of the Burswood Peninsula,” he said.
“Perth Park will completely change the way we activate the entire area.
“It will provide opportunities for cyclists, for people from all sports. It will provide opportunities for people to recreate, more amenities, a better canopy – in fact, double the canopy.
“It will continue to activate an important hospitality, tourism and sports economy zone for Western Australia.”
Among the project’s most vocal critics are a group posing as local residents and trading as Save Burswood Park Alliance. They have accused the government of conducting a sham public consultation process and called the project’s name change ‘spin’.
The city of Victoria Park, where the project will be located, last week accused the government of pressuring the Environmental Protection Authority not to assess the project – sparking a social media discussion with Deputy Prime Minister Rita Saffioti.
The local authority urged residents to contact local member Hannah Beazley to express their opposition to the development plan.
One of the notable changes in the ACIL Allen summary released Sunday from what was previously sent was a reduction in scale of the amphitheater, from 20,000 people to 12,000.
Mr Cook said this move was guided by feedback from the public and industry to right-size the facility, and not just to save costs.
Amid continued pressure on multiple fronts, the Prime Minister stressed the project would be good for WA.
“Every time we come across these projects, if they are a little bit controversial, people will never be satisfied until their argument wins out,” he said.
“But we did the work. We made sure we carefully analyzed this project and understood the economics.
“Economics suggest Perth Park will deliver a $61 million return to the Western Australian economy.”
Work on Perth Park is expected to begin in 2026 and be completed the following year.
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