Everything you need to know about the $1.5B Perth City deal.

We might be staring down a recession, but the much anticipated Perth City Deal is officially going ahead, with plans given the green light today.

“City Deals” are deals between State and Federal Governments and private enterprises.

They are aimed at giving CBD’s major facelifts, not just new cappuccino strips.

And the Perth City Deal will be no different.

WA universities all put proposals to the State Government to have a remote campus in Perth, but Edith Cowan University came out on top, with a bold design for its campus in Yagan Square.

The university element of the plan will cost nearly $700 million, and will bring thousands of students and teachers into the campus – and in turn the city – from 2025.

And, with its link to the prestigious WA Academy of Performing Arts, more life theatre and performance is expected through the CBD development.

Curtin and Murdoch will not be completely left out though, with $360 million to help them have a presence in the city.

For Murdoch – which has recently launched a “digital futures academy” with a focus on gaming and computing – this will mean an “eSports stadium”. That’s right, the gamers among us will finally have somewhere to nerd-out.

If that’s not enough, there will be an $18 million put aside for an Australian Ronotics, Automation and AI Command Control Complex. This will be a big space for start-ups to come and use technology that’s connected to space and satellites. Who knows? Maybe someone will develop the next Pokemon Go. 

But don’t worry, the WACA is also being redeveloped with a $100 million upgrade that will even see it get its own swimming pool.

For Curtin, there will be a “knowledge and innovation” precinct in the city – which we will get more detail on as plans are released. We can only hope they draw from Hogwarts or the Starship Enterprise for inspiration… or maybe a little of column a, a little of column b. 

Other cultural facilities will also get an upgrade, including $42 million in improvements to the Perth Concert Hall and $20 million for the Perth Cultural Centre.

But it’s not all fun and games.

The plan will also put aside funding for better facilities for Perth’s homeless, with about $36 million committed so far.

WA MP and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said the deal was set to “unlock Perth’s incredible future potential” and transform it into a “vibrant, exciting and liveable capital city”.

Premier Mark McGowan said the plan would support Perth’s longer-term recovery from the pandemic and recession.

“Our strong response to COVID-19 means there is no better place to be in the world than WA, and the new campus will attract both domestic and international students when our borders are safe to re-open,” he said in a joint statement with Senator Cormann and Scott Morrison.

Continuing reading with our latest Perth news on SoPerth.com.au.