28/11/05
The site for the Albany Entertainment Centre would remain west of the town jetty, but be moved east to get a superior design outcome, Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan announced today.
Ms MacTiernan said she had arranged a top-level review of the current plan in response to issues raised by local architects.
It would be moved eastwards to the edge of the existing jetty access road to improve the view corridor from York Street and Stirling Terrace.
The building and immediate surrounds would also be given the necessary design treatments to ensure that environmental and climatic concerns were addressed.
The Minister said the hotel would be sited immediately to the east of the jetty, along with the mixed-use development already planned for the area.
Planning and environmental preparations for the project were already well advanced, in anticipation of a handover of the site for the entertainment centre from the State Government to the City of Albany in mid-2006.
Greater connectivity from York Street directly to the foreshore would also be considered as part of the access to the entertainment centre.
Albany MLA Peter Watson said he had made it clear that the community priority was to see significant progress on the entertainment centre and waterfront development projects, the first part of which would be the pedestrian bridge linking Stirling Terrace with the foreshore.
Ms MacTiernan said these latest refinements would not delay the start-up of the project.
Minister's office: 9213 6400
