❓ The Minister for Culture and the Arts provides an update on the Western Australian Museum's Perth site closure and redevelopment, highlighting job creation, staff relocation, and continued public engagement during the construction period.
AnsweredQoN 343Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM — CLOSURE AND
REDEVELOPMENT
343. Ms E. EVANGEL to the Minister for
Culture and the Arts:
Before I ask my question, I would
like to acknowledge the leadership group from Newborough Primary School in the
Deputy Premier's electorate of Scarborough, and also the deputy
principal, teachers and students of Aranmore Catholic Primary School in my
electorate of Perth.
I note that the Western Australian
Museum's Perth site will close temporarily on 18 June to allow for the
world‑class development of the new Museum. Can the minister please update
the house on the arrangements?
REDEVELOPMENT
343. Ms E. EVANGEL to the Minister for
Culture and the Arts:
Before I ask my question, I would
like to acknowledge the leadership group from Newborough Primary School in the
Deputy Premier's electorate of Scarborough, and also the deputy
principal, teachers and students of Aranmore Catholic Primary School in my
electorate of Perth.
I note that the Western Australian
Museum's Perth site will close temporarily on 18 June to allow for the
world‑class development of the new Museum. Can the minister please update
the house on the arrangements?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
She is obviously a strong supporter of this project, as are all members on this
side of Parliament. As I have said before, the need for a new facility for the Western
Australian Museum in the centre of the capital of Western Australia has been
recognised for about 20 years or so, but it has never been adequately addressed
until being done so by this government. The new development is now becoming a reality
and that will require the closure of the current site while the redevelopment
occurs over the next three and half years or so. As a result, the WA Museum at
its Perth site will be closed after next Saturday; next Saturday will be the
last day it will be open to the public in its current form. I am pleased to say
that negotiations with the preferred managing contractor, Brookfield Multiplex,
and the architects OMA and Hassell are proceeding very well and we hope
negotiations will be concluded fairly soon.
As well as the WA Museum being a very important institution
for cultural aspects and educational and scientific activities, and a major
tourism attraction for Western Australia, it is also very important for
economic development. The construction of the new Museum in particular is
important for job creation. An estimated 3 300 design and construction workers
will be employed over the life of the new Museum project, with an estimated
on-site workforce at a peak of around 385 people at any one time during construction.
It will be very important for job creation and employment provision in the
state, particularly in the construction industry, over the next four years. As
part of the new development and the transition, all the permanent WA Museum
staff will be relocated to other WA Museum sites in the metropolitan area, or
possibly other parts of the state. As well, they will certainly be needed in
the development of the new project and also in the management and operation of
the other sites, including in Fremantle and Welshpool, and also in Albany,
Geraldton and Kalgoorlie–Boulder.
Next Saturday, the last day at the
Museum, family open day will be underway. It will include free activities,
entertainment and historic building tours. I am also delighted to advise that
during the redevelopment, the Museum's 125-year history at the Perth
Cultural Centre will continue with a presence at the State Library where the
discovery centre will be relocated. There will also be pop-up exhibitions and
events around the city. Members who have recently been to the Perth Concert
Hall, for example, may have seen the dinosaur and the megafauna skeletons in
the foyer.
The redevelopment of the WA Museum,
as I said, will result in the closure at the current site while the
redevelopment occurs, but that is a very good thing for the state. When the new
Museum opens in early 2020, I am sure that everybody will appreciate the
investment that has been made by this government to provide a proper museum
development for Western Australia.
She is obviously a strong supporter of this project, as are all members on this
side of Parliament. As I have said before, the need for a new facility for the Western
Australian Museum in the centre of the capital of Western Australia has been
recognised for about 20 years or so, but it has never been adequately addressed
until being done so by this government. The new development is now becoming a reality
and that will require the closure of the current site while the redevelopment
occurs over the next three and half years or so. As a result, the WA Museum at
its Perth site will be closed after next Saturday; next Saturday will be the
last day it will be open to the public in its current form. I am pleased to say
that negotiations with the preferred managing contractor, Brookfield Multiplex,
and the architects OMA and Hassell are proceeding very well and we hope
negotiations will be concluded fairly soon.
As well as the WA Museum being a very important institution
for cultural aspects and educational and scientific activities, and a major
tourism attraction for Western Australia, it is also very important for
economic development. The construction of the new Museum in particular is
important for job creation. An estimated 3 300 design and construction workers
will be employed over the life of the new Museum project, with an estimated
on-site workforce at a peak of around 385 people at any one time during construction.
It will be very important for job creation and employment provision in the
state, particularly in the construction industry, over the next four years. As
part of the new development and the transition, all the permanent WA Museum
staff will be relocated to other WA Museum sites in the metropolitan area, or
possibly other parts of the state. As well, they will certainly be needed in
the development of the new project and also in the management and operation of
the other sites, including in Fremantle and Welshpool, and also in Albany,
Geraldton and Kalgoorlie–Boulder.
Next Saturday, the last day at the
Museum, family open day will be underway. It will include free activities,
entertainment and historic building tours. I am also delighted to advise that
during the redevelopment, the Museum's 125-year history at the Perth
Cultural Centre will continue with a presence at the State Library where the
discovery centre will be relocated. There will also be pop-up exhibitions and
events around the city. Members who have recently been to the Perth Concert
Hall, for example, may have seen the dinosaur and the megafauna skeletons in
the foyer.
The redevelopment of the WA Museum,
as I said, will result in the closure at the current site while the
redevelopment occurs, but that is a very good thing for the state. When the new
Museum opens in early 2020, I am sure that everybody will appreciate the
investment that has been made by this government to provide a proper museum
development for Western Australia.
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