Perth Bears: $13m temporary WACA home because $20m Malaga centre not finished for NRL team’s launch in 2027

A $20 million high-performance centre in Malaga promised to the Perth Bears will not be ready for “several years”, it can be revealed, triggering the extra $13 million taxpayer spend on a new temporary home at the WACA. The Cook Government on Sunday announced that $12.9 million would be spent upgrading the WACA’s Lillee Marsh stand and installing goal posts, subsoil drainage and grass for a training field on vacant land across the road in East Perth. A State Government spokeswoman said the East Perth site was only assessed for rugby league after the $65 million Bears deal was signed in May. Expressions of interest opened in June for the $20 million Malaga multi-sport precinct that was promised during the State election, but there is no clear target date for it. Tender documents warned the project is “required to be delivered within a constrained time frame” and appeared to confirm it will not be ready for the NRL season in 2027. “It is critical the enabling works package . . . is completed by May 2026 to allow the main works to be delivered by July 2027 for operational use early October 2027,” the tender request said. A Government statement on Tuesday confirmed that it will take “several years” to deliver. “The Malaga sports precinct is a major infrastructure project that will take several years to plan and deliver,” a Government spokeswoman said. “Part of this planning will include consultation with other potential users of the precinct to ensure it delivers for the wider community alongside high-performance sport.“ It means the Bears could remain based in East Perth for several years. On Sunday, the fledgling club said it is “trying” to move to Malaga by 2028, while the Cook Government said work is continuing to secure the club a “permanent” home. It comes as Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas claimed the growing price tag has sparked dissent in Labor ranks — which was rejected by senior frontbencher John Carey on Tuesday. Mr Carey, the Housing Minister and Member for Perth, insisted his local community would be the big winner. “I do support the investment in community infrastructure,” he said. “The Waterbank precinct has had a troubled history because of the ground or the geo-tech, so getting Waterbank used as a useful site has been very problematic. “So for the East Perth community, I know there’s a level of excitement about activating the precincts by having the Bears there and having that investment in that infrastructure.” On Monday, Mr Zempilas demanded the Premier apologise for misleading voters in March when he vowed no taxpayers’ money would go to the NRL. He also claimed that the cost had divided the Government. “There is leadership rumbling. We know that because not everybody in the Labor Government is signed up to the racetrack and we know they’re not all signed up to the rugby league team,” Mr Zempilas said. “There’s a reason why there is murmuring and now louder discussion about future leadership within the Labor Government.” Mr Carey challenged him to produce proof. “Basil Zempilas just shoots from the hip, please cite me the examples,” he said. “I would say it’s the WA Liberals who are conflicted on net zero, as we’re seeing the turmoil in the Federal Liberals. “So, again, like everything Basil says, he just says things off the cuff.”