Ag society to stay at park

After months of uncertainty, the fate of Albany's Agricultural Society within Centennial Park Sporting Precinct redevelopment has been decided.

At the City of Albany council meeting on Tuesday night, a Deed of Agreement allowing the agricultural society's continual use and operations within the Centennial Park site, once redevelopment of the sporting precinct was complete, was endorsed.

The decision has come after months of negotiations and, under the agreement, the society will have a lease of the current Royals Football Club rooms and a portion of land on the eastern precinct for 30 years with a 10-year option.

Society president Rob Wright said although a strong "backbone" had been formed, they still had a lot of work to do.

"There has been a lot of compromise, particularly on the agricultural society's part," he said.

"We are being moved out of our custom-built buildings that we were happy with, for the necessary redevelopment of the sporting precinct.

"But in having said that, we have come streaks ahead from where we were six months ago.

"We will have new facilities at the precinct to continue our existence, and to facilitate the annual show as we have done for the past 120 years."

In return for the title over the Hanrahan Road waste facility site, the City of Albany will also provide $852,000 for construction of new pavilions, $250,00 to complete site works for the pavilions and a further $25,000 to support the Albany show each year.

Mayor Dennis Wellington said it was great to see both parties were close to achieving a positive outcome.

"We have taken the society's feedback on board in preparing this Deed of Agreement and are confident it meets their long-term requirements," he said.

"This offer will give the society some certainty moving forward and ensure they remain an integral part of our city."

The deed is to be signed by the end of Tuesday, December 22.

Mr Wellington said the City was confident the offer would be accepted and the two parties would continue to enjoy a positive working relationship.