Hospitals, police stations, schools and ovals are among the 20 assets listed for sale by the West Australian government to help manage the state’s crippling debt.  

Assets listed include Fremantle Police Station, parts of the Police Headquarters in East Perth, the East Perth Power Station and land around the Cottesloe School for the Deaf, as well as parcels of land held by the Agriculture and Food Department and the Public Transport Authority.

Five hospital precincts will also be up for sale, including Princess Margaret, Swan Districts, Kaleeya, Woodside Maternity and Shenton Park.

Premier Colin Barnett said the land for sale was better placed under private ownership to be redeveloped and restored.

“The sale process will vary from one piece of land to another with some sites ready to go to market now, and others that will take more work to get ready for sale,” he said.

“We expect initial land sales to generate about $250 million for the state, but some of these sites are unique and it is only through testing the market that we will be able to get a clear indication of their value.”

Shenton Park Hospital will be decommissioned in October with the majority of services being transferred to the new Fiona Stanley Hospital.

Kaleeya Hospital’s services will also see all obstetrics, gynaecology and neonatal services move to Fiona Stanley Hospital, while sub-acute services like aged care will move to Fremantle Hospital, and elective surgery will be distributed between both hospitals.

Lands Minister Terry Redman said the land sales should be of great interest to the private sector.

Cabinet has also approved the establishment of a Land Asset Advisory Group to provide continuing advice on the sale of property assets across WA.

Mr Redman said the Lands Department was assessing all government-owned land assets and expected several other government sites to be identified as appropriate for sale at the conclusion of the audit.

The asset sales come after the state’s credit rating was downgraded by both Standard and Poor’s, and Moody’s.

Perth Market Authority, which operates Market City in Canning Vale, the Utah Point port handling facilities in Port Hedland and Kwinana Bulk Terminal south of Perth were announced earlier this month as the first assets up for sale.