DevelopmentWA has officially declared the residential component of Victor Goh's EQWest project at Elizabeth Quay as completed, even as work on the associated hotel remains stalled and a major office tower deadline is pushed back.
Mixed Progress on $1 Billion Quay Project
The status of Malaysian property magnate Victor Goh's three prime Perth city lots, purchased from the State Government in 2016 and 2017, has been clarified by the development authority. DevelopmentWA chief executive Dean Mudford stated on Friday that the 53-storey residential tower is finished, with the City of Perth having granted an occupancy certificate in October 2025.
However, Mudford confirmed that work is ongoing on the 26-floor hotel component, which together with the apartments forms the EQWest development. Sources indicate the residential occupancy permit is temporary, valid for only six months, after which Goh's company CA & Associates must apply for a final certificate.
Deadline Extended for Planned 54-Storey Skyscraper
In a significant concession, DevelopmentWA has granted Goh an additional year to commence work on a separate proposed development known as Lot 4. This project, to be developed by another Goh entity, CA Corporation, is a planned 54-storey office skyscraper opposite Elizabeth Quay Station.
The original approval for Lot 4 was granted in October 2021, with a four-year deadline to start construction. That deadline was due to expire in late 2025, but the project had not met the threshold for substantial commencement, prompting the extension.
Delays and Disputes Shadow Development
The combined EQWest apartment, hotel, and commercial building projects were initially touted as a more than $1 billion investment upon completion. Their journey, however, has been marred by delays and contractor disputes, contributing to ongoing speculation about the full completion timeline.
Victor Goh, who is notoriously media-shy, did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the latest announcements from DevelopmentWA. The authority's statements provide the clearest official update in months on the high-profile but often opaque development saga at one of Perth's most prominent waterfront precincts.
