Recreation and Aquatic Facility (RAF)

The City is investigating the feasibility of, and funding opportunities for a Recreation and Aquatic Facility (RAF) for the City of South Perth.

The proposed RAF will be a premier health, fitness, wellness and recreation hub located at Collier Park Golf in the heart of the City of South Perth. Setting a new benchmark in health, wellness and leisure, the RAF will be a unique socially inclusive destination where physical activity and lifestyle experiences meet.

Collier Park Golf will be retained as part of the RAF project, with traditional 27 hole course facilities including shorter form golf. The area adjacent to the existing club house will be remodelled to provide a double storey technology based driving range and an improved short game practice area. It will also include the mini-golf facility that is currently under development.

Why a recreation and aquatic facility?

An aquatic facility has been under consideration for over a decade, with a number of polls, surveys, studies and reports indicating community support.

One of the key strategies within the City’s Strategic Community Plan 2020-2030 is to plan for and promote the development of recreation and aquatic facilities to service City of South Perth needs.

The community demand, along with the lack of indoor sporting facilities in the City and the need for the City to address the ongoing viability and long term use of George Burnett Leisure Centre (GBLC) and Collier Park Golf Course, has led the City to initiate the RAF project.

Conventional swimming pools can require ongoing financial subsidy to meet operational costs. The integration of a number of leisure, sporting and recreation facilities in a single venue increases the potential to attract external funding and provides economies of scale in service provision, capital cost and ongoing operational costs.

Indicative concept designs

The following designs are indicative of how the RAF might look like should the project progress to the design stage.

1 of 4

2 of 4

3 of 4

4 of 4

Feasibility

Before a business case could be considered, it was necessary to identify potential funding partners. The feasibility stage involved engagement with external organisations within and adjacent to the City, including Curtin University, to explore partnership opportunities.

A financial commitment of $20 million from the Federal Government was secured in April 2019 and additional partnership opportunities continue to be investigated. A range of key stakeholders have been engaged to determine the level of support to ensure that the RAF could be a financially sustainable consideration both now and into the future.

The potential for this project to proceed is based on a number of factors including (but not limited to):

The attraction of appropriate levels of funding from Government and the commercial sector
Demonstrated financial self-sustainability now and in the future.

Stage 1: Project Definition and Business Case

The Stage 1 Project Team has been engaged and we are working with potential funding partners and sporting entities to review operational constraints and funding opportunities.

A report was presented to Council at the November 2020 meeting along with the Stakeholder Community Engagement Report, the Project Definition Plan (confidential - redacted version publicly available), Operational Feasibility Report (confidential) and Business Plan.

At the November Council Meeting, Elected Members approved the Business Plan for public comment and endorsed a financial commitment of $20 million to match $20 million already promised by the Federal Government. The City will now seek additional funding required in order to progress the project to the design phase.

Business Plan - have your say

To have your say on the RAF Business Plan visit Your Say South Perth.

Hard copies of the Business Plan are available to view during business hours at the Civic Centre and City’s libraries. Written submissions should be addressed to: Chief Executive Officer, City of South Perth Civic Centre, Cnr Sandgate St & South Tce, South Perth, WA 6151 or emailed to enquiries@southperth.wa.gov.au.

Submissions on the RAF Business Plan close 5pm, Friday 22 January 2021.

News Listings

November 2020

Have your say on the RAF Business Plan

News Update 27 November 2020

The RAF Business Plan is available for public comment until 5pm, Friday 22 January 2021.

RAF

Proposal to enter into a major land transaction Recreation and Aquatic Facility (RAF)

Public Notice 27 November 2020

In accordance with section 3.59 of the Local Government Act 1995, the City of South Perth is seeking public submissions on the proposal to enter into a major land transaction through the construction and then operation of the Recreation and Aquatic Facility (RAF) in Como, Western Australia.

RAF

RAF moves to next stage

News Update 25 November 2020

Councillors have given approval for the proposed Recreation Aquatic Facility (RAF) project to progress to the next stage of the future world class regional health, fitness and recreation centre.

RAF

A premier regional recreation, aquatic, health and educational facility that serves the City of South Perth and Curtin University extending to areas within the Town of Victoria Park and the City of Canning, providing economies of scale in services provision, capital cost and ongoing operational costs.

The RAF will go beyond sport, recreation and aquatics. It will be:

A unique and vibrant social hub where physical activity and lifestyle experiences meet
A place for community, sport and education partnerships
A dynamic destination and meeting place that connects communities
A leading centre for sport education and research
An economically efficient and financially viable multi-purpose facility
A social space for every member of the community, accessible to all abilities and age groups.

The RAF could include:

Meeting and function rooms
Café and restaurant
Playground
Walking and cycling trails
Picnic spaces.

Indoor and outdoor pools
A feature climbing wall
Indoor sports courts
Gym
Treatment rooms

Site selection

Due to the strong additional funding opportunities it offers, Collier Park Golf in Como was identified as the preferred site for the RAF. The central and highly accessible location has links to a large population base which is essential for the viability of such a facility. Additionally, using an existing City asset will reduce both the economic and environmental costs.

In reviewing potential locations, existing City assets which could accommodate or integrate with the RAF were considered. Six sites were shortlisted; Collier Reserve, the City of South Perth Recycling Centre, the City of South Perth Operations Centre, Collier Park Golf (north of the existing club house), George Burnett Leisure Centre and Collier Park Golf South East Corner.

Each site was evaluated and assessed based on factors including, but not limited to; available space, funding partnership opportunities, traffic management, accessibility to main roads, public transport and bike lanes/paths. The selected sites were further reduced to Collier Park Golf Course (north of the clubhouse) or George Burnett Leisure Centre, with the Golf Course site preferred due to the funding opportunities available at that site.

Following the feasibility stage and site selection, the City has progressed to Stage 1: Project Definition and Business Case.

Council resolution

At the Ordinary Council Meeting on 30 October 2018, Council resolved to:

Reaffirm its commitment for the planning and promotion of the development of recreation and aquatic facilities to service community needs
Commence formal engagement with Federal and State Governments, adjoining local authorities, tertiary institutions, peak sporting bodies and commercial operators to gauge their interest, support and involvement in a regional scale multi-use leisure and aquatic facility to be located within the City
Advance work on the design concepts and preferred sites to enable preparation of a detailed Business Plan to be submitted to Council by July 2019. This work has subsequently been incorporated into Stage 1: Project Definition and Business Case, which will be presented to Council in October 2020
Commit to consultation with stakeholder groups and the public on the refinement of the concepts and preferred sites
Form a Project Reference Group reporting through to the Property Committee to oversee the development of the project.

Since 2003 the City has conducted six studies and delivered nine community polls/surveys incorporating sport and recreation needs. The community has indicated significant support for aquatic facilities, indoor sports and a gymnasium.

The City has no public aquatic facilities, which restricts the local community’s ability to participate in recreation programs such as ‘Learn to Swim’. A review undertaken in 2015 indicated that a conventional swimming pool, whilst publicly supported would require ongoing financial subsidy to meet operational costs.

The City's only indoor recreation facility (George Burnett Leisure Centre) is below industry standard for provision of indoor sports and recreation, comprising one under-sized sports court. The minimum requirement for indoor sports such as basketball and netball in an area of this size is three to eight courts.

As outlined in the City’s Strategic Community Plan 2020-2030, the City has committed to the planning for and promoting of recreation and aquatic facilities to service City of South Perth needs.

The City has conducted a feasibility study for a multi-purpose recreation and aquatic facility (RAF) and Stage 1: Project Definition and Business Case is presently underway, to be presented to Council in October 2020.

A central and highly accessible location that has links to a large population base is essential for the viability of such a facility and using existing City assets would reduce both the economic and environmental costs.

A number of potential site locations within a 5km radius of Curtin University were identified to take advantage of partnership opportunities and potential links with students and education programs. Proximity to Curtin University provides potential to service a regional catchment across the neighbouring Town of Victoria Park and the City of Canning as well as the University student and staff population.

Twenty-three possible sites were identified and six were shortlisted. The shortlisted sites were identified based on the following criteria:

available building footprint
integration opportunities with existing City owned facilities
funding partner opportunities
environmental impact
land and stakeholder impact
good road access and traffic impact
long term planning for the area
space for parking

Opportunities and constraints of each site were investigated based on functional requirements, delivery viability, funding, market and value for money.

Council has confirmed Collier Park Golf as the preferred site for the proposed Recreation and Aquatic Facility (RAF) due to the strong additional funding opportunities it offers. The City needed to select a site in order to progress the Stage 1: Project Definition and Business Case, which is vital to determine whether the project is worth pursuing.

The business case will include a stakeholder and funding strategy, estimates on capital and operational costs, delivery and operational procurement models, delivery risk assessment, facility scope and accommodation plans, and any required commercial and partner agreements.

A number of City assets were considered when reviewing potential locations that could accommodate or integrate with the RAF including George Burnett Leisure Centre.

At the feasibility stage of the project it was determined that the facility would need to be located within a 5km radius of Curtin University to take advantage of partnership opportunities and potential links with students and education programs.

Each site was evaluated and assessed based on factors including available space, funding partnership opportunities, traffic management, accessibility to main roads, public transport and bike lanes/paths.

The selected sites were further shortlisted to Collier Park Golf Course (north of the clubhouse) and George Burnett Leisure Centre. The Golf Course is preferred due to the greater potential funding opportunities the site offers, better opportunities for establishing integrated facilities, enhancing commercial and operational viability and future proofing the golf course.

The golf course is a highly accessible location with direct access to Curtin University and links to a large population base, which is essential for the viability of such a facility.

The City is at the very early stages of exploring the feasibility of the RAF project. Depending on funding and partnership outcomes, the facility could incorporate aquatic facilities, public gymnasium, golf and group exercise space.

The benefits of developing a multi-purpose recreation facility like the proposed RAF were highlighted in the City’s Community Recreation Facilities Plan. The adopted Plan recommends the City to investigate provision of a Regional Recreation and Aquatic facility to include:

Six to eight indoor sports courts to accommodate netball, basketball, volleyball, badminton, table tennis and other relevant sports
Outdoor and indoor swimming pool, leisure water, spa/sauna and other necessary aquatic sports
Education spaces, commercial spaces, entertainment spaces (function areas, golf), gymnasium, health and wellness space
Partnerships with Federal and State Governments and commercial operators to assist in capital and life cycle funding.

This question will be better answered following the completion of a full Project Definition and Business Case for the proposal. This is presently under way and scheduled to be presented to Council in October 2020.

Yes.

Whilst this project is currently in its infancy and financial sustainability and partnership funding opportunities are the key focus of the feasibility study at this stage, the City is committed to engaging and consulting with the community throughout the process.

Sporting groups and clubs and the community will all have expectations and considerations that will need to be planned for to ensure the success of this project.

Options for the management of the facility will be reviewed as part of Stage 1: Project Definition and Business Case.

There are a number of models in use across the country including:

Direct Management where the City retains total control and accountability for operations
Indirect Management where the City retains control through a body corporate

The City is committed to working in partnership with key stakeholders in the development of this project to ensure that it is a financially sustainable facility.

A review of Collier Park Golf has identified that the current business focused on the traditional golf market will not support the facility into the future. The business model needs to become more market-focused to broaden its appeal to women, families, diverse groups and younger generations in order to stay relevant and commercially viable.

Traditional golf will always be part of the offering at the proposed RAF, however, there will be a move towards more short form based golf and ‘Top Golf’ driving range options. This will ensure that the golf course remains a financially sustainable community asset for many years to come.

The RAF development offers significantly improved facilities. The 27 hole course will be retained with shorter form golf included. By retaining 27 holes, the Lakes will be shorter but will still consist of 9 full length holes.

The concept plan is for the Lake 9 to be remodelled to a par 31 consisting of 5 x par 3 and 4 x Par 4 holes. This will provide an option that is not only faster to play, but will preference accuracy and skill over strength and distance provide an appealing alternative for both new and experienced golfers of all ages, abilities and skill levels.

The facility as a whole will be more welcoming and engaging across the broader community, supporting the long term financial sustainability of the course. The area adjacent to the existing club house will be remodelled to provide the double storey technology based driving range and an improved short game practice area. It will also include the mini-golf facility that is currently under development.

Golf provides a range of broad community benefits that align with the core purposes of local government. Siting the RAF on CPGC allows for the maximisation of benefits whilst financial demands are concentrated and reduced through the focus on a single facility.

The preferred site for the RAF is the northern area of the golf course. The trees in this area are junior pine trees planted in the late 1990's. They do not form part of the cockatoo roosting site.

Plans for the RAF are still at the early project definition stage and there are still a number of considerations to be taken into account before making a final decision about this site, including the requirement to protect the black cockatoo habitat.

The environmental impact of any proposed facility will be undertaken as part of the project.

The City is committed to ensuring that the cockatoos on the site are protected and we will continue to carry out the extensive work we already undertake to protect the environment of the golf course.

A Gateway structure is being developed to facilitate governance and decision making support and to retain Council oversight and control of the project.

The key stages have been identified as follows:

Project Initiation: Feasibility and Site Selection completed

Stage 1: Project Definition and Business Case – March to November 2020

Stage 2 - 5: Design - June 2021 to April 2022

Stage 6: Procurement and Tender – February to July 2022

Stage 7: Construction - August 2022 to May 2024

Stage 8: Completion and Handover – May to August 2024

Stage 9: Operational - August 2024

These gateways align with the anticipated stages of financial contributions towards the project for both Council and other project partners to limit financial exposure for all as the project progresses to the approval of the construction stage.

The key decision gateways for Council would be:

1. Confirmation of site location and approval to proceed to finalise financial partners and project scope
2. Confirmation of financial partners and approval of Project Definition and Business Case to commence detailed design
3. Confirmation of final design and approval to commence to construction.