Recreation and Aquatic Facility (RAF)

The proposed Recreation and Aquatic Facility (RAF) would be a first for Western Australia, combining sporting, recreational and educational facilities. The RAF proposed to address a significant lack of local and regional community sporting and recreational infrastructure.

At the Ordinary Council Meeting on Tuesday 28 November 2022, Council reaffirmed its commitment to the RAF Project and requested the CEO to revise the scope and delivery of the RAF Project across three stages.

Stage 1 of the RAF Project proposed indoor aquatics and health club/gym together with a restaurant, bar and function room and improvements to the golf facilities at Collier Park Golf Course. A technology-based golf driving range with integrated food and beverage options is included.

Future stages included indoor playing courts (Stage 2) and a 50m outdoor pool (Stage 3).

RAF Special Council Meeting, Thursday 30 March 2023 

A Special Council Meeting will be held in the City’s Council Chamber, cnr Sandgate St and South Tce, South Perth, commencing at 6pm on Thursday 30 March to consider the proposed Recreation and Aquatic Facility (RAF) project. 
 
The decision to hold a Special Council Meeting has been made following significant community interest in the project. This additional meeting has been called to allow sufficient time for the RAF project, given its significance and public interest. It follows Council’s November 2022 resolution for the City to further investigate a staged approach and report back in March 2023.
 

The Council Report that will be considered at the Special Council Meeting has been released and can be found on the City’s Council Meetings page. The City has recommended that Council does not proceed with the proposed RAF Stage 1. The media statement that accompanied the release of the report can be found here

Community members are able to ask up to three questions and deputations at the Special Council Meetingusing the forms submitted on the City's Council Meetings page. Audio will be live streamed for those that are unable to attend.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The FAQs contained on this page relate to the proposed staging of the RAF project and the decision made by Council at the Special Council Meeting on 1 November 2022. Further updates will be made after the Special Council Meeting on Thursday 30 March 2023. 

 

  


Provision of a recreation and aquatic facility was a key strategy of the City’s first Strategic Community Plan (SCP) (2017-2027) and the RAF Project remains an integral part of the current SCP (2021-2031).

The City has undertaken extensive planning, due diligence and stakeholder engagement for the RAF. For more detailed information visit the ‘Milestones’ and ‘Updates’ section of this page.

One of the City’s main objectives is to ensure that the RAF does not require ongoing subsidy from City rates revenue. To achieve this, a multi-use facility located at Collier Park Golf Course was endorsed by Council as the preferred approach at the November 2020 Ordinary Council Meeting. The combination of aquatics, golf, health club/gym, food and beverage and leisure options integrated into a single facility maximises operational efficiencies and supports the most financially sustainable model.

The total project budget for Stage 1 of the RAF will be reviewed at the Ordinary Council Meeting on Tuesday 28 March 2023. The Federal Government and City of South Perth have both made a $20 million commitment to the RAF. Curtin University has made a capital commitment of $2-3 million. The City continues to lobby the State Government for a contribution towards indoor playing courts at the RAF and will seek a capital contribution from the RAF Operator (subject to future Council decisions).