Recreation and Aquatic Facility

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At the November Council Meeting, Elected Members gave approval for the proposed Recreation Aquatic Facility (RAF) project to progress to the next stage. They endorsed the RAF Business Plan for public comment and approved a financial commitment of $20 million to match the $20 million already promised by the Federal Government.

The public comment period for the RAF Business Plan was open between 27 November 2020 and 22 January 2021 and has now closed. The feedback will now be analysed and a report presented to Council at the February 2021 Council meeting.

Picture this near you… a premier aquatic, health, wellness and recreation hub located at Collier Park Golf Course in the heart of the City of South Perth and easily accessible from Town of Victoria Park and City of Canning. 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.

You asked, we listened

For over a decade, more than a dozen studies, plans, polls and surveys have shown that our community supports improved recreation facilities within the City of South Perth, particularly an aquatic facility, gym and more indoor courts.

As a result of community feedback, one of the key strategies in the City’s Strategic Community Plan 2020-2030 is to plan for and promote the development of recreation and aquatic facilities to service community needs. We are working to make this happen.

Council will determine whether to endorse the detailed business case at the October meeting. To make an informed decision, they will need to understand the level of stakeholder and community interest in and support for the project.

Complete the online survey for your chance to win one of five $100 Coles/Myer vouchers*.

We need your feedback – here’s how you can get involved:

Feedback closed at 4pm, Wednesday 23 September 2020.

* If you completed the RAF survey before 4pm on Wednesday 10 September and wish to enter the prize draw, please email enquiries@southperth.wa.gov.au. Your details will only be used for the purpose of the prize draw.

At the November Council Meeting, Elected Members gave approval for the proposed Recreation Aquatic Facility (RAF) project to progress to the next stage. They endorsed the RAF Business Plan for public comment and approved a financial commitment of $20 million to match the $20 million already promised by the Federal Government.

The public comment period for the RAF Business Plan was open between 27 November 2020 and 22 January 2021 and has now closed. The feedback will now be analysed and a report presented to Council at the February 2021 Council meeting.

Picture this near you… a premier aquatic, health, wellness and recreation hub located at Collier Park Golf Course in the heart of the City of South Perth and easily accessible from Town of Victoria Park and City of Canning. 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.

You asked, we listened

For over a decade, more than a dozen studies, plans, polls and surveys have shown that our community supports improved recreation facilities within the City of South Perth, particularly an aquatic facility, gym and more indoor courts.

As a result of community feedback, one of the key strategies in the City’s Strategic Community Plan 2020-2030 is to plan for and promote the development of recreation and aquatic facilities to service community needs. We are working to make this happen.

Council will determine whether to endorse the detailed business case at the October meeting. To make an informed decision, they will need to understand the level of stakeholder and community interest in and support for the project.

Complete the online survey for your chance to win one of five $100 Coles/Myer vouchers*.

We need your feedback – here’s how you can get involved:

Feedback closed at 4pm, Wednesday 23 September 2020.

* If you completed the RAF survey before 4pm on Wednesday 10 September and wish to enter the prize draw, please email enquiries@southperth.wa.gov.au. Your details will only be used for the purpose of the prize draw.

  • RAF Update - 27 November 2020

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    The Recreation and Aquatic Facility (RAF) Business Plan is now available for public comment.

    The Business Plan details the City's proposal to develop the RAF to provide a premier health, wellness, fitness, recreation and education hub centrally located in the City of South Perth at the existing Collier Park Golf Course in Como.

    All stakeholders including members of the public are invited to provide their feedback on the Business Plan by 5pm, Friday 22 January 2021.

    A report will be presented to Council at the meeting in February 2021, where it will be determined whether to proceed with implementing the Business Plan.

    At the November 2020 Council Meeting, Elected Members gave approval for the proposed RAF project to progress to the next stage.

    They endorsed the RAF Business Plan for public comment and approved a financial commitment of $20 million to match the $20 million already promised by the Federal Government.

    The City will now seek the additional funding required for the $80 million project through other project partners, to progress the project to the design phase of the proposed world class facility.

    The City will carry out further due diligence, engaging suitable independent and relevant industry and financial experts with respect to financial modelling, key operation assumptions, operating cashflows and usage projections, which will be reported back to Council.

  • RAF update - 13 November 2020

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    13 Nov 2020

    The feedback gathered during the stakeholder and community engagement for the RAF project has been analysed by independent consultant Research Solutions and outlined in their report ‘Going beyond: Results of the stakeholder and community engagement October 2020’ which will be presented to Council later this month.

    There was a great response to the engagement activities, and key findings overall from the stakeholder engagement report identified a high level of support for the concept of the RAF with 87.2% of respondents to the survey indicating that they would use the proposed RAF.

    As outlined in the report, the compelling reasons for developing the RAF were:

    • Its location in the City of South Perth, more convenient than many of the current venues used (70.3% of respondents used facilities outside of the City)
    • That it met the need for a swimming pool in the City of South Perth (79.4% of respondents had used an aquatic or indoor recreation facilities in the last 12 months)
    • That it provides the opportunity to create a unique facility which meets the needs of the community.

    Council will be considering these outcomes together with the RAF project business case at the online Agenda Briefing at 6pm, Tuesday 17 November 2020 and the online Ordinary Council Meeting at 6pm, Tuesday 24 November 2020.

    The report and attachments for the Agenda Briefing are available on the City’s website. Members of the public may address Council by making deputations at the Agenda Briefing. Details about making a deputation and a deputation request form can be accessed on the City's website.

  • RAF update - Monday 12 October 2020

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    Thank you to everyone who participated in the RAF stakeholder and community engagement. There was a great response with 1,641 survey responses and approximately 160 people attending workshops and the community information day.

    Next steps

    Due to this strong response, and to give Council further time to consider the business case, the RAF project will now be considered at the November Ordinary Council Meeting where Council will determine whether to proceed to the next stage of the project.

    The outcomes of the engagement will be published once the data analysis has been completed.

  • Community and stakeholder survey

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    26 Aug 2020

    Complete the online survey for the chance to win one of five $100 Coles/Myer vouchers.

    Complete the survey and help shape the RAF.

  • Register for the online community workshop

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    26 Aug 2020

    The City is hosting an online community workshop on Wednesday 16 September from 6:30-8pm, on Zoom. This workshop will explore the ways we can increase participation in sports, exercise and recreation and make the RAF an accessible and welcoming place for everyone.

    If you’d like to attend this online workshop, please register here.* You will be sent a registration email with further details of how to login in and participate in the workshop, including how to log in.

    *Due to limited numbers, registration closes at 3pm, Wednesday 16 September 2020.

  • City welcomes Coalition commitment for Recreation and Aquatic Facility

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    18 Apr 2019

    Media release - Wednesday 17 April 2019

    The City of South Perth has today welcomed an election commitment of $20 million from the Coalition Government for a Recreation and Aquatic Facility (RAF) to be located within the City.

    Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Member for Swan Steve Irons MP made the announcement on Wednesday 17 April 2019 at Collier Park Golf Course in Como, the preferred site for the RAF.

    The substantial commitment from the Coalition enables the City to progress this exciting community project to deliver a facility that will include an aquatics centre, indoor sporting courts, leisure services and community facilities.

    While the detailed business plan is being prepared, the City will continue to partner with government and private sector partners including Curtin University and peak sporting bodies to secure further funding and develop the project.

    “The City of South Perth warmly welcomes today’s announcement from the Coalition Government. I extend my sincere thanks to the Treasurer Josh Frydenberg as well as local Member for Swan Steve Irons MP who has been instrumental in assisting the City over many years to secure this major commitment,” City of South Perth Mayor, Sue Doherty said.

    “This significant funding gives the City the confidence to move forward with the Recreation and Aquatic Facility project to create a true community facility that will service our local community members as well as those from neighbouring local governments and the Curtin University staff and student population.

    “There is strong community support for an aquatics centre in the City of South Perth and the prospect of a swimming pool within the City has been under consideration for some years. One of the key strategies within the City’s Strategic Community Plan 2017-2027 is to: plan for, and promote the development of recreation and aquatic facilities to service community needs.

    “Currently twelve out of 15 local schools travel at least 6km outside the City to participate in swimming lessons, school carnivals and general learn to swim programs. Additionally an aquatic facility would address swimming class waiting lists for babies through to adults, and offer hydrotherapy pools which are particularly needed by senior members of the community and those undergoing rehabilitation.”

    Mr Irons said the RAF was a key priority for the Coalition because of the significant benefits for the local community.

    “The South Perth community is growing and requires the best facilities to meet the local’s needs,” he said.

    “The Morrison Liberal Government understands this and will deliver a new regional-scale facility in the Curtin University Precinct that can be used by the whole community.

    “Over the past year I have worked closely with the City of South Perth and stakeholders to develop the concept and plans further. A re-elected Morrison Government will deliver the funding which will enable the City of South Perth to start building this facility for the community.”

    The RAF will combine a number of sporting and recreation facilities into a single integrated venue to provide economies of scale in services provision, capital cost and ongoing operational costs.

    The City is currently developing a detailed feasibility/business plan and the business plan is expected to be submitted to Council by July 2019.

  • Recreation and Aquatic Facility

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    20 Dec 2018


    The prospect of an aquatic facility within the City of South Perth has been under consideration for some years, with a number of studies, reports and submissions prepared and received. One of the key strategies in the City’s Strategic Community Plan 2017-2027 is to: plan for and promote the development of recreation and aquatic facilities to service community needs. In light of this previous work and a desire to develop a functional and financially viable facility, the City has initiated the Recreational and Aquatic Facility (RAF) feasibility study.

    The City has identified a gap in the recreational facilities available to the community in relation to the population, the size of which warrants a regional multipurpose sports and leisure facility based on Peak industry sporting body, Parks and Leisure Australia (PLA) guidelines.

    An assessment undertaken in 2015 indicated that a conventional swimming pool, while publicly supported, would require substantial ongoing financial subsidy to meet operational costs.

    The opportunity to integrate a number of sporting and recreation facilities into a single integrated venue will provide economies of scale in services provision, capital cost and ongoing operational costs.

    For the project to progress, funding partners need to be identified. Federal financial support will also be sought in the lead up to the upcoming elections and additional partnership opportunities will be investigated. A range of key stakeholders will be engaged to determine the level of support and to ensure that the RAF will be a financially sustainable consideration both now and into the future.

    Part of the study will involve engagement with external organisations within and adjacent to the City, including Curtin University, to explore partnership opportunities.

    At the 2018 October Council meeting, the Council resolved to support further project research, start formal stakeholder engagement and commit to consultation with the community. It is anticipated that this will take place in early 2019.

    Further details about the project can be found on the City's website.