Project Description

The City of Wanneroo identified a need to explore the development of the broader Wanneroo Recreation Centre Precinct which comprises of a series of sporting, recreational and play activities/facilities. The desired outcome was the development of a Master Plan which incorporated potential opportunities to expand the centre and other considerations including:

  • An Environmental Centre to embrace current technology and showcase local wildlife and to be able to facilitate tours of the precinct.
  • Noongar Culture education opportunities.
  • Café/Restaurant.
  • Rotary Park Playspace.
  • Cycling Education.
  • Wanneroo Boxing Facility, including an assessment of the long-term future of the club.
  • Improved public transport to the site.

The project scope included:

  • Technical research to determine the needs and nexus through establishing the social benefits to the community.
  • Identification of potential constraints within the site and how these may be overcome/ addressed.
  • Assessment of the current condition and capacity of existing infrastructure.
  • Provision of relevant benchmarking against which future needs may be established.
  • Stakeholder consultation
  • Identification of gaps and/or issues within the precinct.
  • Preparation of concept designs that explored keeping the existing centre and developing a new one.
  • Preparation of a detailed Business Plan for the key elements contained within the Master Plan, to include 10-year financial projections.

The Master Plan identified the following:

  • Options to utilise a redeveloped Wanneroo Recreation Centre as a base for training and education to showcase local wildlife. This included boardwalks and a bird hide/viewing deck of Lake Joondalup.
  • Enhancing the cycling and dual use path network to reflect the environmental and heritage value of the wetlands.
  • Noongar heritage reflection, storytelling and education areas.
  • Re-alignment of the scouts and boxing club within an expanded Wanneroo Recreation Centre.
  • Consolidation of public toilets and changing infrastructure to reflect the needs of sporting groups and users of the Rotary Park Playspace and extension of the playspace area.
  • Enhanced drainage swales and native planting to enhance the local environment and reduce water leaching into the lake and potential contamination.
  • Re-alignment of sporting ovals and reduction in playing pitch space to the south to accommodate Aboriginal cultural requirements.
  • Due to the heritage and cultural significance to the Aboriginal Community the option to develop a café/restaurant was modified to an understated kiosk option. This was based on the expressed desire to keep the precinct as an area for quiet reflection to respect its songline importance to the Aboriginal community.

Otium has now been appointed to undertake the Wanneroo Recreation Centre Site Options and Master Plan.

Client

City of Wanneroo

Consultant

Dave Lanfear