COCKBURN council has adopted its plan for the recreation needs of its western suburbs.
There’s been a bit of a win for Hamilton Hill residents campaigning against having Dixon Park upgraded to a regional sporting complex as part of Cockburn’s Western Suburbs Sporting Precinct Study.
A total of 208 respondents to the plan were against building a new Wally Hagan Recreation Centre at Dixon Park and 65 supported it.
Upgrade
However the majority of respondents supported options to upgrade the existing stadium (203-69) or incorporate Main Roads land (231-62) into the park.
Council will now prioritise the Main Roads option, and if that is not feasible they will make upgrading the stadium their preferred option instead.
In response to community feedback from the survey, council have modified the Dixon Park concept plan to include more trees, the park to remain off-lead for dogs, relocation of a proposed skate park and pump track away from Land Corp land, more and better-connected paths, and the addition of a rainwater garden.
Based on the city’s research of basketball participation and population growth rates, they have recommend six courts at the redeveloped stadium.
The estimated cost to redevelop Dixon Park/Wally Hagan Stadium would be between $25.5 million and $36.5 million.
A submission from the Cockburn Community Wildlife Corridor noted the survey was difficult to access and navigate.
They said they were generally supportive of upgrading the stadium with certain provisions, but wanted the proposal temporarily removed from the plan to allow for more in-depth planning and consultation.
They also raised concerns that 37 trees would be removed from the Davilak Oval, some 400 years old.
Of three sites in North Coogee shortlisted for purchase to provide green space, only 32 Cockburn Road proved feasible, but the city estimated it would cost $20.35 million to create one AFL oval-size reserve and have now ruled it out.
Instead the city will hold further discussions about leasing land from Land Corp, who say the idea is feasible, to expedite the Cockburn Coast Oval.
Council says by incorporating Main Roads land into Dixon Park they could create an additional 4.92ha of active open space (two AFL ovals) across Beale, Dixon and Lucius Parks and Davilak Reserve.
A submission from the South Beach Community Group, which has been campaigning for more than a year for sport and recreation facilities in North Coogee and Coogee, said the plan did not address the population growth in NC and was too focused on existing sporting facilities in the Western Suburbs.
Cost blow-out
Based on the 456 responses from the survey, the estimated cost of the updated plan has blown out from $171 million to more than $200 million.
The cost breakdown includes:
• Beale Park – $9.65m;
• Dixon Park/Wally Hagan Stadium $25.51m – $36.51m;
• Dalmatanic Park $3.15m;
• Davilak Reserve $7.39m;
• Cockburn Coast Oval $4.24m (plus purchase of land
$9.89m);
• Santich Park $2.30m; and,
• Watsons/Edwardes Reserve $3.84m
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