Shire of Manjimup · Sport and Recreation Facilities Master Plan Shire of Manjimup Collier Street / Rea Park Precinct Final Report July 2010 A Balanced View (ABV) Leisure Consultancy

Sport and Recreation Facilities Master Plan

Shire of Manjimup

Collier Street / Rea Park PrecinctSport and Recreation Facilities Master Plan

Final ReportJuly 2010

A Balanced View (ABV)Leisure Consultancy Services

Shire of Manjimup

Collier Street / Rea Park Precinct Sport and Recreation Facilities Master Plan

Final Report July 2010

A Balanced View (ABV) Consultancy Services

Collier St / Rea Park Precinct Sport & Recreation Facilities Master Plan 2009 1

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Shire of Manjimup engaged A Balanced View Leisure (ABV) Leisure Consultancy Services to prepare a Master Plan for the Collier St / Rea Park Precinct effecting a key recommendation of the Sport and Recreation Strategic Plan 2002. This Master Plan considers the current and future needs of the Shire and key stakeholders within a prioritised development plan for the Collier St / Rea Park Precinct. This report will assist the Shire of Manjimup in providing a well planned, sustainable sporting and recreation facility that will maximise benefit to the community over the long term. The Shire of Manjimup has a strong sporting culture that is evident through the high participation rates found across the major sports played within the Shire. The population is ageing and relatively steady, however there is potential for growth of up to 120% in the long term. The Shire of Manjimup provides a wide range of sporting facilities across the four main town sites. The Collier St / Rea Park Precinct in Manjimup is the major active reserve venue for the Shire with almost 6 hectares of playing fields that are utilised for football, hockey, soccer, and cricket. In addition to these sports, the Precinct is home to a number of community groups including the Manjimup Rin Bu Kan Martial Arts Club, Warren District Agricultural, Horticultural and Industrial Society, Girl Guides Manjimup, 1st Scout Group Manjimup, and the Lions Club of Manjimup. A key issue underpinning major potential developments for this Master Plan is determining the likely future of the facilities at the Arnott / Rutherford St Reserve which is home to the Imperials Football Club and the Basketball Stadium. The Shire of Manjimup Sport and Recreation Plan 2002 indicates potential financial and management benefits from the relocation of the Stadium and the rationalisation of Imperials Oval and housing the Stadium and Imperials Football Club at CSRP. This Study has found that the scenario of relocating the Imperials Oval and Basketball Stadium does not offer any significant potential for revenue raising to go towards other sport and recreation development, and the very exercise of relocating these facilities would require large capital expenditure whilst potentially increasing the maintenance burden on the Shire. Furthermore, this scenario is lacking in community support and could potentially damage the high level of social capital that is built up through the Towns sporting clubs. Whilst current circumstances indicate that relocation of major sporting infrastructure is not a practical option at the present time, circumstances can change and the future needs of certain sport and recreation organisations may be very different from their needs of today. It is therefore very important that the Shire’s sport and recreation facility planning is reviewed and updated regularly, particularly at times when a major sporting facility is due for replacement or major refurbishment. Overall, the basic facility requirements of the sport and recreation clubs are being met to a large degree. The Tigers Football Club has all the facilities a senior club requires for training, competition and social activities due in large part to significant contributions voluntary labour, materials and fundraising. Soccer, Hockey and Cricket do not have the same level of facility provision but still have access to toilets and change rooms, sufficient sporting fields and basic social facilities. The other organisations based at CSRP are generally satisfied with their facilities and have plans for maintaining or upgrading in the future.

Collier St / Rea Park Precinct Sport & Recreation Facilities Master Plan 2

The built facilities at CSRP are ageing with some no longer fit for use. Some buildings require refurbishment whilst others are in need of removal including some of the old Agricultural Society sheds. It is also identified that the Warren Art and Craft Group cottages and the Girl Guides Hall be demolished and the clubs relocated to suitable alternative facilities. The major new building development proposed in this Master Plan is for the development of a large multi-purpose shed adjacent to the Tiger’s Clubrooms. A shed with dimensions of approximately 40m x 30m would meet the show area needs of the Agricultural Society and have an array of uses for the community, particularly as an undercover training area for sporting clubs and as spectator shelter. This Study has also identified an opportunity for additional active reserve space to be developed in close proximity to the Tiger’s Clubrooms should the need arise in the future. The Concept Plan can be viewed as Appendix 1 to this report. The Construction Cost Estimates for the facility developments proposed within this Master Plan are as follows: Demolition / Refurbishment / Driveway Remove BMX track incl site grade $ 120,000

Demolish Arts and Craft Cottages (No. 2) 10,000

Demolish Girl Guides Hall (No. 1) 5,000

Refurbish Collier St toilet block 50,000

Refurbish Collier St Pavilion 100,000

Gravel driveway 12,000

Demolish existing cricket practice net (No. 2) 500

Concrete paving footpath 115,000

Refurbish changeroom/toilet block 75,000

Demolish Agricultural Society Sheds (No. 4) 25,000

Demolish Equestrian Sheds (No. 5) 7,000

Relocate Agricultural Society/Lions storage shed and steel

fenced yards (No. 1) 110,000

Restore sheltered livestock pens 50,000

Refurbish Lions Clubrooms 100,000

Site clearance (Equestrian grounds) 20,000

Clean out drainage to main oval 25,000

Sub-total $ 824,500 New Works Spectator shelter (Collier St) $ 17,000

Small playground incl sand base and equipment 40,000

Cricket practice nets incl. hard wickets (No. 4) 25,000

Multi-purpose shed (could be staged) 1,020,000

Entrance statement/signage 20,000

WAWA charges 20,000

Sub-total $ 1,142,000


Budget Items Professional fees (electrical consultant fees only) $ 20,000

Contingency provision (allow 15% of total construction cost) 325,000

TOTAL INDICATIVE COST (Excl GST) $ 2,311,500 Exclusions Upgrade power supply to CSRP Work to existing storm-water, gas, water, fire protection and sewer services Landscaping provision Western Power head works and charges (assume part of upgrade of power supply) Professional fees (excl electrical consultant fees). Relocation of Warren Art and Craft Group and Girl Guides. Recommendations It is recommended that the Shire of Manjimup: Receive the Collier St / Rea Park Precinct Sport and Recreation Facilities Master Plan. Consider the infrastructure developments listed within this report to meet the needs of the community and key stakeholders of the Collier St / Rea Park Precinct. Review the Master Plan on an annual basis to bring into account demographic, financial, social and environmental changes impacting on the community. Update the Shire of Manjimup Sport and Recreation Plan in five year intervals and at any time major sporting infrastructure is approaching its time for replacement. Investigate the potential for the Ringbark Tennis Club to relocate to the Arnott / Rutherford St Reserve. Identify a suitable location for a multi-purpose skate/BMX park; and

Engage a Skate/BMX park design and construction company to consult with the youth and design and construct an appropriate multi-purpose skate / BMX facility. Engage an appropriate electrical consultant to assess the potential future power requirements of the Collier St / Rea Park Precinct and to upgrade the power supply to the Precinct accordingly. Include the Collier St / Rea Park Precinct in its pathway network planning in order to encourage a greater level of walking and cycling in the community. Consider the design, location and timing of development of a trail at the Collier St / Rea Park Precinct within a Trails Master Plan for the Shire. Prepare asset maintenance plans for each of the facilities at the Collier St / Rea Park Precinct in conjunction with the lessees. Develop a Leases and Licences Policy to enable fair and equitable access to Council property by leases and licenses to community groups.


CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 5

2 BACKGROUND ........................................................................................................................... 5

3 DOCUMENTATION REVIEW .................................................................................................. 6

4 DEMOGRAPHIC REVIEW ...................................................................................................... 10

5 POPULATION PROJECTION ................................................................................................. 11

6 TRENDS ...................................................................................................................................... 12

7 FACILITY REVIEW ................................................................................................................. 24

8 CONSULTATION ...................................................................................................................... 37

8.1 PUBLIC SUBMISSIONS ............................................................................................................ 37 8.2 SHIRE CONSULTATION ........................................................................................................... 37 8.3 CLUB CONSULTATION............................................................................................................ 39 8.4 STATE SPORTING ASSOCIATIONS ........................................................................................... 47 8.5 SCHOOLS ............................................................................................................................... 50 8.6 EXTERNAL AGENCIES ............................................................................................................ 50

9 CONSIDERATIONS .................................................................................................................. 53

10 NEEDS ANALYSIS .................................................................................................................... 59

11 CONCEPT PLAN ....................................................................................................................... 66

12 COST ESTIMATES ................................................................................................................... 69

13 MANAGEMENT ........................................................................................................................ 71

14 POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN PRIORITIES ............. .............................................. 74

15 FUNDING AND GRANTS ......................................................................................................... 75

16 RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................................................ 77

17 APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................. 78


1 INTRODUCTION

The Shire of Manjimup engaged A Balanced View Leisure (ABV) Consultancy Services to prepare a Master Plan for the Collier St / Rea Park Precinct. There are three stages to the Master Plan:

a. Needs Assessment

b. Sport and Recreation Facilities Master Plan

c. Concept Plan and Cost Estimates The Master Plan considers the current and future needs of the Shire and key stakeholders within a prioritised development plan for the Collier St / Rea Park Precinct. This report will assist the Shire of Manjimup in providing a well planned, sustainable sporting and recreation facility that will maximise benefit to the community over the long term. 2 BACKGROUND

The Shire of Manjimup has a strong sporting culture that is evident through the high participation rates found across the major sports played within the Shire. The population is ageing and relatively steady, however there is potential for growth of up to 120% in the long term. In order to ensure suitable sporting infrastructure is maintained for the current and future needs of the community, the Shire of Manjimup is implementing a key recommendation of the Sport and Recreation Strategic Plan 2002 - the preparation of a Master Plan for the Collier St / Rea Park Precinct. The Shire of Manjimup provides a wide range of sporting facilities across the four main town sites. The Collier St / Rea Park Precinct in Manjimup is the major active reserve venue for the Shire with almost 6 hectares of playing fields that are utilised for football, hockey, soccer, and cricket. In addition to these sports, the Precinct is home to a number of community groups including the Manjimup Rin Bu Kan Martial Arts Club, Warren District Agricultural, Horticultural and Industrial Society, Girl Guides Manjimup, 1st Scout Group Manjimup, and the Lions Club of Manjimup. Overall the facilities at the Collier St / Rea Park Precinct are ageing with some no longer fit for use, therefore it is appropriate now for the Shire to explore the opportunities available to meet the current and future sport and recreation facility needs for the community. The Precinct covers a large area of just over 60 hectares and offers considerable opportunity for facility upgrades and improvements. In conjunction with key stakeholder sporting groups, the Shire has moved to plan for an integrated, efficient and sustainable active sporting reserve that fulfils the current and future needs of the community whilst minimising duplication of facilities and resources.


3 DOCUMENTATION REVIEW

Shire of Manjimup Sport and Recreation Strategic Plan. CCS Strategic Management and Murray Jorgensen and Associates. Shire of Manjimup, July 2002.

This report provides a 20 year plan for the future development of sport and recreation facilities within the Shire of Manjimup. It provided 19 major recommendations to be adopted as the policy framework to guide sport and recreation facility development and 35 minor recommendations specifically identifying actions or developments to address the sport and recreation needs of the community within the Shire of Manjimup over the next 20 years. A key recommendation of this report is the centralisation of sport and recreation facilities of the Manjimup Township to the Collier St / Rea Park Precinct due to the efficiencies gained in co-ordination and management. Shire of Manjimup Active Ageing Strategic Plan 2008 – 2028. McKay LG Services. Shire of Manjimup, November 2008.

The purpose of this report is to guide council decision making and State and Federal Government departments and agencies in delivering services to older people in the Shire of Manjimup. This report emphasises the importance of pathway access and age friendly facility design for all public infrastructure including sport and recreation facilities. Shire of Manjimup Youth Policy and Strategy, Shire of Manjimup, December 2002.

This document outlines the policy framework for the Shire to address youth issues and provides strategies in eight key policy areas of Recreation and Leisure, Culture and the Arts, Participation and Positive Promotion, Employment, Education and Training, Partnership and Co-ordination, Health and Transport. A key objective of the Recreation and Leisure policy area is to “Support the development and management of facilities and public space that are appealing and meet the diverse needs of young people.” Shire of Manjimup 2008 Community Satisfaction Study Report, Corporate and Regional Enterprise Consulting, March 2008.

This report documents the results of a survey designed to gauge the level of community satisfaction with services and facilities provided by Council. Of the 28 categories, sport and recreation facilities received a very high level of satisfaction rating second highest out of all categories second only to library and information services. Shire of Manjimup Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP) 2007 – 2012, Shire of Manjimup, July 2007.

This Plan has been developed to assist the Council in creating outcomes that promote universal access to facilities, services and events in each of the communities throughout the Shire. A key objective of the DAIP is “To ensure that all Shire owned, leased or supported facilities are accessible to people with diverse needs.” This encompasses all of the facilities within the Collier St / Rea Park Reserve.


Designing Out Crime: Crime prevention through environmental design. Susan Geason, Paul R. Wilson. Australian Institute of Criminology, 1989.

Crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) is based on the theory that crime can be prevented in built up areas through the design of the buildings and surrounds and the way in which they interact with each other. The document is targeted towards residential developments however the principles are transferable for public building purposes. There are seven principles to CPTED, each with numerous strategies. The seven principles are:

� Defensible Space: a residential community must look as if it is defending itself and residents must have maximum control over their neighbourhood.

� Territoriality: outdoor spaces should be redesigned to foster a greater sense of ownership.

� Natural Surveillance: surveillance can occur naturally through the everyday routines of residents. Good vision from surrounding streets and houses should be maintained as much as possible.

� Formal Organised Surveillance: equipment such as cameras and monitors can provide surveillance as well as neighbourhood watch and security patrols.

� Target Hardening: Improving building security standards. Doors and windows should be made more secure, external lighting and alarms can add to security also.

� Access Control: Access can be controlled through real and psychological barriers. Real barriers include fencing and walls, psychological barriers can include change in lighting or change of colour in the flooring. Traffic also can be controlled however too little traffic can attract crime.

� Activity Program Support: includes the onsite creation of day care centres and organised playgrounds. Programs on how to discourage crime should be run for residents and additional services such as youth centres are helpful.

Expanding Your Sport and Recreation Markets: Universal Access to Your Facilities and Programs. Jill Powell. Department of Sport & Recreation; West Australian Local Government Association; Disability Services Commission, 2001.

This document is a guide is for Local Government Authorities, planners and developers aimed at highlighting building design principles and aspects of service delivery/program development that promote access by all members of the community. The guide is structured around three areas:

Section 1 - Background materials and legislative requirements

Section 2 - Planning a facility and specific design details with checklists

Section 3 - Program development and staff development

Section 2 – Planning a facility and specific design details with checklists, has particular relevance to this Master Plan. It is largely based on the advisory notes released by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission to assist developers to meet their obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act, and the Access Resource Kit that State Government Agencies and LGA’s must address in their disability access and inclusion plans.


Fair Play – Strategic framework for inclusive sport and recreation – Department of Sport & Recreation and Disability Services Commission 2006

This strategic framework document outlines the vision and values with desired outcomes of DSR and DSC with regards to inclusive experience for sport and recreation that should be considered within design of any new active sporting reserves.

The vision states “Our communities provide an inclusive environment where all Western Australians participate equitably, in a spirit of mutual respect, experiencing the benefit of sport and recreation.” Strategic Directions for Western Australian Sport and Recreation 2006 – 2010. (SD4 - Department of Sport and Recreation W.A)

This document builds on the strategic direction of its preceding versions. It provides findings which detail the current situation within the sport and recreation industry within W.A. It also details the future challenges of determining which directions the government should take in order to build a more vibrant and stronger industry.

Of particular interest to this study is the Findings and Challenges category of “Infrastructure” section. Challenge 5 states “Sport and recreation infrastructure planning and provision must fully embrace principles and best practice of; sustainability, evidence based decision making, collaborative provision modelling and asset management and lifecycle costing”. These issues are imperative for any proposed developments or redevelopments of sport and recreation infrastructure within the Shire of Manjimup. As a government reference document it is critical that the emphasis of this paper is considered in relation to all future planning and particularly any developments that will be sourcing contributions from the State. Review of Sport and Recreation in Western Australia, Peter Watson, Government of Western Australia, July 2008.

This strategic level document identifies opportunities to improve regional sport outcomes in participation and achievement consistent with the mission statement of the Department of Sport and Recreation. Further, this document identifies opportunities to strengthen regional and remote communities consistent with the State Government’s State Regional Policy intent to ensure quality of life is enhanced through building social capital. Consultation with key stakeholders was conducted across regional and remote WA and findings and recommendations were devised from common themes that emerged from the feedback. Relevant findings and recommendations to this report include:

� Finding 6. All tiers of government need to be more cognisant of the financial impacts flowing from their policy development onto volunteer based sectors. The work of volunteers warrants stronger financial resourcing and support. It is important to recognise that volunteers contribute substantially to building stronger regional communities.

� Finding 10. Community-based multi-sport club models have the potential to better utilise the diminishing volunteer base.

� Recommendation 9. That there is a recurring need for sport and recreation organisations, local governments and DSR to partner in providing ongoing training, education and support towards the recruitment and retention of club volunteers.


� Recommendation 14. Greater encouragement and direction is required to ensure the existing Department of Education and Training’s policy framework on shared or dual use of school-based sport and recreation facilities is practised State-wide.

� Finding 22. The operating and maintenance costs for sport and recreation facilities have risen significantly in recent years, especially in many small to medium sized towns where population catchments are finite.

� Finding 25. There are major challenges confronting regional local governments to provide and maintain the required amounts of active playing reserves and to cope with climate change impacts.

� Finding 28. The wider social and health benefits that flow from involvement, as either a participant in, or organiser of sport and recreation are well understood by regional Western Australians.

Aging Infrastructure Demands – Sport and Recreation Minister’s Council 2007- Agenda Item 5.3.3.

The purpose of this report was to advise the Sport and Recreation Minister’s Council (SRMC) members about infrastructure issues faced Australia-wide.

A key finding was the inadequate maintenance of facilities estimated to have a backlog for WA Local Government facilities of $1.75billion. It refers to the Systemic Sustainability Study (WALGA 2006) which highlighted “the under-spending on the renewal of existing infrastructure by WA councils is partially explained by inadequacies in asset management practices. Only a small proportion of councils has asset management policies in operation, or plans to establish asset management practices”.

Key issues identified in this report that relate to the Shire of Manjimup include:

� A lack of information regarding the condition of each facility / asset and where it sits in its’ Life-Cycle in order to predict future maintenance, replacement and disposal requirements

� A past tendency to provide single-use facilities rather than multi-use

� The historically poor application of asset management and life-cycle costing to sport and recreation infrastructure

� Limited implementation of “Sinking” funds or “ Reserve” accounts to fund future needs prior to changes in Accounting standards

� Climate change impacts on facility design and operations Further, the report identifies the issue of dealing with aging infrastructure should be seen as an opportunity for all three levels of Government to:

� Educate communities and sports bodies across the country on the cost of providing and maintaining infrastructure

� Modify community expectations on the level of provision that can be serviced

� Develop facilities based on life-cycle cost principles rather than lowest initial cost and ensure appropriate asset management plans are implemented

� Rationalise infrastructure where appropriate

� Address climate change impacts in an integrated planning approach and taking into account significant climatic change requiring adaptation to new types of facilities and playing surfaces


4 DEMOGRAPHIC REVIEW

When comparing the Shire of Manjimup as a Local Government Authority area as compared to Western Australia in general, the following key comparisons can be made; Category Manjimup Shire WA Population 9,225 1,959,086 Median Age 38 36 Median household income per week $650 - $799 $1,000 - $1,199 Mean household size 2.8 2.8 Born overseas 14.6% 27% Source: 2006 Census of Population and Housing (ABS – 2006) These statistics identify that the Shire of Manjimup has a greater proportion of older residents and a lower median household income than the WA average. This indicates that the Shire of Manjimup has a high proportion of retirees. The lower than average percentage of persons born overseas also suggest a greater emphasis on traditional sport and recreation pursuits within the community. These key statistics will need to be considered in future sport and recreation facility planning to ensure appropriate provision of facilities for the community. The key demographic statistics are explored in further detail below. Age Distribution Age 0-19 20-39 40-59 60+ Manjimup Shire

30% 21% 30% 19%

WA 27% 28% 28% 17%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census 2006 Compared to the Perth Statistical Division, the Shire of Manjimup has the following characteristics:

� Greater proportion of persons aged 0-19 years (11% greater)

� Significantly lower proportion of persons aged 20-39 years (25% less)

� Greater proportion of persons aged 40 – 59 years (7% greater)

� Greater proportion of persons aged 60+ years (12% greater) Organised sport participation is known to decrease with age, with children having the highest participation. These statistics indicate that there may be a higher than average demand for organised sports amongst children and lower than average demand amongst 20-39 year olds. It is interesting to note, however, that the Shire of Manjimup has 4 senior football clubs for a population of under 10,000 which is approximately seven times the rate of the Perth Metropolitan area despite the lower than average number of 20-39 year olds. The above statistics also show that there is a greater proportion of persons aged 40+ years, therefore, low impact recreational facilities such as lawn bowls and walking paths are likely to be in higher demand.


5 POPULATION PROJECTION

The Western Australia Tomorrow 2005 population forecasting report by the West Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) predicts the Shire of Manjimup’s total population to remain relatively steady to 2021, however, it predicts a significant ageing of the population. This prediction reflects historical changes to the population. As is expected to be the case, the Shire has more detailed knowledge of the potential for population growth within its own locality. The WAPC population predictions are now several years old and were calculated prior to the 2006 Census. For the purposes of this report, the future population predictions of the Shire will be utilised whilst taking note of the ageing population trend indicated in the Western Australia Tomorrow 2005 report. The Shire of Manjimup has calculated its own predictions of population growth based on land supply identified in the Shire of Manjimup Local Planning Strategy (LPS) and in the Draft Shire of Manjimup Town Planning Scheme No. 4 (TPS4). The following table represents the Shire’s preliminary estimate of lot yield for settlements and adjoining rural living areas, based on the LPS and Draft TPS4.

Settlement Preliminary Lot Yield

Potential Additional Population from New

Development (assumes 2.4 per household)

Manjimup 2,100 5,040 Pemberton 1,340 3,216 Northcliffe 766 1,838 Walpole 318 763

Quinninup 80 192 Beedelup

(Karri Valley) 60 144

TOTAL 4,664 11,193 Source: Minutes Council Meeting 28 August 2008, Shire of Manjimup

An additional population of approximately 11,193 represents an increase of 120%, more than doubling of the current population. Included in this is the doubling of the Manjimup Town population. Given these future population predictions, there is significant potential for increased demand on sport and recreation facilities within Manjimup Town. The Shire acknowledges the inherent difficulty in predicting the timing of the population increase as it is dependant on numerous variables. The Shire anticipates, however, that this population prediction would be reached within the next 50 years (Minutes Council Meeting 28 August 2008, Shire of Manjimup).


6 TRENDS

6.1 Participation

Research over the past five to ten years indicates that Australians are gradually lifting their physical activity levels which correlates with the strong emphasis government and health organisations have placed on increasing physical activity levels as a means for reducing the obesity and its related illnesses. The Exercise, Recreation and Sport Survey (ERASS) has been conducted by the Standing Committee on Recreation and Sport, Australian Government annually since 2001, with the 2007 report being the latest release. ERASS collects information on the frequency, duration, nature and type of physical activities that are participated in by persons aged 15 and over with 16,400 surveys across Australia being collected in 2007. Key findings of the various forms of physical activity are provided below. Any Physical Activity

� An estimated 79.4% of the population participated in physical activity in the 12 months prior to the survey.

� The median frequency for participation in physical activity was 2 times per week, with women having slightly higher participation frequency than men.

� The regular participation rates (three times per week or more) in any physical activity rose by over 6% from 2001 to 2007 to a total of 43.5%, largely due to significant increase in non organised physical activity, whilst regular organised physical activity rose only marginally.

Implications for this data is that regular physical activity in general is actually increasing, particularly non organised physical activity, thus future facility planning will need to ensure appropriate levels of public open space and recreation facilities are provided for the community as the population grows. Non Organised Physical Activity

� The regular participation rate for non organised physical activity rose by almost 6% from 2001 to 2007 to a total of 33.6%.

� Women had higher participation in regular non organised physical activity (37.0%) than men (30.1%)

� Regular participation in non organised physical activity gradually increased with age peaking at 45 – 54 yrs among women and 55 – 64 among men.

� The top 10 non organised physical activities in 2007 (total participation rate) were walking, aerobics/fitness, swimming, cycling, running, bushwalking, tennis, golf, soccer, and surf sports.

Implications for this data is that planning for pathways is particularly important in order to cater for four of the top ten most popular non organised physical activities being walking, cycling, running and bushwalking. The message for increase physical activity appears to be reaching the community and it is important to ensure that recreation facilities are open to the public for casual / informal use.


Organised Physical Activity

� The regular participation rate for organised physical activity was 11.2% in 2007. This rate has risen only slightly from 2001.

� On average men and women are equally likely to regularly participate in organised physical activity.

� Regular participation in organised physical activity is highest amongst the 15-24 year olds with participation tending to decline with age.

The implications for this data is that regular organised physical activity participation is remaining steady therefore an adequate level of facility provision needs to be maintained and developed as the population grows. Club Based Physical Activity

� The regular participation rate for club based physical activity was 7.0% in 2007.

� Between 2001 and 2007 male participation increased slightly from 6.6% to 7.3% whilst women showed a greater increase of 4.8% to 6.8% over the same period.

� 15 – 24 year olds had the highest regular participation in club based activities with participation tending to decline with age.

� The top ten sports for club based physical activity in terms of total participation (at least once in the 12 months prior to the survey) were aerobics/fitness, golf, soccer, tennis, netball, basketball, outdoor cricket, lawn bowls, football and touch football.

� Of these only aerobics/fitness, soccer and basketball experienced increases in participation between 2001 and 2007.

� Football and cricket have experienced slight decline in total participation between 2001 and 2007 however in 2006 each of these sports were significantly higher than 2001 levels. ABV note that these sports were particularly hard hit during the severe drought around this period with many ovals severely damaged and forced to close. This may have effected the 2007 survey and so the 2008 and 2009 surveys will be of particular interest to see if participation in these sports recover to their 2005/06 levels.

� Touch football (-25%), lawn bowls (-24%), tennis (-20%) and golf (-18%) were most likely to have experienced a decline between 2001 and 2007.

The implications for this data is that regular participation in club based activities remain steady, therefore it would appear that regular players for sporting clubs are not declining. It is notable however that certain sports including lawn bowls, tennis and golf have experienced significant decline since 2001 and therefore future population growth may not necessarily indicate a need for additional facilities for these particular sports. Manjimup Sports Participation

Manjimup sports participation is generally considered quite strong, particularly in football and also in basketball, netball and summer soccer. In order to develop a picture of the likely future facility requirements for sporting clubs based at, or with an interest in CSRP each club was asked of their current participation levels as well as their recent and future expected participation trends. A summary of the information is provided as follows: Football

The Tigers Football Club is based at Rea Park Oval, otherwise known as the Tigers Oval. There are 3 senior football teams (including one colts team) as per the standard for clubs within the Lower South West Football League. This level has remained constant for many years and is expected to remain so in future years.


Manjimup Shire has 4 football clubs each with three senior teams. This equates to approximately one club per 2,300 total population. This is a far higher ratio of clubs per population than the Perth Metropolitan rate of approximately 1 club per 16,300 and the South West ratio of one club per 7,500 (calculated WAFC statistics and ABS Census 2006). The ratio for the State as a whole is approximately 1 club per 10,250. Three of the Shire’s football clubs are based in the Manjimup Township. It is unknown whether substantial population growth in the Shire of Manjimup would directly equate to additional senior football players. A reasonable assumption to make is that the overall participation rate would not remain quite so high as it seems unlikely that a fifth Manjimup football club would join the competition. A change in the Lower South West League competition may be required to accommodate increased players as the population grows. Each of the football clubs in Manjimup also have 3 junior teams (11’s, 13’s and 15’s) plus Auskick competitions run for 6-8 year olds. A total of 12 junior teams averaged out at 25 players per team equates to 300 juniors plus there were an additional 221 Auskick children (2007). This equates to approximately 33% of all 6 – 15 year olds (male and female) playing football within the Shire of Manjimup. This is significantly higher than the State average of 23% of all 6-15 year olds. Junior football has greater flexibility to increase participation simply through the addition of year groups not currently played – i.e. 10’s, 12’s, 14’ 16’s and 17’s. As the population increases junior football participation would be expected to increase, however the level of increase would depend on the age demographics of persons moving into the Shire and the possible emergence of other winter sports that could compete with football. Should the full 120% population increase be realised as estimated by the Shire in the next 50 years additional playing fields may be required in the long term. At this time sport and recreation facility planning should be revisited to ensure the needs of the community are adequately met. Cricket

The Warren Blackwood Cricket Association currently has 5 senior teams in the competition, with players predominantly from the Shire of Manjimup. This equates to 1 team per 720 persons aged 18-49. This is a significantly greater participation rate than the State average. This number of teams appears to be stable, however should the population increase, growth in senior cricket participation could be expected. In WA during the 2008/09 season there was an average of 1 team per 1,200 persons aged 18-49 years (Calculated from West Australian Cricket Association Stats and ABS 2006 Census). Junior cricket participation currently stands at the equivalent of 4 junior teams (2 U13’s, 2 U15’s) as well as 40 Milo (mod rules) Under 9’s. The four junior teams represents a ratio of 1 team per 500 persons aged 5-17 which is significantly greater than the State average. In WA during the 2008/09 season there was an average of 1 team per 1,300 persons aged 5-17 years. Junior cricket participation would be expected to grow as the population grows with the amount of growth depending on various local factors.


Soccer

Currently Soccer is played in Manjimup in both the winter and the summer. In winter the Manjimup Rovers Soccer Club (MRSC) has 1 male, 1 female and 2 junior teams in the South West League (based around Bunbury). In summer the MRSC has 7 junior teams and 1 female team in the Lower South West Soccer League. Soccer participation in the Shire of Manjimup is estimated to be approximately 4.5% of the total population (averaging 15 players per team based within the Shire). This is significantly higher than the State average of 1.7% (calculated from Football West statistics and ABS Census 2006). Football West reports 28% growth in soccer participation over the past four years with the South West being slightly ahead of average, and expects participation to continue to grow strongly in the future by approximately 5-6% per year over the next 5-10 years. As the local population grows, increased participation in soccer could be expected however most of this would likely occur in the summer competition which is localised and does not compete with the dominant winter sport of football. The winter competition is based around Bunbury and therefore is likely to only attract dedicated soccer players. Hockey

The Warren Women’s Hockey Association has declined in recent years with the seniors numbers almost halving from 7 teams to 4. The Men’s Hockey Association no longer exists, therefore boys must go elsewhere to play to continue the sport in their senior years which limits longer term attraction to the game. Junior mixed hockey currently has 4 teams as well as 6 minkey teams. This equates to a senior ratio of approximately 1 team per 900 persons aged 18-49 years and 1 team per 500 persons aged 5-17 years (not including Minkey). This is still above the State average, however it must be noted that Hockey is particularly strong in some areas whilst being non-existent in others, and therefore too much should not be read into this comparison. In WA 2008 there was 1 team per 1,270 persons aged 18 – 49 years and 1 team per 570 persons aged 5-17 years (calculated from Hockey WA statistics and Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2006). Due to the significant decline in hockey participation in recent years, it is difficult to determine how future population growth might affect hockey participation. The popularity of a particular sport in a local area can be cyclical over time, so there is potential that hockey participation could recover in the future and this highlights the need for flexible active reserve spaces. Athletics

In 2008 the Manjimup Little Athletics Association (MLAA) formed with 108 junior participants. Prior to this the Shire has not had a Little Athletics Association. This is a typical example of how a sport can arise quite suddenly in a Shire due to the significant efforts of a few interested persons. With the continued efforts of MLAA members it is quite possible that Little Athletics will increase participation as awareness grows. The participation rate for little athletics in the Shire of Manjimup was 5.4% of 5-17 year olds. This is significantly higher than the State average of 2.1% (Calculated using WA Little Athletics statistics and ABS Census 2006).


Basketball The Manjimup Basketball Association (MBA) has strong participation with 800 participants during its peak season (Term 3). This represents 8.7% of the Shire’s population playing club basketball which is significantly above the State average of 2.0% (Calculated from Basketball WA statistics and ABS Census 2006). The Association reports growth in membership in recent years. It would be expected that basketball participation would continue to grow as the population grows with the actual growth rate dependant on numerous factors, however maintaining the 8.7% participation rate may be on the high side of predictions. Netball The Manjimup Netball Association has 170 seniors and 310 juniors. In combination with the Pemberton Netball Association there are approximately 210 seniors and 415 juniors playing netball within the Shire representing 6.8% of the Shire’s population. This is significantly greater than the State average of 1.8% (Calculated from Netball WA statistics and ABS Census 2006). The Association has experienced some growth in the juniors in recent years whilst seniors have remained stable. It would be expected that netball participation would continue to grow as the population grows with the actual growth rate dependant on numerous factors, however maintaining the 6.8% participation rate may be on the high side of predictions. Tennis Tennis is predominantly a social sport within Manjimup with several small clubs based outside the Manjimup townsite. The Ringbark Tennis Club has approximately 20 senior members (their children’s membership is included) and this has been stable for some time. In its current location several minutes drive out of town little growth in the Club’s participation would be expected. If the Club were to relocate into town, however, participation could be expected to grow as undoubtedly there would be some unmet demand from people who would like to play tennis but do not because there are no tennis clubs in Town at present. In WA 08/09, approximately 1.0% of the total population were tennis club members (calculated from Tennis West statistics and ABS Census 2006).


Manjimup / State Club Participation Summary

The participation statistics of club based sports played within the Shire of Manjimup is summarised in the table below with comparison to WA averages. Club Sport Participation Comparison: Shire of Manjimup / Western Australia Sport Shire of Manjimup

Participation Rate State Participation Rate

Difference between Shire / State

Football Senior 1 club (3 teams) per 2,300 total population

1 club (3 teams) per 10,250 total population

345% greater

Football Junior 33% of persons aged 6-15

23% of 6-15 year olds

40% greater

Cricket Senior 1 team per 720 persons aged 18-49

1 team per 1,200 persons aged 18-49

65% greater

Cricket Junior 1 team per 500 persons aged 5-17

1 team per 1,300 persons aged 5-17

160% greater

Soccer 4.5% of total population

1.7% of total population

165% greater

Hockey Senior 1 team per 900 persons aged 18-49 years

1 team per 1,270 persons aged 18-49 years

40% greater

Hockey Junior 1 team per 500 person aged 5-17 years

1 team per 570 persons aged 5-17 years

14% greater

Little Athletics 5.4% of population aged 5-17 years

2.1% of population aged 5-17 years

160% greater

Basketball 8.7% of total population

2.0% of total population

335% greater

Netball Senior 5.8% or persons aged 18-49 years

0.8% of persons aged 18-49 years

625% greater

Netball Junior 20.7% of persons aged 5-17 years

7.4% of persons aged 5-17 years

180% greater

Note: Statistics are based on membership numbers provided by relevant State Sporting Associations, Shire of Manjimup sporting groups, and ABS Census 2006. The above statistics show that club based sporting participation is generally much greater than the State average. Senior Football, Basketball and Senior Netball participation particularly stand out, having over 300% greater participation rate than the State average. These figures reinforce the integral nature of club based sports to regional communities. The high sporting participation rates in Manjimup are due in part to the way in which the local sporting groups have scheduled their seasons and game times around each other so as to enable participants the opportunity to play more than one sport. An example of this is basketball and netball being played midweek to avoid clashing with football during the winter and soccer and cricket during the summer. Further to this, athletics is conducted on Friday nights to avoid clashing with soccer and cricket on weekends. This level of co-operation amongst the sporting groups is to be commended, and it is important that facility planning recognises the scheduling of the sports that is key to their continued success.


6.2 Regional Sport and Recreation Trends

Over the last decade ABV has participated in a variety of projects in regional and remote parts of WA. During this time a range of factual and anecdotal evidence has emerged through consultation with various local governments, regional sport and recreation groups, regional DSR staff, community members and other stakeholders. A synthesis of this experience is provided here as a snapshot of the sport and recreation scene within the context of regional and remote WA. The trends and information provided here are generic in nature but in general appear to have strong relevance to the Shire of Manjimup. Societal

� Some regional communities are in their fourth or fifth successive year of drought. Sport and recreation is important during this time for social and emotional health. However, due to the financial and emotional strain, many individuals, families and local businesses are leaving these communities, which can contribute to declining memberships and reduced financial capacity of clubs.

� There is increasing recognition of importance of sport and recreation in regional communities to bring people together and improve community cohesion, social capital and resilience.

� Society is ageing and there is also increasing numbers of people identified as having a disability (estimated at one in five). Sport and recreation programs increasingly need to cater for such demographics.

� In regional communities, sport and recreation providers are typically volunteers. For various reasons (eg declining populations, fly in fly out (FIFO), changing work patterns, volunteer burnout, compliance obligations) the number of people available to offer their services is diminishing. Manjimup was impacted by restructure of the timber industry earlier this decade and some sports such as hockey suffered a significant drop in participation. Most sporting groups now have a more positive outlook for the future as the work environment has stabilised.

� Reduced volunteerism has been a factor much talked about over the past 10 – 20 years and in some communities this is a very real problem, however, certain sports such as football and soccer continue to grow, and ERASS data shows club based physical activity participation rates as holding steady. Local, State and Federal Governments recognise the immense $ value of volunteers contribution to the sport and recreation industry and have implemented programs to support volunteerism. In addition, the ageing population may have the effect of providing a greater pool of volunteers.

� There is growing trend towards employment of local government sport and recreation personnel. “Experiences in Western Australia and throughout the world have reaffirmed the importance of dedicated salaried positions to coordinate and support community development effortsi”.

� Smaller local governments typically have greatest need for external funding for sport and recreation programs / facilities. However, they often have limited available capacity to source, administer and acquit funding. Ongoing reliance on external funding is a significant frustration for local governmentsii.

� A reduction in sport and recreation opportunities for youth is believed to contribute to an increase in juvenile crime and antisocial behaviour in regional communities.

� Cultural issues are an important consideration for sport and recreation in regional and remote communities, especially those with high indigenous populations. Unless properly accounted for, feuding and other family conflicts can impact negatively on the effective conduct of sport and recreation programs.


� With changing work patterns, like FIFO and irregular working hours, there is often growing demand for casual sport and recreation opportunities free of obligations to assist with coaching, umpiring, administration etc.

� Transient communities may experience reduced ownership of community sport and recreation programs.

� There is growing recognition of the economic impact of sport and recreation in some regional communities leading to more communities offering major events to attract sports tourism income eg Leonora Gift.

Participation

� There is an increasing trend of participation in non-traditional recreation by youth eg active recreation, ‘electronic’ recreation etc.

� Growing awareness of the need to engage people who do not traditionally participate in sport and recreation eg people with disabilities, teenage girls, culturally diverse groups. Greater need to offer opportunities to capture imagination and interest.

� With populations impacted by FIFO, irregular work patterns and transience etc there is often difficulty coordinating team sports. Growing trend towards more casual options requiring small groups of people and minimal coordination eg squash, racquetball, walking, cycling etc.

� Physical Activity Taskforce research suggests that physical activity has increased with the introduction of daylight savingsiii . Anecdotally, however, as a result of extreme heat and irregular work patterns in some regional and remote areas, physical activity is believed to have declined since the introduction of daylight savings.

� Participation levels in the more remote parts of a region may be even lower than the regional average (perhaps due in part to limited available sport and recreation personnel, volunteer numbers and quality of facilities).

� Transportation is a significant impediment to participation in regional areas, emphasizing importance of footpaths and cycle paths leading to facilities.

� Growing recognition that participation in sport and physical activity can have positive impact on educational outcomes, school attendance, juvenile crime, antisocial behaviour, population health etc.

Facilities / infrastructure

� The cost to develop sport and recreation facilities has escalated rapidly in recent years however with the recent economic downturn this appears to have stabilised. Despite the stabilisation of construction cost escalations, buildings costs are still very high particularly in regional and remote locations and a standard ablution block can easily cost upwards of $150,000.

� The maintenance backlog with sport and recreation facilities continues to rise (currently $1.75 billion in WA). With building cost escalations and trade shortages the cost to keep existing facilities alive in regional areas continues to grow rapidly.

� Local governments are increasingly considering collocation of sports facilities as a more financially sustainable option eg amalgamation of aquatic and dry facilities, multipurpose playing surfaces, sharing of changerooms / social facilities etc.

� Water shortages in regional areas have significant impact on ability to maintain quality natural grass playing fields. By necessity this is causing local governments to increasingly consider alternate water sources, water conservation / harvesting and more efficient provision of grassed playing surfaces.

� Drought impact is also resulting in greater trend towards use of synthetic playing surfaces in regional and remote communities.

� By necessity, several regional local governments are introducing innovative strategies to address climate change / water shortages etc.


i Tania Wiley and Ann Larson (2008) A Review of the Effectiveness of Community Development Officers in the Murchison. Geraldton, WA: Combined Universities Centre for Rural Health. ii Tania Wiley and Ann Larson (2008) A Review of the Effectiveness of Community Development Officers in the Murchison. Geraldton, WA: Combined Universities Centre for Rural Health. iii Physical Activity Taskforce (May 2007). Impact of daylight savings on physical activity participation in Western Australia (2006/2007). 6.3 Regional Multi-Use Sports Precincts

Joint use and collocation of sporting facilities has become a major focus of state government funding priorities over the past decade as a means to improving sustainability and maximise the benefit of limited resources to the community. Many Local Government Authorities throughout Australia are now developing and implementing master plans for their major sporting infrastructure that support these principles. Analysis of numerous mid sized regional Local Government Authorities throughout Australia (5,000-10,000 population) reveals that there are very few examples of towns with a population similar to that of Manjimup that have a sports precincts that could be regarded as having very good examples of collocation and joint use facilities. Towns of this size tend to have a number of separate facilities with varying degrees of shared use to cater for the needs of the user groups. Historically, regional LGA’s have generally had access to large amounts of land for recreation purposes, thus sporting groups in these towns have been able to develop their own facilities over time in an ad hoc manner with little planning process in place to ensure best practice design principles were adhered to. This view has been formed through direct aerial photography analysis of over 20 towns of comparable size to Manjimup as well as being supported by representatives of Department of Sport and Recreation WA and Sport and Recreation Victoria. There are a number of smaller sized towns (1,000 – 2,000) that have some reasonable or good examples of the principles of joint use facilities (i.e. Pemberton, Kulin, Dalwallinu). These towns have established joint use facilities - often a recreation centre with clubroom facilities that provide for several sporting fields and in some cases the local swimming pool – out of necessity as the individual sporting clubs do not have the capacity to develop their own facilities. In larger towns however, it is typical to find a number of sporting organisations with their own clubroom facilities and in many instances their own single use sporting grounds as they have larger membership bases to call upon. Country football clubs are amongst the most common examples of clubs having their own facilities as they have strong support within the town and can call upon significant voluntary labour and materials, and have significant fundraising ability through the operation of their own bar and other fundraising capabilities. Bowls clubs, tennis clubs and others are also commonly found to have developed their own facilities.


Due to these historical processes of sporting clubs developing their own facilities, some opportunities for co-location and joint use have been missed. Potential for co-location and joint use of sporting infrastructure should be revisited in current and future planning in order to progress the sport and recreational opportunities for the community whilst providing management and operational benefits. Many metropolitan LGA’s and regional cities have begun master planning their regional sporting precincts in recent years as sustainability has become a major issue and it seems now that there is a growing trend for mid sized regional Shires to follow suit. The State and Federal Governments support joint use facility provision through their facility planning literature and through targeting their community facility grants programs towards joint use developments. The Department of Sport and Recreation, Western Australia advocates joint use facility provision in the Facility Planning Guide, Sport and Recreation Facilities, March 2007. This document provides the following rationale for joint use facilities:

� Less duplication and maximum use of community facilities and services

� Creation of a community hub—a focal point for community activity

� Shared capital costs, services, resources and expertise

� Improved relationships between organisations

� Reduced operating costs

� Increased community ownership of facilities

� Access to a broader range of services and expertise

� Reduced vandalism This document notes that all parties need to carefully consider their specific needs for access and usage and be assured that compatibility exists before planning progresses to the design phase. Comprehensive management agreements need to be developed to ensure all parties are aware of their responsibilities, however, if a sharing arrangement is to be successful there must be flexibility, trust, open communication and co-operation. The layout design of a multi-use sporting precinct is critical for successful shared usage by multiple user groups. The following key design elements have been developed from knowledge and experience accumulated from projects undertaken by A Balanced View (ABV) Leisure Consultancy Services and should be considered in multi-use sports precinct layout designs:

� Proximity of Pavilion to Playing Fields – Users of a shared pavilion(s) must have good viewing and access to their playing field from the pavilion. Access should not be obstructed by parking or driveways.

� Large Open Grassed Playing Areas - Grassed playing fields should be positioned together without dividing barriers such as trees or fencing where possible. This allows for maximum flexibility of use and is beneficial for holding school carnivals, festivals and other large events.

� Driveway Location – Access driveways should not dissect a sporting complex, particularly where children are likely to cross – i.e. between the pavilion and a sporting field. If a pavilion is situated a considerable distance from entry access points of a reserve, the driveway should be routed along the boundary.

� Compatibility of Users – Compatible users should be grouped together in shared facilities. For example, cricket and football clubs and basketball and netball clubs due to their opposing seasonal usage and similar playing surface requirements.


Whilst there are definite advantages in collocating a town’s sporting facilities into a main sporting precinct, due consideration should be given to the impact on the user groups, the community and the financial burden to the Shire of large scale relocation of sporting facilities. Each community is unique and the intricacies and requirements of the local population need to be fully examined before determining the most appropriate method of sustainable facility provision. 6.4 Co-location of Football Clubs

Manjimup is widely known as a football town. This is evident when speaking with any person or group within Manjimup. Manjimup has three senior clubs and three junior clubs for a town of less than 5,000 where most towns of Manjimup’s size are one club towns. As noted previously in 6.1 under the Manjimup Sports Participation section, the senior football participation rate for the Shire as a whole is 600% greater than the State average, with juniors also having a participation rate greater than the State average. A feature of most community football clubs are the strong social bonds that are formed between members of the club as well as family and friends. Football clubs build strong social capital particularly in regional towns and this is highly evident in Manjimup. A product of the social bonds that form around football clubs is the strong desire for a home base including an oval and clubrooms. Football clubs take great pride in their clubrooms and are often able to call on significant voluntary labour and materials from within the club and the community to construct their own buildings. In recent years the unsustainable nature of public infrastructure has become a major issue for all levels of government. Minimising duplication of facilities and shared use have become major targets of funding for community infrastructure. Sharing often occurs between football clubs and cricket clubs due to the opposing summer / winter seasons and between senior and junior football clubs where they have a close relationship. Much rarer, however, is the occurrence of two senior football clubs sharing an oval and clubrooms. In Western Australia there are only a handful of occurrences where two clubs share the one ground. In these instances, such as Kalgoorlie and Boulder, the clubs still have their own separate clubrooms. Clubs have a strong desire for their own social facilities to display their memorabilia and trophies and because often on away games the club will socialise with the home team for a while and then retreat to their own clubs to continue their social activities. No current examples of two senior clubs sharing the one building were able to be found in Western Australia. There have been several examples of clubs merging, however this has been out of necessity due to declining membership and financial and administration capabilities of these clubs. Manjimup Shire Clubs do not display any of these attributes at this point in time. In Victoria, one example of two senior clubs (with juniors) sharing an oval and clubrooms was able to be found in the City of Greater Geelong. The Geelong West Sporting Club (GWSC) has relocated to Western Oval to co-exist with the Geelong West St Peters Football Club (GWSPFC) and share the same clubrooms. The desire by both clubs for high level facilities and the incentive provided by the City of Greater Geelong for the provision of one shared high level facility has resulted in the two clubs agreeing to co-locate at Western Oval.


The football clubs benefit from having access to high level football facilities whilst the City of Greater Geelong benefits from minimising duplication of facilities. It should be noted, however, that the co-location of these clubs which occurred in 2008 took several years of difficult negotiations. Whilst the clubs found agreeing to the broad principles relatively easy, the finer detail of the sharing arrangement has been contentious. The sharing arrangement as set out in a memorandum of understanding has required significant time and effort from the City, however, all parties concerned will enjoy the benefits. The City expects the two football clubs will have adjusted to their sharing arrangement and have a good working relationship in the years to come. In future years as football clubs increasingly want access to high level facilities and Local Government Authorities seek to minimise duplication of facilities, it is highly likely that further instances of co-location of football clubs will occur. Football clubs are likely to retain their strong desire to have their own facilities for the foreseeable future; however, under certain circumstances clubs may be willing to explore co-location. These circumstances are:

� The clubs are unable to refurbish or rebuild a deteriorating existing facility without significant financial assistance.

� The clubs have a desire for a higher standard of facilities which they cannot afford individually.

Under these circumstances where there is an expectation for financial assistance to be provided from the Local Government Authority (LGA) there can be significant incentive applied for two clubs to share one facility. Simply, the LGA can offer to provide a high level of facilities for a shared oval and pavilion as opposed to the provision of only the basics for two separate venues. The type of pavilion on offer will also affect the willingness of football clubs to co-locate. A pavilion with shared changerooms but separate social rooms will be more palatable for the clubs concerned compared to a pavilion in which both the changerooms and social room are shared. Ultimately the LGA has the power to forcibly co-locate clubs through the decision not to renew leases and to change the conditions of lease when it is up for renewal, however, this option is not recommended except in cases where it is necessary for the greater good of the community. It should be noted that football clubs provide a substantial social capital benefit to the community and are an integral component of regional towns. In difficult times and in tragic circumstances football clubs are renowned for their ability to come together and support one another. In summary, co-location of football clubs will always be a difficult proposition due to clubs desires to maintain tradition and individual identity. When two clubs agree in principle to co-location, developing the detail of the shared use agreement is likely to be contentious and may be a protracted process. Whilst a shared use agreement is likely to be a difficult process in the best of situations the end result will potentially provide a facility that is of a higher standard than could otherwise be provided.


7 FACILITY REVIEW

The Collier St / Rea Park (CSRP) Precinct is State Crown Land vested in the Shire for the purposes of recreation, race course and agricultural showgrounds. The land parcel consists Lot 783 on Plan 92096. The total area of the precinct is approximately 61 hectares, with approximately 35 hectares retained as natural bush. Collier St dissects the reserve providing access to rear private lots. The buildings at CSRP have been assessed by Shire Building and Recreation Staff according to the Maloney Asset Assessment System. Details of this assessment system are provided as Appendix 2. A condition assessment and SWOT analysis of each of the facilities at CSRP is provided below.


7.1 Rea Park Oval

Lions Clubrooms (left) Tigers Clubrooms (right) Aerial View of Rea Park Rea Park Oval Description

� Senior size football oval with large clubrooms, change room / public toilet block and competition floodlighting (above minimum 100 lux).

� Home of the Tigers Football Club (TFC) � Lions Clubrooms abutting southern end of TFC Clubrooms.

Condition

� Turf coverage is good, drainage is currently working well. � Change rooms / public toilets have Maloney System rating of 5 – fair condition. � Tigers Clubrooms have Maloney System rating of 6 – fair to poor condition. � Lions Clubrooms have Maloney System rating of 5 – fair condition. There is

currently a moisture problem affecting the floorboards. � Flood lighting is good, some bulbs require replacing.


Utilisation

� During the football season, the oval is home ground for Tigers Football Club (3 senior teams, 3 junior teams). Used for training on weekday evenings. Juniors play on Saturdays, seniors on Sundays, home and away fixtures.

� The oval is used by the Manjimup Rovers Soccer Club (7 junior teams and 1 womens team) between September and December for the Lower South West Soccer League competition. Training occurs weekday evenings and games are played on Saturday mornings.

� The TFC Clubrooms are used by the TFC after both home and away games for social activities throughout the football season. They are also used by the Agricultural Society for their annual show.

� The Lions Clubrooms are used fortnightly by the Lions Club, weekly to monthly by the Agricultural Society and monthly by the Lower South West Football League for meetings, as well as being hired out occasionally to other community groups for meetings and functions.

Strengths

� Oval is in good overall condition. � Well utilised during summer (soccer) and winter (football) seasons. � Clubrooms are raised for good spectator viewing. � Good water supply for from Rea Park Dam. � Good level of lighting for training and competition.

Weaknesses

� Clubrooms are ageing. � Low passive surveillance. � Changerooms / public toilets separated from clubroom building, no pathways in

between. � Poor accessibility for persons with disabilities, elderly, prams etc.

Opportunities

� Potential for upgrade of oval to ‘Premier’ Oval status for the Shire � Considerable land available for potential additional building or active reserve

developments. Threats

� Lack of will of football clubs to collocate at one reserve to share facilities.


7.2 Agricultural Sheds / Yards

Pet Shed Tea Rooms

Storage Shed and Steel Yards Sheltered Pens Description

� The Warren District Agricultural, Horticultural and Industrial Society have five sheds with one being a shared storage shed with the Lions Club. (Since the drafting of this report two of these sheds have been demolished – pet shed/lean to and gym shed)

� There are steel fenced yards and wooden sheltered pens for live stock. Condition Assessment

� The storage shed and steel yards are in good condition. � The pet shed, lean to, tea rooms, gym shed and sheltered pens are in poor condition

and require significant refurbishment or removal. Utilisation

� These sheds are predominantly only used by the Agricultural Society for the annual show day. The pet shed and lean to may receive some limited use as spectator shelter during the football season (since demolished).

Strengths

� There is large area available for the live stock on show day to the north of the oval and adjacent to the side show alley area.


Weaknesses

� Most sheds are in poor condition and in need of replacement. � Multiple small sheds “clutter” the area to the north of the oval. � Lack of pathway access for wheelchairs, prams etc. � Lack of electrical power for side show alley rides and equipment.

Opportunities

� Replace multiple smaller sheds with one large shed. � Upgrade power supply/cabling. � Repair wooden pens to make fit for use.

Threats

� Cost of power upgrade may outweigh benefit.


7.3 Equestrian Area

Warren Horseman’s Clubrooms Warren Pony Club Grounds Aerial View of Equestrian Grounds Description

� The equestrian grounds are the former home of the Warren’s Horseman’s Club and the Manjimup Pony Club with the leases having recently expired.

� The grounds are separated into two large open areas bordered by trees. There are several separate arenas included within for various equestrian activities.

� There are two clubroom buildings and several sheds. Condition Assessment

� The buildings and shed are no longer used and in poor condition. They are required to be removed by the previous lease holders.

Utilisation

� The equestrian grounds and clubrooms are no longer utilised. Strengths

� The grounds are a large flat area that would be relatively easy to convert to active sporting turf.


Weaknesses

� These facilities are no longer used and will become increasingly dilapidated over time.

Opportunities

� Grounds could be used on the annual show days for equestrian events. Threats

� Grounds are separated by trees from Rea Park. These would need removal for the effective integration of this area into the remainder of the reserve.


7.4 Collier St Reserve

Collier St Pavilion and Toilet/Changeroom Block Aerial View of Collier St Grounds Collier St Grounds Description

� Collier St Reserve is a large rectangular active reserve area that contains the equivalent of four rectangular fields and two cricket ovals (with one turf, one synthetic wicket).

� There is a small multi-use clubroom building at the southern end with small change rooms.

� Hockey and Soccer utilise the reserve in the winter and cricket is played in the summer.

� Cricket practice nets (two nets) are located to the eastern side of the reserve. � There is an old dirt BMX racing track located to the south of the grounds.

Condition Assessment

� The turf on the southern section of the reserve is in good condition, however the northern section of the reserve is currently under repair after being damaged from a lack of water in recent years.

� The cricket practice nets / pitches are showing signs of wear and tear from high usage.

� The clubrooms are ageing and in poor overall condition. The building has a Maloney System rating of 7 – poor condition. The wooden flooring in the main hall is in good condition.


� The toilet/changeroom block is small and basic but in good structural condition. � The BMX track is in poor condition and is subject to vandalism.

Utilisation

� During summer there are three senior cricket teams from the Warren Blackwood Cricket Association that are based at Collier St. The Seniors use the grounds on Saturdays and Sundays.

� Junior cricket uses the grounds each week on Wednesday evenings, Friday evenings and Saturday mornings.

� During winter the reserve is utilised by the Warren Women’s Hockey Association and the Manjimup Rovers Soccer Club for training and competition.

� The clubroom building is available to hire for all user groups and is also the home of the Manjimup Rin Bu Kan Martial Arts Club.

� The BMX track appears to receive very little use apart from anti-social behaviour. Strengths

� It is a large rectangular reserve making it ideal for flexibility of use and meeting changing sporting requirements into the future.

� Parking for spectators around most of the grounds. � Plentiful tree shading for spectators. � Water supply has been upgraded.

Weaknesses

� Poor quality turf at northern end – under repair. � Clubrooms/toilets are at southern end creating long walking distance from the

northern oval. � The cricket nets are parallel to Collier Street, stray balls can enter onto the road

reserve. � The width of the reserve is sufficient but not ideal for senior soccer pitch width

dimensions. � The Clubrooms are ageing and in poor condition. � The changerooms/toilet block is small and basic and has poor access. � Vandalism is an issue due to poor passive security. � There is limited floodlighting available for training.

Opportunities

� There is room to expand the reserve to the west or east (if Collier St is closed). � The changeroom/toilet block could be upgraded. � Clubrooms could be refurbished or replaced. � The cricket nets could be realigned out to a NNW direction for increased safety, and

additional nets provided to cater for high usage. � The floodlighting could be improved to a higher standard for training and potentially

night games in the future. Threats

� Upgrades to power supply may be necessary for increased lighting. � Expansion of reserve would require removal of trees, will have an environmental

impact.


7.5 Girl Guides Hall

Aerial View of Girl Guides Hall Girl Guides Hall Description

� Small hall with kitchen, toilet and storage. � Located near corner of Johnson St / Collier St.


� The Hall is in old building that is still structurally sound. It has a Maloney System rating of 6 – fair to poor condition.

� Has had recent painting and reverse cycle air conditioning installed. Utilisation

� Some occasional community use. Girl Guides not currently active (as of December 2008).

Strengths

� Still in working order, functional for use. Weaknesses

� The building is old and basic. � Poor passive surveillance, has vandalism issues. � Poor accessibility. Stairs only into the hall.

Opportunities

� Building is small, may be possible to relocate. � User group could be transferred to a shared venue with increased security and higher

standard of facilities. Threats

� Cost of relocation of the building may outweigh the benefit.


7.6 Warren Art and Craft Group

Sutton Cottage Aerial View of WACG Cottages Evidence of Vandalism to Sutton Cottage Unused Cottage

Description

� The Warren Art and Craft Group operates from Sutton Cottage, a two room building with toilet and kitchen facilities.

� A smaller cottage (bottom right picture) is no longer in use by the Group and is required to be demolished.


� Sutton Cottage is structurally sound but is subject to frequent vandalism. It is made with asbestos sheeting.

� It has a Maloney System rating of 7 – poor condition. � The small unused cottage has termite damage and should be demolished.

Utilisation

� Sutton Cottage is used by the Warren Art and Craft Group, the small cottage is no longer used.


Strengths

� Sutton Cottage still in working order, functional for use. Weaknesses

� High levels of vandalism due to poor surrounding passive surveillance. � The building is old and constructed with asbestos. � Small cottage needs to be demolished.

Opportunities

� Relocate Art and Craft Group to a more suitable location with similar or better facilities.

Threats

� There are asbestos issues with both cottages, making removal more costly.


7.7 Scout Hall

Aerial View of Scout Hall Scout Hall Description

� The building consists of a hall with kitchen, two toilets and a storage room. � It is located to the north of the Collier St reserve.


� Although the building is significantly aged, it is structurally sound and has had a recent roof replacement.

Utilisation

� The Scout Group uses the building predominantly on Tuesday and Thursday nights during school term.

Strengths

� Structurally sound, functional for purpose. � Scout group has access to bushland for activities.

Weaknesses

� No passive surveillance, there are vandalism issues. � Some cars speeding along drive that passes the Scout Hall to western side of cricket

grounds. Opportunities

� Improve security of the building. � Provide traffic calming measures for the drive past the hall.

Threats

� Limited


8 CONSULTATION

8.1 Public Submissions

One public submission was received regarding the Collier St / Rea Park Precinct Master Plan. The submission is attached as Appendix 3 to this report. The following suggestions for the improvement of the Collier St grounds and Pavilion in the interests of cricket and martial arts were made:

� Improved clubroom facilities at Collier St including toilets, showers, changerooms and kitchen facilities as well as increased storage and larger hall size.

� Addition of phone connection, white boards, pin up boards and trophy cabinets to Collier St Pavilion.

� Extend Collier St Pavilion towards ovals and improve the grass area in front. � Barbeque and lighting. � Amenities at Northern end of Collier St Reserve. � Scoreboards and screens for the cricket ovals. � Spectator shelter around the Collier St grounds. � Improved floodlighting for Collier St grounds.

8.2 Shire Consultation

Shire Staff

Consultation with Shire Staff occurred throughout the study period. Shire Staff have provided extensive background information on facilities at Collier St / Rea Park and the user groups. A summary of the consultation with Shire Staff is as follows: Mark Turner, Manager Recreation Services; Gail Ipsen Cutts, Director Community Services

� The Manjimup Aquatic Centre has recently been redeveloped and will remain in its current location for the foreseeable future.

� Schools currently make use of Imperials Oval, in particular Kearnan College who use it on a daily basis.

� Soccer is being played on Rea Park Oval during the summer. � The Shire has a very strong football culture and has three clubs based in the

Manjimup Townsite. The Tigers are based at Rea Park. � The Shire is currently developing a pathways plan for the Towns within the Shire in

order to improve pedestrian linkages between key areas such as the town centre, schools and recreation reserves.

� There are no tennis clubs based in Town. The Ringbark Tennis Club has expressed interest in relocating to Collier St / Rea Park.

� The Warren Horseman’s Club and the Warren Pony Club have relocated to the Warren Equestrian Centre. The Clubs are required to remove their club buildings.

� There are several buildings at Collier St / Rea Park that are no longer used and need to be demolished. Asbestos is an issue.

� There is potential for the Warren Art and Craft Group to be relocated to the Timber Park as this would be a more appropriate location for them.

� The Bowling Club, Golf Club and Squash Club are collocated at the Manjimup Country Club. There are no intentions to relocate any of these clubs.


Minutes Council Meeting 28 August 2008, Attachment 12.1.3, Planning Services.

� The population for the Town and the Shire as a whole has potential to double in the long term due to availability of land for development. The population is ageing and there is evidence of ‘tree changers’ moving in to the Shire because of cheaper rent and house prices as opposed to the coastal areas. Developers are targeting this market group.

Wayne Crombie-Wilson, Parks Operations Manager

� The Rea Park Oval is in very good condition. The drainage is still effective however it is about 28 years old. Silting is likely to have occurred and may need a clean out in the coming years. The reticulation is in good condition and the kikuyu grass is the most effective for the Manjimup climate.

� There is potential to extend the Rea Park dam for additional water collection if new turfed areas are developed.

� The Shires ovals are mowed by contractors. The resident clubs are also paid approximately $7,500 towards additional maintenance of the grounds including fertilising and maintenance to the reticulation system.

� The rear cricket/hockey ground at Collier St was badly damaged due to the dry year of 2006. It has patchy grass coverage and is still recovering. Extra water for this ground is now able to be pumped across from the Rea Park bore.

Development Control Unit Meeting, 27 March 2009.

� Relocation of major sporting infrastructure (i.e. Imperials Football Club, Basketball Stadium) would likely face major community opposition due to the significant history and community involvement in the development of these facilities. There could be a potential loss of social capital.

� The Arnott / Rutherford St Reserve is well located and has the advantages of short walking distance to many residences and high passive surveillance.

� It is acknowledge that the Arnott / Rutherford St Reserve is unlikely to change use in the foreseeable future due to the current vesting orders and zoning.

� Future residential development of the Manjimup Town site will be directed towards the east. Future active reserve development may be better directed towards the east side of Town to cater for the increasing number of residents.

� There is limited revenue raising potential from either Collier St / Rea Park or the Arnott / Rutherford St Reserve as they are both Crown land vested in the Shire for recreation purposes.


8.3 Club Consultation

Extensive consultation was undertaken with user groups of Collier St / Rea Park and other sporting clubs in Town via individual onsite meetings and phone interviews. 1st Manjimup Scout Group

Participation

� The Group has 30 children and youth (male and female) as well as 8 leaders. � Membership has been stable over the past few years and is expected to remain so. � The Group meets Tuesday and Thursday nights during school term.

Facility Issues

� The Group has its own hall with kitchen, 2 toilets and storage. � It holds a lease over the hall and section of bushland that forms part of CSRP reserve. � The hall is over 60 years old however it is in good condition and has had more recent

additions including the kitchen and building upgrades. It had a new roof installed in 2000.

� The Group has plans to extend the storage area a further 3m out. � Vandalism is an issue. The Scouts are not allowed to fence their bush area. � The driveway access is a safety issue for children. Cars that come for cricket and

soccer cause problems driving too fast along the driveway past the Scout Hall. The Scout Group is not allowed to shut the gate to block their access.

� The Groups is satisfied with the current facilities and has no interest in joining a shared use facility. Having a home facility is an important feature for Scout groups.

Deanmill Junior Football Club

Participation

� The Club has an 11’s, 13’s and 15’s junior teams each with stable membership. The Auskick has approximately 45 children which can fluctuate from year to year.

Facility Issues

� The DJFC shares clubrooms with the Seniors and are satisfied with the current arrangement. Both clubs have representation on each other’s committees.

� The JFC is satisfied with the current facilities. Deanmill Football Club (Seniors)

Participation

� The Club has 3 senior teams with stable membership. Facility Issues

� The Club has recently upgraded the lighting to match standard. � The Club has future plans to re-build the changerooms and refurbish the kitchen and

bar. � The Club owns the land and intends to remain in this location for the long term. The

Club advises there would likely be significant opposition from within the Club against relocation.


Girl Guides - Manjimup

Participation

� Girl Guides will be reforming in 2009. There are already several girls interested in joining. Numbers are likely to be low to begin with (<20).

� The Hall receives occasional use from some community groups. Facility Issues

� Girl Guides have lease of the building which used to be the old Palgarrup School building. It has a small hall area (60-70m2), a kitchen and storage space. Whilst the building is aged it meets their requirements and there are no major maintenance issues.

� A reverse cycle air-conditioner has recently been installed and the building has been painted through Lotterywest funding.

Comments

� The organisation is happy with their current building however if a new shared building was to be built in its place they would need access to a similar range of facilities.

Imperials Football Club

Participation

� The Club has 3 senior teams and 3 juniors teams. There is one Auskick in town in addition to the Auskick at the Deanmill Football Club.

� Senior membership stable with 132 registered players, junior participation is on an upward trend. The junior teams play with large benches to allow more children to participate.

Facility Issues

� The Club has built it’s own large clubrooms with many of the facilities exceeding WAFL level requirements. The building had a second story addition constructed in 1993 with considerable donations of labour and materials.

� The Clubrooms are in very good condition. The Club has plans to add a spectator viewing area in coming years.

� The oval is in good condition. The Club performs all irrigation works and fertilising of the grounds.

� The facilities are currently used by the schools, little athletics and by members of the community such as dog walkers etc.

Comments

� The Club plans to remain in its existing location for the long term. It would be opposed to any plans for relocation due to the considerable history at the current location and the considerable resources the Club has expended in developing facilities at this site. The Club feels there would also be public opposition against such a move. The Club feels its own facilities are required to maintain the strong social aspect of football clubs.


Lions Club of Manjimup

Participation

� The Club has a total of 20 members and expects to grow in the foreseeable future. � Meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of each month as well as a number of

functions. Facility Issues

� The Club is satisfied with their current premises at Rea Park however there is a need for the floor to be repaired or replaced.

Comments

� The Club has explored the possibility of relocating due to the issues with the floor however the committee has voted to remain in the current location and search for funding assistance to repair/replace the floor.

� The Club currently shares their Clubroom building with the Warren Agricultural Society as well as hiring out the building to various community groups and the general public.

Manjimup Badminton Club

Participation

� The Club currently has 15 seniors and 16 juniors. � Participation is steady. � The Club plays on Tuesday evenings at the Manjimup Senior High School Gym.

Facility Issues

� The Club believes that the High School Gym is no longer being cleaned often enough for safe play. As the school is used by many children it becomes dirty quickly. Cleaning more often is required.

� The Manjimup Badminton Club has been investigating shared use of the Basketball Stadium. There is difficulty in achieving this without adding pole sleeves into the floor. Suspended wire options are being investigated but there are fire escape issues caused by the wire hampering easy access to the exit.

� The Badminton Club would like to be considered in any new stadium development. 4 courts would be sufficient (equivalent to 1 basketball court) for their purposes with their current participation rate.

Manjimup Basketball Association

Participation

� The Association has 500 to 800 members during the basketball season (Terms 1, 3 & 4), with the peak season being Term 3 when Mini-ball is played for 7 – 11 year olds.

� Basketball is played during weeknights (Mon – Thurs) as this avoids conflict with other weekend sports – football in particular.

� The Manjimup Basketball Association membership has been increasing over the past few years. This is likely to be because participants have been coming from other towns including Pemberton, Bridgetown and Nannup despite these towns having their own facilities. The Association does not have paid administration staff and thus have been able to keep membership fees relatively low ($60 juniors, $120 seniors) whilst other towns have not been able to do so.


Facility Issues

� The Basketball Stadium has excellent standard wooden sprung flooring. � There are some leakage issues with the roof however the Shire has been unable to

find the leak. � The building is structurally sound and has significant life span left. � The Shire is aware of drainage issues from the building that need to be addressed. � The Association requires more storage area for basketballs and uniforms etc. � Should any other users wish to be utilise the stadium additional storage area will be

necessary. � There is a need for additional parking area and security lighting. � The Association is open to other users utilising the stadium on available days (Friday,

Saturday, Sunday during peak basketball season). � Relocation of the stadium is likely to draw significant opposition from some

members. � Replacement of the very high standard of sprung flooring at a new location may be

very expensive. Manjimup Little Athletics Association

Participation

� 2008 is the first year of operation for the Association. It has 108 children aged 6 to 16 years. Children come from throughout the Shire and some from Bridgetown also.

� The Association expects participation to grow in coming years as awareness increases.

� The Association meets on Friday evenings from 5:30 – 8:00pm as there is sufficient daylight with the current daylight savings. Friday evenings have been chosen as many children play cricket and soccer on the weekends.

Facility Issues

� The Association is currently based at the Imperials Oval and also utilises the jumping pits at Kearnan College.

� The oval is sufficient for the time being however it is too small to fit a 400m track. A larger reserve is required.

� The Association requires basic supporting facilities including toilets/changerooms, water fountain, access to power and spectator shelter. Social facilities are only required for end of season windup functions.

� The Association requires a large secure storage shed for equipment including high jump mats, hurdles etc.

� More permanent line markings are required. The Association currently uses approximately $150 of paint per week and takes considerable volunteer time.

� If daylight savings is discontinued in future then oval lighting would be necessary to continue operating on Friday nights.

Manjimup Netball Association

Participation

� The Association has 170 seniors, 250 juniors and 60 Netta players (8-10 year olds). � There has been growth in the juniors, seniors participation numbers are remaining

steady. � Netball is played in the stadium predominantly 2 nights per week during Term 2.

Competition is not held on weekends as families are predominantly occupied with football. Due to the distances to away games football becomes an all day event.

� Schools are also regular users due to its close proximity and its suitability for use during wet weather.


Facility Issues

� The three court sprung wooden floor is in excellent condition and has been constructed to a very high standard.

� This facility was built by the community through fundraising and the donation of labour and materials. The community is very attached to this facility.

� The building is now approximately 22-23 years old and is still in good condition. There is, however, a leak in the roof which is proving difficult to fix.

� The building can get hot in summer and cold in winter. � There are some difficulties with the council cleaning contractors and the courts not

being cleaned correctly. � Lack of parking space is an issue during peak usage times. Increased security

lighting would also improve safety at night. � There is a need for improved signage to increase awareness of the existence and

location of the facility. � Should a new stadium be built the Association would be satisfied with the current

available facilities at present participation rates. Comments

� The Club believes there would be community opposition to the prospect of relocating the stadium due to the significant voluntary efforts that have been put into the development of the existing building.

Manjimup Rin Bu Kan Martial Arts Club

Participation

� The Club currently has 20 seniors and 45 juniors. � Membership is steady. � The Club utilises the Collier St Pavilion Hall on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays

throughout the year for general classes plus occasional weekends for seminars and gradings. The Martial Arts Club is the main user group of the Hall.

Facility Issues

� The wooden sprung floor put in by the Club is in good condition. � The ceiling has recently been replaced. � Other groups wanting to access the toilets from the front section go through the main

hall which is a problem when classes are on. Improved alternative access to the toilets would be beneficial

� The building is draughty. � The Club would like to add a gym (weights etc) on to the building by extending in to

the car park. It would be approximately one third of the hall size and be shared between user groups.

� Overall the Club is generally satisfied with the current facilities. Manjimup Rovers Soccer Club

Participation

� The Club plays in the South West Soccer League during the winter season and in the Lower South West Soccer League during the summer season (September to December).

� The Club has 1 senior male, 1 senior female and two junior teams (U10’s & U12’s) in the South West League. The Club currently plays home games at Collier St.

� The Club has a 7 junior teams in the LSWSL from U6’s to U17’s and a women’s team. The Club used the Rea Park Oval for the summer competition.


� 6 rotational substitutes are used to accommodate the large number of children that want to play soccer.

Facility Issues

� The Club reports a need for its own facilities. The Club needs a stable venue as it has been moved to various grounds over the years which has affected the Club’s membership.

� The Club would like to have its own clubroom facilities to provide a home base for the Club.

� The current changerooms are small and basic. � Lighting of the soccer / hockey fields is very basic accommodating training but not

suitable for competition. � Suitable storage for goals is required.

Ringbark Tennis Club

Participation

� The Club has a core group of approximately 20 seniors. Members are primarily made up of parents and children.

� Membership is steady and the club expects participation to remain so whilst in its current location.

� The Club plays on Mondays and Saturday afternoons. Facility Issues

� The Club has 4 bitumen courts in good condition with new fencing. There are also toilets and a single room building for equipment and serving tea and a verandah for spectator shelter.

� The Club is located several km’s out of the Manjimup townsite, therefore it is difficult to attract new members.

� The Club is interested in the possibility of relocating to Collier St / Rea Park. It’s preference for facilities would be for its own social facility but is happy to share amenities.

� The Club believes relocation to Collier St / Rea Park would result in many new members and there would be a need for 8 courts with two floodlit.

� Proceeds from the sale of its current land could be contributed towards the development of the new facilities.

Tigers Football Club

Participation

� The Club has 3 Senior teams and 3 junior teams (11’s, 13’s, 15’s). There is one Auskick Centre in Town in addition to the Deanmill Football Club Auskick.

� Player numbers are stable due to the structure of the competition however the juniors are playing with large benches to accommodate the high number of children.

Facility Issues

� The Club is satisfied with their facilities however there is some general maintenance required.

� 10 light bulbs for the oval floodlights require replacing. � Apart from drainage for the oval which may require some remediation work the oval

is in good condition. � The Club bar and good quality gates are necessary for generating revenue.


� The Club has plans to build a back fence to the clubrooms that will meet liquor licensing regulations.

Comments

� The Club does not believe sharing of clubrooms between football clubs is workable. Football clubs return to their own clubrooms after both home and away games. Each club takes great pride in their facilities and are built and maintained with very high levels of donated labour and materials.

Warren Art and Craft Group

Participation

� The Group currently has 22 members. They are mainly elderly with 21 women and 1 man.

� Membership is stable. Facility Issues

� The Group is currently using Sutton Cottage, formerly a residence for the elderly that has since been converted to two rooms for arts and crafts.

� A second building is no longer used as it is unfit for use. The group is seeking Shire assistance for the removal of this building which has asbestos.

� Vandalism is a problem as windows and cement sheeting are regularly smashed. This problem is exacerbated as the derelict cottage blocks the view to the art and craft building from the street.

� The Group is willing to consider relocation to another venue. Facility requirements for the Group are similar to their existing facilities.

Warren Blackwood Cricket Association

Participation

� There are 5 clubs in the Warren Blackwood Cricket Association (1 team each) with three clubs (Manjimup, Forestry and Dingup) based at Collier St.

� The Seniors play on Saturdays and Sundays. � There are 40 under 9 participants that play on Wednesday afternoons at Collier St. � There are two under 15’s teams that play on Friday evenings and two under 13’s

teams that play on Saturday mornings at Collier St. Facility Issues

� Ideally the Association would like its own clubrooms. The current clubrooms are small and basic. The Association is happy to share social facilities with hockey.

� The current cricket nets are poorly located (balls are hit out onto Collier St), the netting is too short and are becoming degraded because of over use. Ideally a new four net facility would be built hitting out onto a sporting field and have access to power for a bowling machine.

� The Association would like spectator shelter and toilets at the turf wicket end of the Collier St sporting fields as it is a long distance from this field to the existing toilet block and clubrooms. Access to power is also desirable.


Warren District Agricultural, Horticultural and Ind ustrial Society

Participation

� The Society conducts an annual show around March each year. Facility Issues

� The Society makes use of all facilities at Rea Park except for the old equestrian club grounds as these are separated from the Oval and main buildings.

� The Society has a shared lease of the Tigers Clubrooms. � The current facilities are adequate; however some maintenance/replacement of sheds

is required. � The gym shed is due to be removed before the 2009 show in March (done). � The tearooms are in poor condition but still in use. � The pet shed requires some maintenance work or replacement (done). � Traffic flow and parking is the main problem for show days. Collier St becomes

congested with parking and traffic. � The blue gum trees behind the clubrooms near the entrance are prone to dropping

branches and lots of litter, making the area underneath them unfit for use. � There is poor accessibility for the elderly, the disabled and prams. Pathways and

ramped entrances are required. � In the future the Society would like to build a large enclosed shed for further

exhibition area.

Warren Horseman’s Club

� The Club has recently relocated to the Warren Equestrian Centre in conjunction with the Warren Pony Club.

� The Club is in the process of terminating its lease at Rea Park. � The Club is committed to the new venue for the long term.

Warren Tennis Club

Participation

� The Club has approximately 30 full members and 14 life members. Members come from local farming families in the area.

� The Club provides the ability for locals to socialise with each other. Social events are regularly held with embers taking turns to host dinners at their homes.

� The Club meets every Sunday afternoon from October through to Easter � Participation is expected to remain stable for the foreseeable future.

Facility Issues

� The Club has a small building that was previously the Warren School. The roof has recently been replaced. The building is adequate for the Club’s needs.

� The Club would like to replace the two toilets. � There is shaded spectator area and basic playground equipment. � There are 5 bitumen courts that are in relatively good condition, however cracks are

becoming an issue. Comments

� The Club has no intention of relocating as it is primarily made up of local farming families around the Quinninup area and provides a social outlet for these families. Many of the members would be unlikely to travel to Manjimup to play tennis on a regular basis.


Warren Women’s Hockey Association

Participation

� The Association currently has 4 senior teams, 4 mixed junior teams and 6 minkey teams. All games are played at Collier St on Saturdays from 11am to 5pm.

� Numbers are falling due to various factors (competition from other sports, mothers starting their children in sports much younger, economic restructure of the region). It is hoped this trend will be reversed through the efforts of the committee.

Facility Issues

� Vandalism is an issue as the Clubroom building is hidden from view. Windows are regularly broken.

� The lighting is insufficient for hockey training as it is difficult to see the small, fast moving ball.

� The top field used by the juniors is in poor condition however it is being improved. � The Club would like lighting to be able to hold midweek competition so that it is not

being played at the same time as football. � The toilets are ageing and the changerooms are basic and small. Improvements to

these are highly desirable. As a minimum, the Club would like improved access and security for the toilets/changerooms.

8.4 State Sporting Associations

Football West Garry Chandler, CEO

Participation

� State wide participation has increased by 28% over the past four years with the South West slightly ahead of these figures.

� With the continued growth in popularity of the sport and with population growth Football West expects growth to continue at 5-6% pa for the next five to ten years.

Facility Issues

� Many facilities in the metropolitan region have reached saturation point. Football West is currently evaluating options to help ease this pressure, which include the development of club hubs (particularly in relation to Small Sided Football), club rationalisation, the development of multi-purpose, centrally located facilities, the restructuring of competitions etc.

� As the level of participation continues on its steady incline, Football West predicts similar issues will be faced by Regional WA and similar facility considerations will need to occur.

� Football West believes that a central, multi-purpose, eco-friendly (e.g. water usage), sports hub that equitably meets the needs of its various users will be best suited for local governments.

� Football West can provide expertise, experience and knowledge that may assist in formulating plans for the development of the game in the region.

� Financially, whilst not able to contribute directly Football West can provide assistance in gaining support from the State Government and access to funding.


Hockey WA Damien Todorovic, Game Development Manager

� Junior hockey participation in Regional WA has increased from 295 teams in 2002 to 322 teams in 2008, whilst senior participation has decreased from 347 teams to 330 over the same period.

� In the metro region senior team numbers have increased whilst junior team numbers have remained relatively stable.

� Hockey WA support community hockey clubs / associations in the CSRFF applications for funding from the State Government.

� A state wide strategic hockey facilities plan is currently in the final stages of development.

Lower South West Junior Football League (LSWJFL) Daniel Omodei, President

Participation

� The LSWJFL has 370 juniors and 320 Auskick participants. The LSWJFL includes participants from the Shire of Manjimup, Shire of Kojonup, Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes and the Shire of Boyup Brook.

� Auskick is experiencing growth whilst juniors have been relatively steady however some clubs have experienced growth.

� The LSWJFL has also recently implemented an Umpire Mentoring Program for juniors that now has 6 participants.

� Auskick has only been implemented over the last four years so it is possible there may be some flow on effect to in the coming seasons as they become old enough to play in the 11’s grade.

Facility Issues

� Should football facilities be collocated at Collier St / Rea Park in the future and two ovals included within the overall design, the secondary oval should be full size and include training lighting. It should also have good access to toilet/changeroom facilities.

� Office space for the LSWJFL to be based in a new clubroom facility would be beneficial for the organisation as it currently does not have a home base.

Lower South West Soccer League Michael Ganatta, President

Participation

� The LSWSL has 4 clubs (based in Manjimup, Pemberton, Northcliffe and Bridgetown/Greenbushes) with a total of 17 teams including juniors from U6’s to U17’s and a women’s team at each club.

� In 2008 there were 419 juniors including 312 males and 107 females. � The regular season is played between the end of the football season and the beginning

of December (12 rounds) plus finals. Most games are played on Saturday mornings. � The LSWSL plays during the summer so that children can play both Australian rules

and soccer. Winter soccer is played in the South West League which is primarily based around Bunbury.


Facility Issues

� Soccer and Cricket work well together in organising fixtures at the beginning of each season as they often share fields.

� A stable venue is required for the Manjimup Rovers Soccer Club as they have been relocated several times over the years and on occasion have had to cancel games due to other users being booked on their reserve. This negatively impacts on the rest of the league.

� The current competition structure requires 1 senior field, 1 medium field (2/3 senior) and 1 junior field (1/4 senior) for each club. These field requirements generally fit within a standard senior sized football oval.

� Ideally Collier St/Rea Park will have a greater area available for soccer and a higher standard of facilities. This would be utilised as the home of the league, be able to cater for increased participation levels, house a junior training academy and attract high grade teams to play and train with local teams.

South West Football Development Commission Shane Atherton, Regional Development Officer South West

� The Shire of Manjimup has always had a strong football culture and there is no indication to suggest that this would not continue in the future.

� Participation is strong in the South West. Total participation increased by 5% over the past year. Auskick in particular is growing.

� The three clubs based at Manjimup (Deanmill, Imperials and Tigers) are healthy clubs that have proven over many years to be proactive in maintaining participation rates and developing and maintaining quality facilities.

� Traditional football culture is for each senior club to have their own facilities providing a home for the Club. This is particularly evident in regional towns, with very few examples of clubs sharing clubrooms.

� Should the Shire wish to collocate two or more football clubs at one venue there will likely be significant opposition from within the football clubs concerned depending on the circumstances of the clubs at the time. It is likely that in a new shared facility development the football clubs would want separate social facilities as a minimum due to a desire for a home base and for the fact that Clubs often go back to their own facilities to socialise after all games. There may be potential for shared changeroom facilities.

Tennis WA Rebecca McDonald, Member Services

� Tennis participation has decreased slightly amongst seniors and juniors over the past three years (past numbers not provided). This is believed to be a result of increased competition from other sports and recreational pursuits and also drought affecting regional areas.

� Tennis Australia has recognised that future tennis facility developments must have a high emphasis on sustainability. Tennis Australia is currently in the process of developing a blueprint for tennis clubs from local to national levels. Multi-purpose clubrooms that can be shared by various sporting groups are incorporated into the designs to assist with minimising construction and operational costs to sporting clubs and LGA’s.


8.5 Schools

East Manjimup Primary School

� Student enrolments have increased slightly over the past few years and stabilised. Student numbers are currently about 340.

� The School uses the Collier St grounds for hockey and soccer in the Spring Carnival, Term 4.

� Currently use the Manjimup Recreation ground for athletics. Amenities are satisfactory for their purposes.

� The School is unlikely to increase use of Collier St / Rea Park despite any future upgrades as School plays as much sports as possible locally. A footpath from the school to CSRP is therefore unnecessary.

Manjimup Primary School

� School enrolments have been steady over the past few years and are currently about 410.

� The School uses the Collier St grounds for the Spring Carnival in Term 4. � The School has its own oval to fulfil all other sporting requirements. The school has

no need for facility upgrades to CSRP. Kearnan College

� The College has a student population of between 350 – 400 and this has been increasing over the past 4 years.

� The College uses CSRP for carnivals only. � The northern end of the Collier St grounds requires significant improvements to

recover from drought damage. � The College uses the Imperials Oval on a daily basis for children’s sport and play

activities. It is a highly convenient location as it is adjacent to the College. � If Imperials Oval were to be relocated the College would not be able to use CSRP in

the same manner due to the distance. Manjimup Senior High School

� School enrolments are relatively steady however there has been a recent increase due to students being required to stay until 17 unless obtaining a traineeship or job.

� The School uses CSRP twice per year for carnivals. � The School uses Imperials Oval for athletics and football. It is a more convenient

location for the School as Graphite Rd presents a significant barrier for walking children to the venue.

8.6 External Agencies

Department of Sport and Recreation WA Troy Jones, South West Office

� DSR seeks to improve the sustainability of sporting infrastructure through financially supporting joint use facility developments.

� Whilst it may not always be practical or feasible for a regional LGA to rebuild all or most of a town’s major sporting infrastructure into an ideal sports precinct, facility planning should nevertheless seek to identify and promote greater sharing of existing facilities wherever possible.


Disability Services Commission Christine McCallum, Manjimup Local Area Co-ordinator

� Access is the primary issue for inclusion of persons with disabilities. Once access is provided to facilities, then service providers can actively work towards programming activities that include persons with disabilities

� Pathways and ramps are vital for wheelchair access. � A fenced playground that includes children with disabilities or children with parents

that have disabilities would be beneficial. � Low fencing is desirable as it helps parents with children that are prone to running;

this includes children with and without behavioural disorders, mental disabilities. � Specific disabled only type equipment are not essential as they can be ‘segregational.’

Most important is providing access via pathways to the equipment. Even if wheelchair access isn’t possible on to the equipment, if a path leads near to the equipment many parents are able to lift their children up from there.

� Equipment should be bright, colourful and sensory. � Playgrounds should be mindful of children of parents who have disabilities, and the

importance of access for these persons. Fencing around playgrounds is particularly important for parents with impaired mobility who wish to supervise their children.

Revolution Youth (Warren Valley Church) Lynley Horlock

� The Warren Valley Church runs a youth group for 12-16 year olds on Friday nights. � The group is run during school term with a youth camp being held in the holidays.

Usually 60-70 children attend with most being non church kids. � The youth group often goes out and often uses venues such as the basketball stadium,

the High School gym and peoples farms. � The location of the Warren Valley Church in the Town centre is good as it allows

most kids to walk to the building, with parents then picking their children up by car in the evening.

� It is the experience of the youth group that children enjoy structured activities and competitions and this is what the youth group is able to provide.

Department of Education and Training WA

� The former TAFE campus site adjacent to the Rea Park Oval is owned by the Department of Education and Training.

� There are no current plans for this land. � DET do not provide funding support for development of facilities that are not on DET

owned land. City of Greater Geelong Steve Parker, Co-ordinator Sport, Recreation and Open Space

� Western Oval is a regionally significant reserve that was previously a second tier (VFA) football oval. It is now home to two local football clubs, a cycling club and a turf cricket club. The reserve has high standard social facilities, a heritage listed grandstand and floodlighting giving the reserve the potential to host high standard sporting and community events.

� At the current time there are no future plans for this parcel of land. � The two football clubs share the oval and clubroom facilities (since 2008), including

changerooms and social areas. There have been several years of sensitive negotiations prior to the relocation of the second football club to the shared facility.

� The City determined that it would provide a high level shared facility as opposed to two separate facilities. This provided incentive for the two football clubs to share one facility.


� The two clubs found it relatively easy to agree to the broad principles of co-location, however there have been numerous difficulties encountered in the details of the sharing arrangement such as the day to day tasks.

� One of the difficulties included the existing tenant club attempting to charge the newly relocated club an exorbitant amount per night for training light use. In these situations the City has had to mediate.

� Sponsorship signage has also presented some difficulties due to existing sponsorship arrangements in place by the original tenant club. Both clubs are now assigned alternate quarters of the oval for signage.

� The two clubs use the previously occupied oval as a secondary oval for training and junior usage.

� A memorandum of understanding has been signed by both clubs and the City that sets out the shared use arrangement.

� The original club retains the lease and under the terms of the MOU agrees to sublet to the new football club.

� The benefits of the two clubs sharing one venue are that the City has been able to assist the clubs in the provision of a higher level of facilities than would otherwise have been possible at two separate facilities.

� There have been, however, significant management and ownership issues that have had to be resolved with City intervention. These issues related to the two clubs sharing the one facility are expected to dissipate over time as both clubs adjust.

Sport and Recreation Victoria John O’Brien, Community Sport and Recreation

� In regional Victoria there are few towns with sporting precincts that could be said to rate highly in regards to best practice principles of joint use and collocation. This is likely to be due to regional LGA’s often having large areas of land available for sport and recreation facility development and ad-hoc planning over the past 50-60 years resulting in multiple stand alone facilities that are underutilised.

� State Government funding over the past 10 years has been encouraging the development of joint use facilities to improve sustainability and maximise use of limited resources.

� Two football clubs sharing an oval and clubrooms is uncommon due to the historical nature of football clubs.

� In Horsham and Bendigo there are examples of two clubs sharing an oval and changerooms, however they have separate social rooms.

� The most common forms of sharing arrangements are with the senior football clubs sharing with junior football clubs.

� Geelong has an example of two clubs sharing the same oval and clubrooms. � Senior football clubs find it difficult to share facilities due to the strong social culture

of football and the sense of ownership that their own facilities provide. It is seen as their ‘home.’ This football culture has been built up over many years.


9 CONSIDERATIONS

9.1 Ecological Impact

There is a large proportion of native bushland included within the Collier St / Rea Park Precinct. In 2008 the “SWBP Natural Area Initial Field Assessment, Rea Park Manjimup, Reserve 19552” was conducted by Andrew Pound and Lee Fontanini of Southern Forests Landcare Warren Catchments Council. Observations and findings from the report indicate that the bushland contained within this reserve contains significant native flora and fauna. Some of the key observations are as follows:

� The reserve is identified as native fauna and fungi habitat including tree hollows in old mature trees, large fallen logs on the ground, dense vegetation and wetlands or water ways.

� Some damage has been caused from human activity including erosion, off road vehicle use and illegal dumping in some areas.

� The vegetation has been identified as 95% very good, 5% completely degraded on the Keighery Scale.

� One of the recommendations within the report is to develop a natural resource management plan to maintain and enhance the Reserve biodiversity within the bushland.

� Significant Native Fauna are identified as either observed or likely habitat and include the red tailed black cockatoo, Baudin’s cockatoo and Carnaby’s white tailed black cockatoo, brush tailed phascogale, western ringtail possum and the quenda.

� The area has been identified as acting as an ecological stepping stone within an existing regional and local ecological linkage.

Given the ecological value of the bushland within the reserve area, there is benefit to the community and local ecology in implementing the management recommendations listed within the report. Formalised ecologically friendly walk trails could be incorporated into the bushland as a way of providing a recreation facility that the Manjimup Town community can enjoy. Walking is the most popular physical activity for Australians (ERASS 2007, Standing Committee on Sport and Recreation, 2008). These trails could be used for recreation purposes and for exercise. In considering future sport and recreation facility development at the Collier Street / Rea Park Precinct further clearing of the bushland should be avoided where possible given the ecological value demonstrated in the SWBP Natural Area Initial Field Assessment.


9.2 Future of Arnott / Rutherford St Recreation Reserve

A key issue underpinning major potential developments for this Master Plan is determining the likely future of the facilities at the Arnott / Rutherford St Reserve which is home to the Imperials Football Club and the Basketball Stadium. The Shire of Manjimup Sport and Recreation Plan 2002 indicates potential benefits from the relocation of the Stadium and the rationalisation of Imperials Oval and housing the Stadium and Imperials Football Club at CSRP. The potential benefits identified were improved management and operational efficiencies and the potential for the Shire Offices to be relocated to this Reserve which would allow the existing offices site to be developed commercially, thus providing a source of revenue for sporting facility development at CSRP. In depth investigation into this issue has found that the disadvantages of relocation of these facilities outweigh the potential benefits for the following reasons:

� The Arnott / Rutherford St Reserve is Crown Land vested for recreation purposes. Changing its use requires parliamentary approval. The Shire would not receive any proceeds from the sale of this land, thus there would be no revenue to go towards other facility development

� Should the Shire decide to relocate its offices, the sale of the existing land currently occupied would only partially cover the cost of construction of a new building, thus there would be no additional proceeds to put towards new sporting facility development.

� Consultation with the Shire and the key user groups indicate that there is likely to be considerable community opposition to the relocation of the Imperials Football Club and the Basketball Stadium. There is a strong attachment to these facilities which the community has committed extensive voluntary labour, materials and donations into their development. Relocation of these facilities against the community’s wishes would risk damaging the social capital that has largely been responsible for the development of these facilities and continues to be fostered through the groups that utilise them.

� The central location of this Reserve is advantageous as it is within close walking distance of a large number of houses and three schools, as well as being in close proximity to the Town Centre. To relocate the facilities at this reserve would reduce the number of persons willing or able to walk to them, thus less people would be taking advantage of the health benefits that walking provides.

� This Reserve has very good passive surveillance as it is surrounded on all sides by roads.

� The strength of participation within each of the football clubs does not allow for a reduction in the current number of ovals. Should the Imperials Football club be relocated to CSRP, a new oval would need to be developed. Furthermore, it is likely that part or all of the Arnott / Rutherford St Reserve would remain as recreation parkland, therefore the net area of parks the Shire is required to maintain would increase, thus increasing parks and gardens expenses.


� The relocation of the Imperials Football Club and the Basketball Stadium would entail the development of a large sports complex facility catering for the needs of multiple sporting groups. It would result in large capital expenditure (estimated to be in excess of $5 million) for a three court stadium with large shared clubrooms and changerooms. Such a complex would require paid staff to adequately manage the facilities. Ultimately this would likely result in increased operational costs to the Shire and increased fees for participants.

It can be seen that the scenario of relocating the Imperials Oval and Basketball Stadium does not offer any significant potential for revenue raising to go towards other sport and recreation development, and the very exercise of relocating these facilities would require large capital expenditure whilst potentially increasing the maintenance burden on the Shire. Furthermore, this scenario is lacking in community support and could potentially damage the high level of social capital that is built up through the Towns sporting clubs. Whilst current circumstances indicate that relocation of major sporting infrastructure is not a practical option at the present time, circumstances can change and the needs of certain sport and recreation organisations may be very different from their needs of today. It is therefore very important that the Shire’s sport and recreation facility planning is reviewed and updated regularly and particularly at times when a major sporting facility is due for replacement. It is recommended that the Shire of Manjimup update the Shire of Manjimup Sport and Recreation Plan in five year intervals and at any time major sporting infrastructure is approaching time for replacement. 9.3 Skate/BMX Park

Currently the Manjimup townsite has a small skate park that consists of a bitumised area and some portable ramps. The surface is not ideal for skating and the surrounding gravel is brought onto the surface making skate boarding difficult without cleaning before hand. Conversely, Pemberton will soon have a professionally designed and constructed concrete skate park. On this basis it appears the Shire would benefit from a strategic approach to skate/BMX park provision and standards across the Shire to assist in the management of future skate/BMX facility requests. The Manjimup townsite also has a BMX track located at the Collier St Reserve. The location for this BMX track is not ideal as it does not have good visual exposure from surrounding streets and it is located on the edge of the town site which attracts the minority anti-social element of the community. Persistent vandalism is an issue for the buildings adjacent to the BMX track. A more suitable facility for the Town of Manjimup would be a multi-purpose skate/BMX park with a range of features providing for beginners through to advanced users. Concrete skate/BMX parks do have a considerable cost – approximately $500m2 for a professionally designed and constructed skate park depending on features, however, as the major population centre for the Shire it makes sense for the Shire to concentrate its resources on a quality facility in Manjimup.


Should the Shire decide to develop a new skate/BMX park in the Manjimup townsite, a suitable location needs to be identified. A central and accessible location with high visibility will be vital to the success of the facility to ensure it is well utilised by the Shire’s youth and that trouble makers do not use it as a hangout. Additionally, locating the skate/BMX park close to the Town centre should be considered so that youth from other localities visiting Manjimup with their families for shopping and other such reasons are able to easily access the facility on these occasions. Planning for both the location and the design of a skate/BMX park should include close consultation with the Shire’s youth. 9.4 Soccer

Soccer is played in Manjimup in both the winter and summer seasons. In winter the Manjimup Rovers Soccer Club enters two senior teams and two junior teams in the South West League which is centred around Bunbury. Immediately after the football season finishes, the Rovers have seven junior teams that participate in the Lower South West Soccer League which runs for 12 weeks up to the beginning of the December. The South West League competition is a more serious competition that the summer competition that is run by the Lower South West Soccer League. The Lower South West League deliberately runs in the summer after the football season has finished so that children who play football also have the opportunity to play soccer. Whilst soccer is a growing sport in Australia, it is unlikely to become a dominant winter sport in the Lower South West region due to the dominance of Australian Rules Football. Because the winter competition is primarily based around Bunbury, only the dedicated few will perform the travel necessary to participate. The Lower South West Soccer League operates in the summer in order to avoid clashing with football, and thus has developed a sizeable competition with over 400 participants including seven junior teams from the Manjimup Rovers Soccer Club. The current and future needs for the winter soccer competition are more than adequately catered for, with two pitches allowing four games to be played in just two timeslots. It is unlikely the winter soccer requirements would ever exceed the need for two pitches. The summer competition is played on Rea Park Oval. Rea Park oval allows for up to two senior pitches and 3-4 mini junior pitches to be marked at one time. Currently the fixturing allows for the junior program to be played between 8:00am and midday on Saturday’s, with a women’s game played on the Friday evening. Therefore, whilst programming over the shortest time period possible is desirable for community sporting groups, there is significant scope for additional game times to be added as a means of increasing the number of teams in the summer competition. Rea Park Oval, which is fully flood lit to competition standard, has significant additional capacity for summer soccer and should be fully utilised before additional sporting fields are sought for development. It should be noted that two soccer fields exceeding the minimum senior dimensions of 90m x 45m can be achieved on both the Collier St Reserve and Rea Park Oval. The Concept Plan that can be seen as Appendix 1 shows that two pitches of approximately 90m x 50m can be achieved on Rea Park Oval and pitches of approximately 100m x 60m can be achieved on the Collier St Reserve.


9.5 Athletics

The Manjimup Little Athletics Association was consulted as a possible future user of CSRP. In their first year of operation they conducted their activities from Imperials Oval as well as utilising the jump pits from Kearnan College. Due to the summer and winter usage of both the Collier St Reserve and Rea Park Oval, the Manjimup Little Athletics Association should continue to utilise Imperials Oval. It is noted that the dimensions for a full sized running track cannot be marked out at Imperials Oval, therefore the Shire should specifically keep in mind the requirements of Athletics at such a time in the future that the Shire develops a new sports field as the population grows. Until the time of development of a new oval the Little Athletics Association will still be able to operate satisfactorily at Imperials Oval for the short to medium term (0-10 years). The primary requirement for the Manjimup Little Athletics Association in the short term is for the development of a storage shed for a large volume of athletics equipment that is being accumulated in the initial years of the Association’s operation. This should be considered for Imperials Oval. 9.6 Tennis

The Ringbark Tennis Club was consulted as a possible future tenant of CSRP. The Club has expressed a desire to relocate into the Manjimup Townsite and would contribute to the development of facilities through the proceeds of the sale of its land that the Tennis Club currently occupies. Residents of Manjimup will benefit from the development of tennis courts within Town. It is likely that there is latent demand for tennis amongst Manjimup residents and that a facility developed in Town will increase tennis participation. To what degree will be unknown until the tennis courts have been developed. As has been noted in section 9.2 of this report, the Arnott / Rutherford St Reserve is well located to serve a large proportion of the Town’s population and is in close proximity to the Town Centre, making it a good potential location for relocation of the Ringbark Tennis Club. Added to this, there is an existing building that would make suitable clubrooms for the Tennis Club to utilise, currently occupied by the Apex Club. There is no reason to suggest the Apex Club and the Ringbark Tennis Club could not share this facility and share the responsibilities for the upkeep of the building. The potential for relocation to Collier St / Rea Park was considered within the development of this Master Plan, however, CSRP is not seen as the ideal location for the development of a tennis club. The Arnott / Rutherford St Reserve is seen as a more suitable location due to central location, good passive surveillance and the potential to make better use of an existing building (Apex Club building). The development of a tennis club facility at CSRP would likely require either the building of separate clubroom building for the Ringbark Tennis Club or the redevelopment of the Collier St Pavilion (preferred). The redevelopment of Collier St Pavilion would require large capital expenditure in the vicinity of $1 million for a standard shared clubroom facility. There is currently bitumised area to the east and west of the Apex building which would require resurfacing for the development of tennis courts, however the area to the west is currently utilised as a skate park with portable ramps. There is also additional unused land to the south of the Apex building that could be utilised for tennis courts.


In the short term it is likely that the Ringbark Tennis Club would require four tennis courts as it currently has, however it would be prudent for the Shire to allow for the development of at least four additional courts in the future. Flood lighting of two or all four of the tennis courts would further increase tennis court availability within town through extending their hours of use. It is recommended that the Shire of Manjimup investigate the potential for the Ringbark Tennis Club to relocate to the Arnott / Rutherford St Reserve.


10 NEEDS ANALYSIS

The Needs Analysis for the Collier St / Rea Park Precinct derives from a synthesis of an extensive range of information obtained from Shire, community and other key stakeholder consultation, relevant reports and documents, relevant industry and participation trends, demographic analysis and a facilities review. Importantly, this Needs Analysis also takes into consideration key issues identified in the Considerations section of this report. This will ensure that the recommended facility developments listed within this Master Plan are practical, achievable and sustainable whilst supporting the high level of social capital that is found within Manjimup’s sport and recreation clubs. Overall

Overall, the basic facility requirements of the sport and recreation clubs are being met to a large degree. The Tigers Football Club has all the facilities a senior club requires for training, competition and social activities due in large part to significant contributions voluntary labour, materials and fundraising. Soccer, Hockey and Cricket do not have the same level of facility provision but still have access to toilets and change rooms, sufficient sporting fields and basic social facilities. The other organisations based at CSRP are generally satisfied with their facilities and have plans for maintaining or upgrading in the future. The built facilities at CSRP are ageing with some no longer fit for use. Some buildings require refurbishment whilst others are in need of removal. CSRP is a large reserve with sufficient area overall to accommodate additional facilities thus consideration was given to the relocation of facilities from the Arnott / Rutherford St reserve. At this point in time, relocation of the Arnott / Rutherford St reserve facilities to CSRP is difficult to justify, the details of which is identified and discussed in section 9.2 of this report. Collier St Reserve

Playing Fields

The current layout of two cricket fields overlayed with two soccer pitches on the east side and two hockey fields on the west side is sufficient for the current and the anticipated future needs of the current user groups. The dimensions of the hockey and soccer fields are above the minimum requirements. Whilst each club would ideally like their own dedicated playing fields with maximum sized dimensions this would result in unnecessary duplication of active reserve space and increased operational maintenance costs. Therefore there is no need for additional active reserve space at the Collier St Reserve. The turf to the northern end of the reserve is currently under repair due to damage caused by a lack of water in 2006 however the water supply issue has been resolved and the ground is expected to recover to good condition in the near future. Flood Lighting

Currently there are four flood light poles that provide a limited level of lighting for night time training on the southern hockey and soccer pitches. The lighting level is unlikely to be up to the current Australian Standards for training, and is not suitable for competition.


Currently both the Manjimup Rovers Soccer Club (winter teams) and the Warren Women’s Hockey Association have low numbers of teams. Winter soccer participation is unlikely to increase greatly in the future due to the dominance of Australian Rules football, whilst hockey has had declining membership in recent years. Whilst night training and competition has advantages, the participation rates of hockey and soccer do not warrant the significant capital upgrades required to provide lighting up to current Australian Standards. Upgrade of the floodlighting to Australian Standards (50 lux for soccer training, 100 lux for soccer competition, 250 lux for hockey training and competition) will require all new lighting infrastructure and probable power upgrade to the reserve. Whilst lighting upgrade of this Reserve is not a recommendation of this report, circumstances may change in the future and flood lighting of the Reserve may become justified. For this reason, a lighting plan developed by Sylvania Lighting Australasia has been provided to guide any future lighting development and can be seen as Appendix 4 to this report. Given the home and away schedules of both soccer and football, there is potential for the Rovers to play several night games at Rea Park Oval during the football away weeks. Temporary line markings (other than white) can be utilised with relatively little expense e.g. one tub of Duramark (approximately $90) will provide 2 – 3 sets of line markings and will be mostly washed away within 1 week. Removable goals would be required. In this way, the Rovers have the ability to host night games without duplicating lighting infrastructure. Cricket Practice Nets

The two cricket practice nets are used heavily by the Warren Blackwood Cricket Association and are typically popular for casual community use. As there are only two nets they have received significant wear and tear, the nets are too short and they are parallel to Collier St causing some safety concerns from balls being hit onto the road and parked cars. There is rationale for a three / four net facility built to recommended specifications that is angled away from the road. This will double the capacity for cricket training and improve safety. The Association has expressed a desire for power supply to the nets to enable a ball machine to be used; however, a less expensive solution would be for an approved portable inverter generator to be used should the Association decide to purchase a ball machine. Spectator Shelter

There is plentiful tree shading around the perimeter of the Collier St Reserve, however Manjimup has particularly wet climatic conditions and therefore there is justification for a spectator shelter to be built for the northern end of the Collier St Reserve. This will provide sheltered viewing area for spectators on the northern field and a place for players to put bags and equipment in case of rain. It is noted that there is plentiful tree shading around the entire perimeter of the Collier St Reserve. Playground

There is a rationale for a small fenced playground at Collier St Reserve as it will benefit young mothers who wish to play hockey whilst caring for children and also parents with disabilities. It also aids in entertaining children whilst their older / younger siblings are participating. Fencing aids in the supervision of children who are ‘runners’ thus benefiting parents who wish to play sport, as well as benefiting parents with disabilities who cannot chase after their children in an open area.


Pathway access to a playground and in close proximity to the equipment is important for parents of children with mobility difficulties so that the parent can adequately aid their children in accessing the equipment. BMX Track

The BMX track is somewhat degraded and its hidden location encourages anti-social behaviour and vandalism to adjacent buildings in this location. As identified in 9.4, youth would be better serviced with a multi-purpose skate / BMX facility in a more central location with good passive surveillance and accessibility; therefore there is rationale for the removal of the BMX track and development of a new facility in a more appropriate location. It is recommended that the Shire of Manjimup 1. Identify a suitable location for a multi-purpose skate/BMX park; and 2. engage a Skate/BMX park design and construction company to consult with the youth and design and construct an appropriate multi-purpose skate / BMX facility. Pavilion

The Collier St Pavilion is used by the Manjimup Rin Bu Kan Martial Arts Club and the Warren Women’s Hockey Association and is available to the Manjimup Rovers Soccer Club and the Warren Blackwood Cricket Association. The pavilion and the toilet/changeroom block is modest, however it meets the basic requirements of the user groups. The building is ageing and the need for general refurbishment is evident. It is noted that the building is not ideal in its current form, however, the time for making additions and improving the facilities building to a high standard is at the time of replacement. With proper maintenance the building could continue into the long term. It is noted that the ceilings have recently been replaced and the wooden floor in the main hall installed by the Manjimup Rin Bu Kan Martial Arts Club is in good condition. At the time of replacement, the location should remain relatively the same as it is in close proximity for soccer and hockey and one of the cricket grounds whilst benefiting from some passive surveillance from Johnson St. Warren Art and Craft Group Cottages

There is rationale for the relocation of the Warren Art and Craft Group and removal of the cottages. One cottage is no longer fit for use, whilst Sutton Cottage is frequently vandalised from what is likely due to poor visual exposure from Johnson St and its close proximity to the BMX track. The Group has indicated being open to relocation to suitable facilities at an alternative location. The main requirements for the group are for sufficient working area (similar to the area they have available now) and sufficient storage area for their equipment and works if their working area is to be shared. The Timber and Heritage Park is a potential venue for relocation, with the primary benefit being potential for art and craft works to be sold to tourists. Girl Guides Hall

The Girl Guides Hall currently receives very little use as the Guides are currently in recession. The building has poor accessibility and is ageing. Its presence at Collier St reduces visual exposure to the Collier St Pavilion thus decreasing the ability for passive surveillance, and at some point in the future it will require maintenance which the Girl Guides would be unlikely to be able to fund themselves. For the reasons listed above, there is rationale for the removal of the Hall.


Whilst there may be some attachment to the facility from the community, it is difficult to justify the continued existence of the Hall due to its lack of use. At such a time the Girl Guides become active again, their needs could easily be met at a number of other community facilities that could provide a small storage space and access to a room to conduct activities, toilets and a kitchenette. Scout Hall

The 1st Manjimup Scout Group utilises the Scout Hall two times per week and has expended significant efforts to maintain and upgrade the facility. It is well located next to bushland for their activities and the building meets their needs. With ongoing maintenance the building will continue into the long term. Whilst the Scout Group continues to maintain and utilise the Hall at their own expense there is justification for the Hall to remain in its current location. Rea Park Rea Park Oval

The Oval is in good condition. It is utilised for training and competition in the winter by the Tigers Football Club and in the summer by the Manjimup Rovers Soccer Club. According to the Parks Operations Manager drainage is currently working well however it is likely that silting has occurred and a cleanout will be required in the short to medium term. The dimensions of the oval meet the needs of the current user groups, and the floodlighting is provided to Australian Standards for community level competition and training for both football and soccer. Tigers Clubrooms

The Tigers Clubrooms is the home of the Tigers Football Club. Football clubs are recognised as important focal points for social interaction in regional communities, and a home clubroom facility is an integral feature to football culture. Whilst the building is ageing the TFC continues to maintain it at its own expense and there is no reason to suggest it should not continue to function into the long term. The Clubrooms is a substantial facility that is being maintained by the lessee and is also used for other purposes such as the Agricultural Society Show Day. It continues to fulfil the needs of the key user groups, therefore there is rationale for retaining the facility. Should the Manjimup Rovers Soccer Club require access to clubroom facilities during the summer competition, an agreement should be reached with the TFC for hiring of the facilities. At such a time that the Tigers Clubrooms requires replacement, redevelopment of the Lions Clubrooms and the toilet / changeroom block should be included in the overall development to provide a single building that includes the toilets and changerooms under the one roof and reduces duplication of facilities. The user groups of both the Lions Clubrooms and the Tigers Clubrooms would appear to be quite compatible and as such the users would benefit from shared responsibility of building maintenance and expenses. There would also be an opportunity to include office space for regional leagues such as the Lower South West Football League, Lower South West Junior Football League and the Lower South West Soccer League.


Rea Park Changeroom / Toilet Block

The Rea Park changeroom/toilet block is ageing however it is still in good structural condition and can continue serving the needs of users of Rea Park into the long term. It is evident that the building is aesthetically poor and would benefit from some refurbishment to continue its service at an acceptable standard to the community. The location of the facility is not ideal being separated from the main building of the Reserve – the Tigers Clubrooms. The changeroom/toilet block should be demolished at the time of replacement of the Tigers Clubrooms and incorporated into a single new building. Lions Clubrooms

The Lions Clubrooms is used by several community organisations on a regular basis and provides hall space for functions and the annual show days. This building is ageing and has some maintenance issues relating to moisture affecting the flooring, however, this building is important to the key user groups (Lions Club and Agricultural Society) who are now investigating ways to resolve this issue. Whilst this building is continued to be maintained and utilised by the key user groups there is rationale for retaining the Lions Clubrooms until such time that the Tigers Clubrooms need to be replaced. At this time, the Lions Clubrooms, the Tigers Clubrooms and the changeroom / toilet block should be demolished and replaced with a single new facility that meets the needs of all. Agricultural Society Sheds

The Warren District Agricultural, Horticultural and Industrial Society have five sheds at the northern end of Rea Park Oval, with one no longer used (two have been removed since the drafting of this report). There are also steel yards and sheltered pens formerly used by the equestrian clubs that are now being utilised by the Agricultural Society. The pens require upgrading to become fit for use. Four of the sheds are in poor to very poor condition, with the storage shed still in reasonable condition. They are in various locations that detract from the aesthetics of the reserve and are not ideal for the movement of people on show days. Apart from the storage shed, there is rationale for the removal of the rest of the Agricultural Society sheds and replacement with one large shed that would cater for the Show Day and other large events as well as providing multiple other uses including spectator shelter for the Oval and a place for children and adult sports participants to train during poor weather conditions. Potential for multi-marked courts should be explored. Schools in particular would benefit from the large sheltered area using it as a means for protecting the children from the sun or the rain during sports carnivals. The design of a large multi-purpose shed should aim to be as flexible as possible to enable broad community use. Consultation with all potential users of such a facility should be conducted during the detailed design phase in order to develop an innovative facility that will enhance the sport, recreation and event opportunities for the Shire. The storage shed and steel yards are in relatively good condition and their current location is not detracting from the reserve. However, if in future years further active reserve space is required the most logical option is for the ‘side show alley’ to be expanded. Should this occur, the shed and yards should be relocated east of the sheltered pens thus keeping the livestock in one main area. The sheltered pens require restoration to be made fit for use for animals on show days.


Equestrian Facilities

The Warren Horseman’s Club and the Warren Pony Club no longer occupy Rea Park and have established themselves at the Warren Equestrian Centre. Their buildings and sheds are ageing and no longer utilised, with the lease having expired in February 2009 and as such these buildings should be removed to ensure they do not become a safety hazard in future years. Power Supply

Sufficient power supply is necessary for any future improvements to floodlighting and for the ability of the Precinct to host large events such as circuses and concerts. It is important that when an upgrade is performed that it have sufficient capacity to cater for the potential long term electricity requirements of the whole Precinct so that further costly upgrades to the power can be avoided in the future. The maximum requirement for power that CSRP is likely to require in the future is for the existing sporting grounds as well as a potential new oval to be fully floodlit to competition standard, and for the Precinct to have sufficient power for large events. An electrical contractor is required to assess the power supply requirements for CSRP and to upgrade the power supply accordingly. The stakeholder groups at CSRP should be consulted in the assessment process and in particular the Warren District Agricultural, Horticultural and Industrial Society with regards to the annual show that they host at CSRP. It is recommended that the Shire of Manjimup engage an appropriate electrical consultant to assess the potential future power requirements of the Collier St / Rea Park Precinct and to upgrade the power supply to the Precinct accordingly. Pathways

As identified in the Participation Trends section (9.1) walking is the number one non organised physical activity participated in by persons aged 15 years and over with running and bushwalking also ranking in the top 10. However, the Collier St / Rea Park Precinct is not serviced by pathways to the reserve, nor does it have pathways within the reserve linking the various facilities together. Dual use pathways to the Precinct will encourage increased casual use of the reserve by the community, as well as encouraging more sports participants to cycle or walk as a means of transport rather than driving. CSRP would become a destination location on the pathway network encouraging walking / cycling for leisure and exercise. The Shire of Manjimup is currently developing a pathways plan for the Town of Manjimup that will seek to provide pedestrian / cycling linkages between key areas including schools, recreation facilities and the Town Centre. It is recommended that the Shire of Manjimup include the Collier St / Rea Park Precinct in its pathway network planning in order to encourage a greater level of walking and cycling in the community. Pathways within the reserve linking the facilities together will aid the movement of pedestrian traffic and increase accessibility to the various facilities for persons with mobility difficulties. The Shire is committed to improving accessibility to public facilities for all people within its Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2007, therefore the development of pathways within CSRP should be a priority development.


The large area of bushland to the east of Rea Park Oval also provides opportunity for a nature trail to be developed in the future that could include interpretive signage and seating. The provision of a trail through this bushland would provide the Town with an additional recreation facility that would encourage greater physical activity in the community and therefore the provision of such a facility is justified. However, pathways to provide access to and within CSRP are of greater importance and it would be prudent to consider the design, location and timing of development of a trail within CSRP in a Trails Master Plan for the whole of the Shire. It is recommended that the Shire of Manjimup consider the design, location and timing of development of a trail at the Collier St / Rea Park Precinct within a Trails Master Plan for the Shire. Driveways and Parking

There is no significant requirement for major changes to the driveways and parking arrangement at CSRP, however there are several improvements that can be made. Driveways

At Rea Park there is a bitumen driveway leading to the Tigers Clubrooms with the remainder of the driveways around the oval being gravel. The consultation process has not unveiled a significant need for additional bitumen driveway at Rea Park, and the existing bitumen driveway is in good condition. The gravel drive that circles the oval allows for spectator parking around the ground, which are standard practice at most rural ovals. Overall, there is no significant need for modifications to the existing driveways at Rea Park. Improvements to the entrance, i.e. provision of an entrance statement to Rea Park will add to the overall amenity of the reserve and consistent with being a venue for major events in the Shire. At the Collier St Reserve spectator parking on the west side of the playing fields is accessed from Collier St at the northern end. The Scout Group has reported problems with some vehicles speeding past their grounds on which they conduct activities with children. Should the BMX track be removed there would be an opportunity to grade a gravel driveway from the Johnson St entrance directly to the western side of the playing fields, bypassing the Scout Hall altogether. This will also reduce the amount of traffic using Collier St which divides Rea Park and the Collier St Reserve, thus improving safety for pedestrians crossing from one reserve to the other. Parking

Current and expected future usage of CSRP does not indicate a need for additional parking area. Spectators park around the grounds on game days as is common practice in regional towns. There is also parking at the Collier Street Pavilion and along Collier Street itself. The parking surface is gravel and is predominantly on level ground which is sufficient for current and future uses of the reserve. The addition of pathways that connect the parking areas to the main facilities will improve access for wheelchairs and prams.


11 CONCEPT PLAN

The proposed concept plan for the Collier St / Rea Park Precinct Sport and Recreation Facilities Master Plan can be seen as Appendix 1 to this report. This concept plan has been interpreted from the perceived needs of the sporting and recreation organisations, the community from public submissions and Community Satisfaction Study Report 2008, technical advice from City staff and best practice principles of sporting facility provision. The Concept Plan sketch has been prepared by A Balanced View Leisure Consultancy. The proposed facility developments are explained below. Cricket Practice Nets

A block of four cricket practice nets has been indicated on the Concept Plan in the existing location of the cricket nets; however the new nets are angled out in a NNW direction. The change in angle will reduce safety concerns of balls being hit out on to Collier St and the increase in the number of nets will significantly improve the capacity and quality of practice for the Warren Blackwood Cricket Association. Spectator Shelter

A spectator shelter is indicated on the Concept Plan to the western side of the northern section of Collier St Reserve. This location will provide good afternoon viewing away from the sun as well as protection from the elements as it is enclosed on three sides. A shelter of approximately 9m x 3m will fit in between the trees that have been planted along the western side of the Reserve and will have standing room for 30-40 spectators. Playground

A small fenced playground has been indicated on the Concept Plan to the West of the Collier St Pavilion. This location will assist young mothers in participating in hockey whilst being able to supervise their children. Removal of BMX Track

The removal of the BMX track has been indicated on the Concept Plan as it is a recommendation of the report that a suitable location be found for the development of a multi-use skate / BMX park. This area can be cleared and used for overflow parking if required. Collier St Pavilion

The refurbishment of the Collier St Pavilion and toilet/changeroom block has been indicated on the Concept Plan to enable its continued use into the long term. Warren Art and Craft Cottages

The removal of the Warren Art and Craft Group Cottages has been indicated on the Concept Plan as it is a recommendation of this report that the Warren Art and Craft Group be relocated to a more appropriate venue. Girl Guides Hall

The removal of the Girl Guides Hall has been indicated on the Concept Plan as it is a recommendation of this report that the needs of the Girl Guides be met in an alternative location if the organisation re-forms in the future. This will reduce unnecessary duplication of facilities.


Scout Hall

The Scout Hall is to be retained as it is well utilised by the 1st Manjimup Scouts Group and fulfils their facility needs. Rea Park Oval

Rea Park Oval is indicated on the Concept Plan to have the drainage cleaned out due to age and is likely to have silted up. Tigers Clubrooms

The Tigers Clubrooms is to be retained as it is well utilised by the Tigers Football Club and fulfils their facility needs. Rea Park Changeroom / Toilet Block

The Rea Park changeroom / toilet block is indicated on the Concept Plan to be refurbished to enable its continued use by the users of Rea Park. Lions Clubrooms

The Lions’ Clubrooms are indicated on the Concept Plan to be refurbished to enable its continued use by the Lions Club of Manjimup, the Warren District Agricultural, Horticultural and Industrial Society and other community groups. Agricultural Society Sheds

Four of the Agricultural Society sheds are indicated on the Concept Plan to be removed and replaced with one large shed at the northern end of the Tigers Clubrooms. This will replace small dilapidated sheds that clutter the area with one large one which can have multiple uses including spectator shelter for the oval and as an undercover training area for sports during bad weather. This shed is indicated to be 40m x 30m and could potentially be developed in two stages. A shed of this size would meet the show area needs of the Agricultural Society and have an array of uses for the community, particularly as an undercover training area for sporting clubs and as spectator shelter. The Agricultural Society / Lions Club storage shed and the steel yards have been indicated on the Concept Plan to be relocated to the east to allow enough space for a new oval to be built if there is a need in the future. The sheltered pens are indicated on the Concept Plan to be restored. Equestrian Facilities

The facilities built by the Warren Horseman’s Club and the Warren Pony Club have been indicated on the Concept Plan to be removed as these clubs have since relocated and no longer use these facilities. Power Supply

The power supply is indicated to be upgraded on the Concept Plan to be able to adequately cater for events such as circuses and concerts and for further floodlighting upgrades / additions for the existing grounds and for the potential new oval.


Pathways

Dual use pathways are indicated on the Concept Plan to connect the Collier St / Rea Park Precinct to the Town’s pathway network and improve accessibility amongst facilities within the Precinct. This will encourage more people to walk and cycle to the Precinct and improve accessibility for all persons. A potential future nature trail through the bushland to the east of Rea Park is indicated on the Concept Plan. This will further enhance recreational walking facilities in the Shire. Driveways

A gravel driveway linking the Collier St Pavilion parking area directly to the western side of the Collier St Reserve is indicated on the Concept Plan. This will reduce traffic travelling along Collier St and driving past the Scout Hall. The development of an entrance statement at the Rea Park entrance will also assist in the branding and identification of the facility. Parking

The existing parking areas are appropriate for the Collier St / Rea Park Precinct. Accessibility to and from the parking areas will be improved with the development of pathways. Potential Future Oval

A potential future oval has been indicated on the Concept Plan to show the most appropriate location for a new oval should the need arise in the future and the Shire decide that Rea Park is the most appropriate location. This location takes advantage of utilising a large section of the ‘sideshow alley’ area that was once hockey grounds and is close to existing clubrooms and the changeroom / toilet block. A new oval would require additional water supply, thus the dam is indicated on the Concept Plan to be extended to allow for doubling of the water storage capacity should a new oval be developed.


12 COST ESTIMATES

The capital cost estimates of the proposed Collier Street / Rea Park Precinct Sport and Recreation Facilities Master Plan have been prepared by Davis Langdon from the Concept Plan depicted and can be seen as Appendix 5 to this report. A summary of the costings are provided below. Demolition / Refurbishment / Driveway Remove BMX track incl site grade $ 120,000

Demolish Arts and Craft Cottages (No. 2) 10,000

Demolish Girl Guides Hall (No. 1) 5,000

Refurbish Collier St toilet block 50,000

Refurbish Collier St Pavilion 100,000

Gravel driveway 12,000

Demolish existing cricket practice net (No. 2) 500

Concrete paving footpath 115,000

Refurbish changeroom/toilet block 75,000

Demolish Agricultural Society Sheds (No. 4) 25,000

Demolish Equestrian Sheds (No. 5) 7,000

Relocate Agricultural Society/Lions storage shed and steel

fenced yards (No. 1) 110,000

Restore sheltered livestock pens 50,000

Refurbish Lions Clubrooms 100,000

Site clearance (Equestrian grounds) 20,000

Clean out drainage to main oval 25,000

Sub-total $ 824,500 New Works Spectator shelter (Collier St) $ 17,000

Small playground incl sand base and equipment 40,000

Cricket practice nets incl. hard wickets (No. 4) 25,000

Multi-purpose shed (could be staged) 1,020,000

Entrance statement/signage 20,000

WAWA charges 20,000

Sub-total $ 1,142,000 Exclusions Upgrade power supply to CSRP Work to existing storm-water, gas, water, fire protection and sewer services Landscaping provision Western Power head works and charges (assume part of upgrade of power supply) Professional fees (excl electrical consultant fees). Relocation of Warren Art and Craft Group and Girl Guides. Budget Items Professional fees (electrical consultant fees only) $ 20,000

Contingency provision (allow 15% of total construction cost) 325,000

TOTAL INDICATIVE COST (Excl GST) $ 2,311,500


Note:

� All costs are current as at April 2009 � An extra 15% of total construction cost should be allowed for construction of the new

Multi-purpose shed in two stages � Assume refurbishment is not involved any structural works and any work to existing

services. The allowance is made for refurbishment of existing finishes and fitments � Escalation is approx 3 - 5% over next 12 months

These costings include all works listed in this Master Plan for the short to medium term (0-10 years). In the long term, this Master Plan has identified a potential new oval to be added to the Precinct as well as a nature trail through the bushland. A new oval costs approximately $500,000 in today’s costs. A crushed limestone trail costs approximately $40per metre (2m width) which equates to approximately $80,000 for a 2km trail. It should also be noted that the Shire of Manjimup may be able to perform a significant portion of the works thus reducing some of the costs. Such works may include some of the demolition works, site clearance and development of the gravel driveway.


13 MANAGEMENT

13.1 Leases

This report recommends the retention of the major facilities on the reserve including the Collier St Pavilion, Scout Hall, Lions Clubrooms, and the Tigers Clubrooms. The Scouts Hall is leased to the 1st Manjimup Scouts Group, the Lions Clubrooms joint leased to the Lions Club of Manjimup and Warren District Agricultural, Horticultural and Industrial Society, and the Tigers Clubrooms are leased to the Tigers Football Club. These clubs have leased and maintained these buildings for many years and each plan to continue to maintain / upgrade these buildings as necessary. Overall, it is recommended that these arrangements are retained as they encourage the community sport / recreation groups to have a strong sense of ownership whilst they maintain the buildings with little cost to the Shire. An asset maintenance plan should be devised for each facility at CSRP as a means for ensuring these buildings are kept to an appropriate standard. These asset maintenance plans should be formulated by each of the lessees in conjunction with the Shire. It is recommended that the Shire of Manjimup prepare asset maintenance plans for each of the facilities at the Collier St / Rea Park Precinct in conjunction with the lessees. As these leases are progressively renewed, Council should move to ensure the new lease agreements allow for equitable community access Council buildings and public open space whilst providing long term assurances for the lessee. It is recommended that the Shire of Manjimup develop a Leases and Licences Policy to enable fair and equitable access to Council property by leases and licenses to community groups. The 1st Manjimup Scouts Group lease for the Scouts Hall has expired on February 25 2009. This report recommends that the facility be retained under the management of the Scouts Group; therefore the lease should be renewed. The Girls Guides are not currently active and it is recommended in this report that this building be removed. Therefore, upon expiry of this lease on December 31 2010 this lease should not be renewed. This report recommends the relocation of the Warren Art and Craft Group in the short term (0-5 years) to a shared facility in a more appropriate location. The lease on the cottages expires on December 11 2018. Upon relocation of the Warren Art and Craft Group the lease agreement should be terminated. 13.2 Collier St Pavilion Management

This facility is currently managed by the Shire and hired out to community groups. As the Collier St Reserve is currently used by four main user groups (Soccer, Hockey, Cricket and Martial Arts) it is advised that the Shire continue to manage the Pavilion to ensure each group has a fair and equitable access.


13.3 Operating Income / Expenditure

In 2007/2008 the following operating income / expenditure was recorded for the CSRP Precinct: Location: Res 19552 – REA PARK

EXPENDITURE 07/08 ITEM AMOUNT Chemicals/fertilisers 1079.41 Fencing 127.27 Maintenance – General 265.54 Mowing – Contract 7035.00 Mowing – Shire 1495.01 Oval Maintenance 680.70 Pump Maintenance 42.27 Reticulation – repairs 1893.67 Spraying 673.77 Electricity 1413.40 Grounds Committee payment (Tigers FC) 7000.00 Utilities 4648.91 Water 2474.60 Total Exp 07/08 $28,829.55

INCOME 07/08

Lease fee – Tigers FC 110.00 Total Inc 07/08 $110.00 Location: Res 19552 – COLLIER STREET

EXPENDITURE 07/08 ITEM AMOUNT Chemicals/fertilisers 4949.52 Fencing 186.36 General Park Maintenance 1530.56 Maintenance – General 8054.82 Mowing – Contract 5760.00 Mowing – Shire 1863.61 Oval Maintenance 503.85 Reticulation – repairs 5141.21 Spraying 416.34 General 1000.00 Electricity 1334.73 Total Exp 07/08 $30,741.00

INCOME 07/08

Hall Hire (Karate Hall) 881.09 Total Inc 07/08 $881.09 Source: Shire of Manjimup


The costs for maintaining these reserves are considered quite reasonable when compared to other LGA’s active reserve maintenance costs. The City of Bunbury advises they spend $60,000 - $80,000 per standard community oval and the Shire of Murray advises they spend $65,000 on their community ovals. This is approximately twice the amount spent by the Shire of Manjimup. The facility developments listed within this report (0-10 years) do not include additional infrastructure or active reserve space. Therefore there is no significant change expected to the ongoing operational expenditure in that period of time. Other than the holding of events such as show days and circuses there is little potential for other significant forms of revenue raising. Collier St / Rea Park is vested in the Shire for the purposes of recreation, race course and agricultural showgrounds and therefore this prevents commercial development. CSRP is also zoned as Parks and Recreation and it is located on the outskirts of town, thus making it an undesirable location for commercial development as it would detract from the town centre being the hub of business activity.


14 POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN PRIORITIES

The following details a proposed order of priorities for implementation of the Collier St / Rea Park Precinct Sport and Recreation Facilities Master Plan. This Plan is an interpretation of the stakeholders’ needs and is intended as a guide for the timing of developments. The Master Plan is prioritised as follows:

Short Term 0 – 5 years Medium Term 5 – 10 years Long Term 10 – 30 years

Short Term 0 – 5 years

� Replace cricket nets � Construct spectator shelter � Refurbish Collier St Pavilion and toilet block � Support development of small fenced playground at Collier Street. � Find suitable location for Warren Art and Craft Group and relocate � Remove Warren Art and Craft Group cottages � Find suitable location for Girl Guides and relocate (if group reforms) � Remove Girl Guides Hall � Refurbish Rea Park changeroom / toilet block � Refurbish Lions Clubrooms � Remove equestrian buildings and sheds. Clean up site to make safe. � Construct multi-purpose agricultural shed (possibility to stage into two) and remove

old agricultural sheds (STG 1 $700k; STG 2 $320k) � Restore sheltered pens � Upgrade power supply � Plan for multi-purpose skate / BMX facility in appropriate location within Town � Review and update sport and recreation facilities plan for the Shire

Medium Term 5 – 10 years

� Engage an appropriate consultant to conduct a trails master plan for the Shire � Upon construction of multi-purpose skate / BMX facility – remove Collier St BMX

track � Construct drive from Collier St Pavilion car park through to western side of Collier St

Reserve � Construct dual use pathways linking facilities in Precinct and to the Town’s pathway

network. � Construct second stage of multi-purpose agricultural shed � Relocate Ag Society / Lions Club storage shed and steel yards

Long Term 10 – 30 years

� Construct a nature trail at CSRP Precinct if it fits in with the Shire’s Trails Master Plan

� Review and update sport and recreation facilities plan for the Shire � Develop new oval at CSRP if this is recommended within updated sport and

recreation facilities plan. Expansion of the dam will be required at the same time also.


15 FUNDING AND GRANTS

There are a number of funding sources that may provide funding opportunities for this Master Plan project. The timing of funding applications for this project will depend on a number of factors including; the agreed level of overall development, the timing and potential staging options and the capabilities of different users to contribute to costs. Sporting and Community Organisations

Once a firm future development proposal is adopted, more specific consultation with the key sporting and community group stakeholders should be undertaken in order to fully assess the potential for those groups to contribute. Likely funding contribution scenarios include fundraising towards the capital costs, provision of in kind services towards the projects development (including general labour, and some specialist services that members may possess skills for) and ongoing servicing of a self supporting loan. Shire of Manjimup

The Shire of Manjimup will most likely be responsible for the majority of funding for any redevelopment of the sport and recreation facilities at the Collier St / Rea Park Precinct. This could occur via a number of methods including utilising financial reserves, general rates, loan borrowings or sale of assets. Apart from the Shire’s reserves and borrowings and the sporting and community organisations and their respective governing bodies, the following Funding and Grant opportunities have been identified. Department of Sport & Recreation

� Community Sport and Recreation Facilities Fund (CSRFF)

The CSRFF is the primary grant available to sporting clubs and Local Government Authorities for the development of sporting infrastructure. CSRRF provides up to one third of the cost of the total cost to a maximum of $1.8 million for a project with a total fund of $20 million per year for the State, increased from $9 million in previous years. See Appendix 6 for further details. The main facility developments listed within this report that fall within the scope of the CSRFF scheme include the Collier St Pavilion refurbishment, the Rea Park changeroom / toilet block refurbishment, the new cricket practice nets and the spectator shelter.

Lotterywest

� Community Facilities Grants

Lotterywest is a West Australian Government Agency that supports not for profit community based organisations through the provision of grants for a wide range of initiatives. In 2006/2007 Lotterywest awarded $74.8 million in grants to community organisations and local government authorities. See Appendix 6 for further details. As a charitable community organisation, the Lions Club of Manjimup may be eligible to receive funding for the refurbishment of the clubrooms however direct consultation between the Lions Club and Lotterywest is required to fully assess eligibility.


South West Development Commission

� South West Regional Grants Scheme

RGS was launched by the Minister for Regional Development Brendon Grylls on 12 February 2009 as one “of a series of funding initiatives designed to make regional areas including the Gascoyne Region an even better place to live, work and grow”. RGS’ focus is the improvement of economic and community infrastructure and services in the region, with priority afforded to projects that attract investment, increase employment and/or enhance the quality of life in the region. See Appendix 6 for further details. The development of a large multi-purpose shed may be eligible for funding under this scheme however all potential projects must be discussed with the South West Development Commission.

Department of Planning and Infrastructure

� Regional Bicycle Network (RBN) Local Government Grants

The Regional Bicycle Network (RBN), formerly the Country Pathways Grant Scheme, provides “funding assistance to local government authorities to assist in the planning, development and promotion of shared paths and cycling facilities in regional Western Australia”. See Appendix 6 for further details. The development of the dual use pathways at CSRP could be considered for funding under this scheme.

The above funding schemes represent the most likely sources of grant monies for the facility developments listed in this Master Plan project. A Funding and Grants document that provides further details on these funding schemes and other potential sources is provided as Appendix 6 to this report.


16 RECOMMENDATIONS

It is recommended that the Shire of Manjimup: Receive the Collier St / Rea Park Precinct Sport and Recreation Facilities Master Plan. Consider the infrastructure developments listed within this report to meet the needs of the community and key stakeholders of the Collier St / Rea Park Precinct. Review the Master Plan on an annual basis to bring into account demographic, financial, social and environmental changes impacting on the community. Update the Shire of Manjimup Sport and Recreation Plan in five year intervals and at any time major sporting infrastructure is approaching its time for replacement. Investigate the potential for the Ringbark Tennis Club to relocate to the Arnott / Rutherford St Reserve. Identify a suitable location for a multi-purpose skate/BMX park; and

Engage a Skate/BMX park design and construction company to consult with the youth and design and construct an appropriate multi-purpose skate / BMX facility. Engage an appropriate electrical consultant to assess the potential future power requirements of the Collier St / Rea Park Precinct and to upgrade the power supply to the Precinct accordingly. Include the Collier St / Rea Park Precinct in its pathway network planning in order to encourage a greater level of walking and cycling in the community. Consider the design, location and timing of development of a trail at the Collier St / Rea Park Precinct within a Trails Master Plan for the Shire. Prepare asset maintenance plans for each of the facilities at the Collier St / Rea Park Precinct in conjunction with the lessees. Develop a Leases and Licences Policy to enable fair and equitable access to Council property by leases and licenses to community groups.


17 APPENDICES

Appendix 1 Collier St / Rea Park Precinct Concept Plan Appendix 2 Maloney Assessment System Appendix 3 Public Submissions Appendix 4 Collier Street Lighting Plan Appendix 5 Construction Cost Estimates Appendix 6 Funding and Grants


Shire of Manjimup · Sport and Recreation Facilities Master Plan Shire of Manjimup Collier Street / Rea Park Precinct Final Report July 2010 A Balanced View (ABV) Leisure Consultancy

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