1 - Cairns Regional Council

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COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE
9 OCTOBER 2013
1
WALKER ROAD SPORT AND RECREATION PRECINCT MASTER PLAN
Nikki Young: 1/58/16: #3981701
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that Council:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
endorses the Walker Road Sport and Recreation Precinct Master Plan 2013;
seeks the agreement of neighbouring land owners to re-align the boundary
of the south east corner of the precinct to the mutual benefit of all parties;
progresses the detailed design phase of the project;
commits to progress complimentary precinct master planning at the Martyn
Street Sports reserve; and
delegates authority to the Chief Executive Officer in accordance with the
Local Government Act 2012 to negotiate, finalise and execute any and all
matters associated with the above.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Council, through its Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan 2010-2015, is committed to
undertake a staged implementation of the Edmonton Sports Precinct Plan (Walker
Road) including a Master Plan.
The first stage of precinct development has been completed with the recent opening of
the $14.6 million Edmonton Leisure Centre. The next stage involves responding to the
growing pressure on existing sporting field facilities in the Edmonton and southern
corridor. The overall intent is to create and build in stages a sustainable sport and
recreation precinct to meet this community need.
Council commissioned Strategic Leisure Group (SLG), Council’s preferred Parks and
Leisure consultants under Local Buy, to develop a Master Plan for the Walker Road
green field site to meet the future sport and recreation demand of the southern corridor.
The Master Plan report provides a vision for the Walker Road Sport and Recreation
Precinct including a concept design and estimate of costs. The Executive Summary
forms Attachment 1, while the full report is available on the Executive floor (Mayor’s
Office and Councillors Front Desk).
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The Master Plan allows for the following sporting field configuration (refer Attachment
2):
භ 2 junior oval fields for vigoro and junior cricket;
භ 2 senior oval fields for vigoro and junior/senior cricket, overlay hockey and
temporary athletics track;
භ 5 hard courts for netball, futsal, volleyball;
භ 1 rectangular rugby field or two touch football/oz tag fields;
භ 2 senior baseball diamonds multi use with softball; and
භ 2 senior softball diamonds multi use with baseball.
The plan accommodates the following factors:
x
x
x
x
Proposed road link connection off Logomeir Road to Roberts Road will
compromise green field land for sport and recreation purposes.
Obscure sewer line runs through the site which impacts on several playing fields.
Isabella Primary State School are favourable to opening the school grounds for
sporting groups.
Edmonton Leisure Centre resides on the site under the management of PCYC.
These aspects are detailed in the Master Plan Report. Officers commend SLG on the
report and the recommendation to move the Master Plan into the next phase of detail
design. The outcomes of the Master Plan are now being brought to Council for formal
endorsement.
BACKGROUND:
Council acquired the Walker Road site in 2008 following a recommendation endorsed
by Council in the 2007 Edmonton Sport and Recreation Facility Needs Study
(ESRFNS), to meet the significant shortfall for field sports in the southern corridor.
In 2009 a feasibility study for the Edmonton Indoor Multi-purpose Centre (now referred
to as the Edmonton Leisure Centre) was undertaken and Council resolved to locate the
centre on the Walker Road site. Council has now constructed Stage 1 incorporating a
purpose built Category 5 rated Public Cyclone Shelter that will function as a leisure
centre when not required for emergency purposes.
The demand for sport and recreation facilities in the Southern growth corridor moved
Council to commission Strategic Leisure Group (SLG) to develop a Master Plan for the
Walker Road green field site; the applied project methodology was as follows:
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Stage 1: Inception, Background Research;
Stage 2: Investigation and Stakeholder Engagement;
Stage 3: Analysis of Information, Development of Options;
Stage 4: Master Plan Development.
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COMMENT:
The Walker Road Sport and Recreation Precinct is intended to provide an important hub
for formal sport in the growing southern corridor of Cairns, particularly for field sports.
The following are a number of key initiatives undertaken during the development of the
Master Plan;
EOI & Prioritisation
Sixteen (16) Expressions of Interest forms were received from thirteen (13) sports to
seek input into the project. Considering the comparative needs across sport and
recreation activities proposed for the site, a set of criteria was established to distinguish
between levels of need and highlight the greatest area of demand in prioritising the
thirteen sports. Six criteria were considered in total:
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Club participation trends (membership)
Sport participation trends (ERASS5 data)
Existing facilities
Shared use opportunities
Alternative facilities
Capital contribution
In terms of assessment priority the most important criteria were; the supply of existing
facilities, the opportunity for shared use and access to alternative facilities. Taking this
into account, the highest ranked sports were – Baseball, Softball, Vigoro, Cricket and
Football (Soccer) with second tier priority to include – Oztag, Touch Football, Hockey,
AFL and Netball.
Site comparison strategy
To obtain a clearer perspective of the existing sport and recreation precincts in the
Edmonton and surrounding area, a site comparison was undertaken to verify current
supply. Precincts identified included; Down Park, Petersen Park, Fuller Park, Fretwell
Park and Alley Park. In summary only some of these precincts provided for Vigoro,
Cricket and Football (Soccer), Oztag, Touch Football, Hockey, AFL and Netball which is
why the Walker Road Concept Plan caters for the highest priority sports including the
baseball and softball in the first instance.
User groups
The Walker Road Precinct is a multi-use facility which requires collaboration between all
user groups, a balance between formal sport and other recreational and community
uses will require careful management. Clear leadership from Council in establishing
site management and development of the precinct will be a priority.
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Jnr Baseball & Softball – Martyn Street
Letters of support (refer Attachment 3) have been received by Cairns Jnr Baseball and
Softball Associations (currently located within the Martyn Street Sports Reserve)
endorsing the Walker Road Concept Plan. Council Officer’s met extensively with both
association’s to gain their commitment to the vision and staging of the Master Plan.
Stage One provides that Baseball and Softball infrastructure be delivered first, hence
providing a regional level facility in the southern corridor and relieving pressure off the
constrained existing Martyn Street facilities.
As committed to in the 2013/14 Operational Plan, officers will undertake much needed
planning at the Martyn Street sports reserve which currently accommodates Baseball,
Softball as well as the large Cairns Netball Association. There has never been any
formal planning at this site which has manifest in many issues and user conflicts. At
completion of stage one of the Walker Road Master Plan, Cairns Jnr Baseball and
Softball will transition across to the new site allowing for a reduction in playing diamonds
at the Martyn Street reserve. Both Associations are agreeable to the transition strategy
for Martyn Street and will continue to be consulted extensively.
Management & Partnerships
Management of the Walker Road Sport and Recreation Precinct will be in accordance
with the draft Council Tenures Policy.
A critical consideration for the precinct will be identifying a management approach that
optimises partnership opportunities within precinct such as:
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Precinct Coordination Group/Sports Trust
PCYC activation and management of relevant spaces
Community: Landcare groups, traditional owners
Complementary commercial activities, sponsorship, club-commercial ventures
Potential Commercial use/tenure
It is noted that there are commercial opportunities in the south eastern corner where the
precinct abuts the Edmonton Town Square and other transport uses. A future body of
work will be conversations with the Mann Family, Mulgrave Mill and State Government
around the formalisation of this land.
CONSULTATION:
The following public participation techniques were implemented to consult and involve
residents in collecting community aspirations including sport and recreation needs for
the site.
The phone interviews and community consultation was held with the following
professional stakeholders:
භ Monica Halbert - Principal Isabella State School;
භ Tennis Queensland/Australia;
භ Department of Natural Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing;
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Ɣ Workshops; community design and sporting group workshops took place
separately at Hambledon House Edmonton;
භ Expression of interest document was distributed for clubs to voice their sporting
needs; this information was collated and informed key discussion amongst the
groups.
භ Council Officers conducted a three week community comment program
distributing the Draft Concept Design and Master Plan. A public “meet and greet”
was facilitated at the Edmonton Leisure Centre;
භ “Your Say” electronic forum on Councils web site was also utilised, the few
comments received were very specific to the need for recreation elements e.g.
fitness equipment, playgrounds etc.
All community feedback was collected via an issues register, as per Attachment 4.
CONSIDERATIONS:
Risk Management (including financials):
Consultant’s fee to complete the Walker Road Sport and Recreation Master Plan is
$37,200. The project was delivered on time and is vital to progress future phases of the
project.
Implementation of the various stages of the Master Plan will occur according to the most
urgent sport placement priorities. A staged implementation plan is included in
Attachment 5. It is noted that the development of baseball and softball infrastructure
has been prioritised as Stage 1.
The Master Plan is estimated to cost in the order of $15,827,830.00 million, cost
estimates are separated out in accordance with the Staged Implementation Plan, refer
Attachment 6. All effort will be made to minimise future construction costs. Some
possible mitigation strategies are outlined in Attachment 7.
Council has allocated $200,000 in the 2013/14 capital budget for detailed design to take
place following endorsement of the Master Plan.
Corporate and Operational Plans:
The following linkages to the Corporate Plan are most relevant to the Walker Road
Master Plan project:
Goal 2 Building Vibrant Communities
2.2 Improve the quality and opportunities for use of public space across the region.
2.3 Deliver equitable provision of a diverse range of sport and recreation opportunities.
Goal 3 Delivering Integrated Planning
3.1 Implement an integrated approach to planning by Council and stakeholders.
3.2 Deliver integrated provision of physical and social infrastructure in existing and
future parts of the region.
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Statutory:
A development application and subsequent Approval was obtained in 2009 for Walker
Road Site which included a Preliminary Approval for uses consistent with the Sport and
Recreation Planning Area and also for a Material Change of Use for Indoor Sport and
Entertainment (Edmonton Leisure Centre). The advancement of the Walker Road
Master Plan will require a future Code Assessable Planning application to be submitted
for subsequent stages as development progresses on the site.
Policy:
Procurement of the consultants has been conducted in accordance with Council’s
General Policy 1:02:23 (Procurement Policy).
Sustainability:
The sustainability scorecard relates to the development of the Master Plan document,
comments around the four themes of sustainability follow:
෽ Improving Resource Efficiency – travel related activity in relation to completing
the Master Plan.
෽ Conserving Biodiversity – this is not relevant to the development of the Master
Plan however if infrastructure is built then a scorecard will be completed for that
stage.
෽ Enhancing Community Health and Wellbeing – the outcome of 2007 Edmonton
Sport and Recreation Facility Needs Study (ESRFNS) was to meet the significant
shortfall for field sports in the southern corridor. The Master Plan will provide a
diverse range of sport and recreation participation opportunities for the Edmonton
and neighbouring communities.
෽ Delivering Sound Governance and Economic Management – SGL are Cairns
based Parks and Recreation consultants sourced under the Local Buy initiative in
the procurement policy.
Options:
Option 1 (recommended):
It is recommended that Council:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
endorse the Walker Road Sport and Recreation Precinct Master Plan 2013;
seeks the agreement of neighbouring land owners to re-align the boundary of the
south east corner of the precinct to the mutual benefit of all parties;
progresses the detailed design phase of the project;
commits to progress complimentary precinct planning at the Martyn Street Sports
reserve; and
delegates authority to the Chief Executive Officer in accordance with Local
Government Act 2012 to negotiate, finalise and execute any and all matters
associated with the above.
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Option 2:
That Council does not endorse the Walker Road Sport and Recreation Precinct Master
Plan 2013 as presented by Strategic Leisure Group and determines an alternative
course of action.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1 – Walker Road Master Plan Report by Strategic Leisure Group (Exec)
Attachment 2 – Concept Plan (Exec)
Attachment 3 – Letters of Support Cairns Jnr Baseball and Softball Associations
Attachment 4 – Issues Register for Community Feedback
Attachment 5 – Staged Implementation Plan
Attachment 6 – Cost Estimates (Exec)
Attachment 7 – Cost Savings
Nikki Young
Sport and Recreation Planner
Tim Dendle
Team Leader Sport and Recreation
Brett Spencer
Manager Parks and Leisure
Ian Lowth
General Manager Community, Sport and Cultural Services
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Attachment 1 - Walker Road Master Plan Report (Executive Summary only)
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Attachment 2 – Concept Plan
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Attachment 3 - Letters of Support Cairns Jnr Baseball and Softball Associations
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Cairns & District Softball Association
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Attachment 4 – Issues Register for Community Feedback
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Attachment 5 – Staged Implementation Plan
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Attachment 6 – Cost Estimates
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Attachment 7 – Cost Savings
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