Published on Tuesday, 22 July 2014 at 12:00:00 AM
The Shire of Ashburton has given its approval to undertake a more detailed assessment into the viability of constructing Onslow’s new aquatic facility on McRae Avenue.
The local demand for such a facility has been evident for some time. A lack of recreational facilities in Onslow was highlighted as a concern for residents who took part in community consultation in 2011. That same year, Chevron finalised a State Development Agreement for the Wheatstone Project. This agreement mandated investment in social infrastructure improvements, which saw $7 million allocated to an ‘Onslow Aquatic and Recreational Centre’.
Shire President Kerry White noted that Council had given prior endorsement to the proposed construction of an aquatic facility in 2010, as outlined in the Onslow Sporting Precinct Master Plan. “At the time, we were looking into building an aquatic facility at a site between the multi-purpose centre and existing basketball courts,” said Cr White.
“Shire Officers have been working with Chevron and Department of State Development (DSD) to progress the aquatic centre project. This has included an investigation into the appropriateness of the site initially identified in the master plan.
“In selecting the site, it appears key constraints were not considered, such as the availability of services, earthwork requirements and access. These factors may impact the cost of site preparation, and therefore reduce the budget available for construction of the actual facilities.”
Alternative locations were investigated, taking into consideration proximity to other facilities, earthwork requirements, accessibility and other constraints. It was identified that a site on McRae Avenue offers greater benefits to the delivery of the project and the Onslow community.
“It is adjacent to the primary school, with students identified as a main user group of the facility,” said Cr White. “Plus there are minimal design restraints.”
With the Council endorsing this new site for the proposed aquatic facility at its July Council meeting, a detailed business case will be compiled to help determine the facility’s final design, management and financial viability. This business case is expected to be complete within six months.
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