Provision of regional-level sporting facilities in Growth Areas Perth and Peel
There is limited provision of regional-level sporting facilities in the outer metropolitan areas of Perth, reflecting past undersupply that has not kept up with high population growth.
According to the Western Australian Government’s Classification framework for public open space, regional-level sporting facilities are 20 hectares or larger in area, and large enough to accommodate various concurrent uses, including but not limited to organised sports, and children’s play. A regional-level sporting facility may accommodate important recreation and organised sport spaces and service one or more geographical regions, with a catchment extending to multiple local government areas.
There are an estimated 78,000 people per week who travel more than 10 kilometres to access a regional-level facility to participate in organised sports and swimming. This equates to 96 million kilometres of excess travel per year.
Lack of access and higher transportation costs impact participation in organised sports. This includes direct costs for individuals, and other impacts such as social exclusion and public health costs from a more sedentary population.
Between 2019 and 2041, population in the growth areas of Perth and Peel is expected to increase by 64% from 1.2 million to 1.9 million. This will increase the problem in terms of social and health impacts and put further pressure on already limited facilities across Perth.
This proposal aligns with the 2019 Australian Infrastructure Audit challenges #110 and #113.
Potential options for addressing the identified problems focus on the construction of priority regional-level facilities, which include aquatic facilities, and organised sport facilities, such as reserves and sporting complexes.
Key considerations in the options selection process are whether the councils of Growth Areas Perth and Peel should deliver the identified priority facilities independently or cooperatively.
These options respond to opportunity #111 in the 2019 Australian Infrastructure Audit, which identify the joint- and shared-use of recreation infrastructure as a solution to improving access for communities to high-quality infrastructure and reduce operator and user costs.
Proponent to develop and submit a business case for an investment-ready proposal (Stage 3 of Infrastructure Australia’s Assessment Framework).
Refer to Infrastructure Glossary for terms and definitions.