The City of Joondalup has put a third option on the table for long-awaited upgrades to Heathridge Park, which proposes keeping all tennis courts and revamping the existing buildings.
Councillors endorsed updates to two concept designs for Heathridge Park earlier this month, which incorporated community feedback from late 2020.
The original two draft concept designs featured a new multi-purpose sporting building to replace three buildings across the 9.6ha park and a reduction from 10 to six tennis courts.
One option included the addition of a second junior playing field to the park.
The two options were estimated to cost $14.6 million and $15.6 million, of which $2.5 million had already been committed by the State Government.
However, the updated plans endorsed by council this month have increased the number of retained courts to eight following “strong opposition” from the community.
Other changes include more parking, rooms added to the multi-purpose building, not expanding the sports playing fields, retention of existing cricket nets and relocation of the basketball pad to another location.
A third option — expected to have a lower overall cost — was also added, focusing on upgrading the Heathridge Park Clubroom, Guy Daniel Clubroom and Heathridge Community Centre instead of building a new multi-purpose facility.
This option proposes the retention of all existing sporting fields and the 10 tennis courts, redevelopment of the Heathridge Park Clubroom with a new community sporting facility, and refurbishment of the Guy Daniel Clubroom and Heathridge Community Centre.
“It is anticipated that option three would have a lower capital cost than the current masterplan and could be constructed in a phased approach,” the officer’s report said.
Speaking at the council meeting, deputy mayor John Logan said Heathridge Park had been “overlooked for far too long” with clubs struggling to make do with the “sub-standard facilities and infrastructure at the park”.
“The new concept design option, it could be a game-changer because the cost of delivering improved facilities at Heathridge Park has of course been a major obstacle,” he said.
“But there is a heck of a lot of work that still needs to be done.”
Mayor Albert Jacob said all of the user groups needed to come on board to progress the project.
“This is most definitely the next big important district project now that Chichester (Park) is nearly finished,” he said.
City staff will prepare another report with revised cost estimates before going out for further community consultation.
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