Campbelltown City Council in the eastern suburbs of Adelaide has successfully redeveloped an out-dated recreation centre to become a major regional facility.
Opened in July 2016, the ARC Campbelltown now services 50,000 residents and a catchment of 250,000 (a quarter of the Adelaide population) as a regional recreation facility.
Council envisioned the facility in 2008, with a brief to update an existing 1960s-era dry recreation centre to create a multipurpose space for sports and community use.
The new facility includes show courts for basketball, volleyball and futsal as well as squash courts, a café, function spaces, a gym and aquatic spaces and a sauna, as well as three refurbished existing courts.
“It is a significant new asset and business for council, after years of planning, extensive community consultation and chasing funding,” said Council’s General Manager Urban Planning & Leisure Services, Kevin Lowe.
“It became a reality in 2016 with the construction of the new $26.5m aquatic and recreation centre funded by three tiers of government: Federal $7.5m, State $3m and Council $16m.”
The project was managed in-house with the support of the architects DesignInc who worked closely with the council and local builders Sarah Constructions.
Over 5000 people attended the opening last July, with significant levels of positive feedback.
Usage has grown from 8000 visits a month at the old centre to between 30,000-40,000 per month at the new one.
Substantial economic benefits have been created – 100 jobs during the build and six full-time and over 80 part-time positions since it has opened Mr Lowe said this is a key outcome for ‘tough economic times’.
“Using the WA ‘More than Winning’ report model, the economic benefits of the $26.5m project are significant with every dollar invested generated $2.36 direct economic activity and $6.51 total economic activity.”
The facility recently won the Parks and Leisure Australia SA/NT Region, Leisure Facility of the Year Award.
