Shoalhaven Community and Recreational Precinct (SCaRP)

Play, Recover, Learn to Swim, Enjoy, Relax

The Recreational Water Area proposal includes adding a 50-metre x 8 lane indoor pool increasing lane space, a learn to swim pool, a children’s/beach entry pool and therapy pool with inclusive access which are included in the community pavilion which forms part of the new development.

Plans include:

Learn to Swim Pool - Dedicated learn to swim pool, keeping lanes free from the main 50-metre.

Play Areas - Children's Beach area and pool entry

Therapy Pool - For gentle exercises, therapy, to soothe sore or inflamed muscles and joints, rehabilitate injured limbs, aids various physical injury treatments and promote relaxation.

Please note: Photos depicted are concept photos only of activities and what the area may look like.

The Shoalhaven Community and Recreational Precinct Masterplan includes the relocation of the croquet courts and connects and integrates the new Indoor Sports Centre, which is currently under construction, with other elements of the plan. The plan includes upgrades playing fields, walking/ cycling track and outdoor spaces along with a 400m athletics track and new community pavilion.

The vision for the facility is to deliver an integrated community and recreational precinct to meet the needs of the region, operating on a commercially viable and sustainable basis seven days a week and in reality, vastly improve services in the northern Shoalhaven.

Aquatic Facilities

The new facility will introduce more water space facilities that will add to the indoor 50-metre eight lane pool to meet Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA) requirements for competitions for Regional and State events. The 50-metre pool will have an additional two lanes moving from 6 to 8 lanes.

Additional facilities include a therapy pool with inclusive access that is currently not available in the Northern part of the Shoalhaven, a dedicated learn to swim pool which will remove congestion from the main pool, a beach entry/play pool and a leisure water facility to accommodate the needs of more users, similar to Bay and Basin Leisure Centre and Nowra Aquatic Park Pools.

Council plans to increase the overall water space rather than reducing it, the proposed planning will accommodate a broader numbers of user groups than at present and is an overall enhancement of aquatic facilities.

The Plan provides open space and community facilities such as a community pavilion providing support services that have the potential to provide aquatic, medical, physiotherapy, rehabilitation health, wellness and fitness services. This is a long-term Plan and is intended to meet the needs of a growing community now and into the future.

Current yearly patronage statistics show that the Bomaderry Aquatic Centre Indoor 25-metre pool is more popular than the outdoor 50-metre pool with less than 10% of patrons utilising the outdoor 50-metre pool.

The current 50-metre pool is at the end of its serviceable life being 41 years old with maintenance costs growing. Rather than simply replace an ageing facility, Council believes money is better spent providing additional water space in a different form.

The new Plans meet established planning and provision principles of:

• One local aquatic facility per 10,000 – 40,000 people;
• One district aquatic facility per 40,000 – 70,000 people;
• Providing 1 x 50m pool meets capacity to service needs of northern Shoalhaven now and well into the future.

Public Pool planning and provision principles demonstrate that from Council’s 12 aquatic facilities across the Shoalhaven, there is adequate pool provision for a population of 210,000 to 570,000 residents, that is two to five times more than required.

View the current plans for the Precinct. Please note, these plans are draft concept only and not to scale.

* An Integrated Community and Recreational Precinct

* Concept Aerial View

* Pavilion Artist Impression

* Detailed draft concept plan

* Field Plans

Nowra Croquet will need to be relocated as a result of the Bomaderry Nowra Regional Sports & Community Precinct Master Plan. During the public exhibition period Council staff held a number of meetings with the Executive Committee of Nowra Croquet to discuss potential site relocation options and the details associated with relocating the club. Currently the club have two (2) courts located at the existing Bomaderry location, however, the club is growing and has plans for an additional two (2) courts. As a result, they have requested a like-for-like facility be provided as part of this relocation.

Council staff presented the following site relocation options and undertook preliminary investigations and planning for:

· Edwards Avenue, Bomaderry

· Leonard Street , Bomaderry

· Upper Thurgate Oval, Bomaderry

· Nowra Showground

· Ratcliffe Park, Worrigee

· Corner of Kalendar & Albatross Road, East Nowra

Concluding preliminary investigations and site inspections, both parties agreed that John Berry Reserve located at Edwards Avenue, Bomaderry was the best site to relocate Nowra Croquet. Croquet have now provided two (2) mud map designs to Council outlining a like-for-like replacement facility which includes:

· Four (4) competition sized courts (currently two (2) competition sized courts are provided at the Bomaderry site)

· Club house and amenities

· Car parking

Since the public exhibition period the Nowra Croquet Club has advised Council of their preference to remain at their current site, however an alternate option for the provision of croquet courts has been identified on the Master Plan site within the Artie Smith Oval. This alternative site has been discussed with Council staff and Croquet Club representatives.

This alternative site is as a result of the need to make changes to the car parking, bus parking and drop off zones for the Shoalhaven Indoor Sport Centre project commensurate with the requirements in the recently approved development application, which will result in the loss of space for the junior cricket field at the Artie Smith Oval (which is accommodated on the adjacent Bomaderry Sporting Complex site). The remaining space however; is adequate to potentially accommodate up to four (4) croquet courts and ancillary facilities such as a club house / storage (shown below).

The site plan presented below identifies how the croquet courts could potentially be sited and accommodated at Artie Smith Oval. It is suggested that further consultation is undertaken with the Nowra Croquet Club.

With the imminent commencement of work on the indoor sport centre, the site excavation works would enable soil to remain on site and be used to form the foundations and base for the croquet courts, negating the need to remove soil from the site and saving money.

Subject to the outcome of further consultation with the Nowra Croquet Club it is requested that Council consider allocating a budget of $20,000 in 2017/18 to advance a concept design and cost estimates to provide croquet court at an alternate location.

The proposal to develop the draft Bomaderry Nowra Regional Sports & Community Precinct from Artie Smith Oval, Bomaderry Sporting Complex and Bomaderry Aquatic Centre was presented to a Councillor Briefing on Thursday 11 February 2016.

Further to this briefing, Council considered a confidential report on the matter at its Strategy & Assets Committee meeting on 12 April 2016 which gave authority for Council staff to consult with landowners directly impacted by the Master Plan. Consultation with these land owners occurred in early May with key feedback reported to the Strategy & Assets meeting held on 19 April 2016.

At Council’s Strategy and Assets Committee meeting on 24 May 2016, it was resolved to place the Bomaderry Nowra Regional Sports & Community Precinct Master Plan on public exhibition for a period of no less than 40 days. This report identifies the findings of the public exhibition and seeks adoption of the Master Plan with relevant amendments.

The draft Bomaderry Nowra Regional Sporting & Community Precinct Master Plan and the Planning Study can be viewed as an attachment to this report at Attachment 2 and 3 respectively.

Purpose

The purpose of the Master Plan is to guide the long term development of a Regional Sports and Community Precinct at the Artie Smith Oval, Bomaderry Sporting Complex and Bomaderry Aquatic Centre. This will deliver high quality sporting facilities together with infrastructure to support local, regional and state level sport, as well as local and regional community needs. The plan aims to use every opportunity to improve the quality of the facilities in the location, by integrating facilities and improving their utilisation and status for long term sustainability and growth of active and passive recreation and social activities, co-located to provide a destination. This facility is a multipurpose, co-located facility. This also builds on the upcoming construction of the Shoalhaven Indoor Sports Centre at this location. These aims are consistent with the recommendations of the draft Community Infrastructure Strategic Plan.

The site is located in a populated area close to public transport (Bus/Train), a number of primary and secondary schools, retail and commercial centres and main arterial road. The site is also in close proximity to identified growth areas Moss Vale Road South and North are Urban Release Areas identified in the Shoalhaven Local Environmental Plan 2014.

In addition, work is currently being undertaken in regard to the future residential area in Moss Vale Road South, including the development of a Development Control Plan and Contributions Plan project identification. Development in this Urban Release Area is expected to commence within the next year. Moss Vale Road South will have approximately 800 dwellings equating to approximately 2,000 people.

The proposed development aims to provide for:

· A community meeting place

· Junior and senior sport

· Quality training facilities

· A venue for elite sporting events at state and regional level

· Broader community and recreational use

· Health and para health related facilities and activities

· Education and community development activities

· Commercial service provision

The supporting infrastructure includes a community pavilion providing support services that have the potential to provide aquatic, medical, physiotherapy, rehabilitation health, wellness and fitness services.

The facilities would provide for seven (7) day a week operation and establish a community meeting place including a café/bistro, child minding, meeting place and opportunities for learning and education. The venue also has the capacity to offer a range of community programs which address identified community needs such as crime, unemployment, health, literacy and numeracy and other education and personal development activities.

The plan interconnects the proposed facilities with extensive open parklands, play facilities, walking paths with outdoor fitness stations, cycleway and the opportunity for community gardens, along with car parking. In additional, the Master Plan supports co-usage / training associated with sporting fields and a 400m athletics track.

The Precinct has great community and recreational benefits including developing quality, professional facilities in the Shoalhaven that provide support to our aging and growing population

The Shoalhaven Community and Regional Precinct will bring a number of economic benefits to the region.

Council engaged ID Economy to conduct a detailed economic analysis of the project.

In summary:

• The project will provide a range of economic and social benefits to the region and will respond to high levels of socio-economic and health disadvantage in the region. The net present value of the project is estimated at $18.7 million over a 30 year period and represents a benefit cost ration of 1.21:1.
• An increase in the level of participation in sport, recreational and community activities. This benefit is estimated at $41 million, around 38% of total benefits. This is expected given the poor quality of existing facilities and amenities at the Artie Smith and Bomaderry Sports Complex.
• An increase in economic activity in and around the Project through on-site job creation, higher visitation levels and on-site spending, and potential for major events that brings visitors into the region. This benefit is estimated at $65.9 million, and includes additional on-site revenue (sales and rents from commercial tenants), proceeds from land sales and induced tourism expenditure.
• Positive health impacts due to reduced absenteeism at work and avoided government health costs. This benefit is estimated at $1.7 million. This responds directly to the regions poor performance against health indicators (e.g. obesity).
• The total impact on the local economy would be 487 jobs and $46.1 million in value-add from the construction phase of the project. Total impact on the local economy would be 80 jobs and $6.2 million in value-add per year from the operational phase of the project.
• The project has the potential to host major sporting events that can attract intrastate and interstate visitors to the region. An assumed likely scenario analysis has concluded that the total impact of one annual major NSW sporting event would be 1.3 jobs and $96,222 in value-add induced tourism expenditure. Current discussions with NSW Cricket, AFL, Rugby, Soccer and Athletics associations have suggested that they would host several major events at the site per year.

Between September 2015 and December 2015, interviews with representatives from a wide range from sports, community groups, educational institutions, Council and business was undertaken by Acclimate.

These groups include:

· NSW AFL

· NSW Cricket

· Rugby NSW

· Shoalhaven City Council

· Aboriginal Habitat

· TAFE

· Shoalhaven Cricket Association

· University of Wollongong

· Nowra Anglican College

· Bomaderry Bowling Club

· Nowra High School

· Bomaderry Primary School

· Junior Rugby League

· Shoalhaven Little Athletics

· Shoalhaven Day Care

· Rugby union

· Shoalhaven Council Aquatics

· Nowra Athletics

· Nowra Croquet

· Bomaderry High School

· Chamber of Commerce

· Shoalhaven High

· Climb Nowra

· Country Rugby League

· Soccer/Futsal

· Basketball NSW

· City Arts Centre

· Aged Disabled

· Library

· Shoalhaven Council – Economic Development

· Nowra Bomaderry Jets

· Shoalhaven AFL

· Shoalhaven Netball

· Shoalhaven Basketball

The Draft Shoalhaven Regional Sporting Hub Master Plan was on public exhibition from the 1^st June 2016. The community was invited to comment on the draft master plan which was available for viewing on Council’s website, at the Council’s Admin building, Council libraries as well as the Bomaderry Aquatic Centre.

Two ‘Drop in’ information sessions to talk one-on-one with Council staff were held on 6^th July 2016 at the Bomaderry Aquatic Centre from 11am – 1pm and 5pm – 7pm.

On the 7^th July 2016 an information session was held at Council Nowra Admin building for main users operating out of the Bomaderry Aquatic Centre. Attendees were encouraged to put forward support and any concerns.

Council staff have discussed the project with representatives from Bomaderry Swimming Club and met with them on the 29^th June 2016. The Club was invited to an Information Session on the 7^th July 2016.

From this session a request was received for two (2) additional lanes, increasing the provision from 6 – 8 lanes for the proposed indoor 25m pool and to be built to FINA requirements to meet regional and state events. This inclusion was as a direct result of the Bomaderry Swimming Clubs input.

Representatives from the Pride of Bomaderry group were also invited to the information session on the 7^th July 2017.

Summary of Community Consultation:

· Public Exhibition – 40 days – 8/6/16 – 1/8/16

· Public Exhibition extended 2 weeks to 15/8/16

· Advertised in the South Coast Register

· Advertised via Council’s website

· Issue of a Media Release re consultation and three about Pool Facts

· Plans displayed at Council’s Administration building, Council libraries as well as Bomaderry Aquatic Centre

· Four (4) public drop in sessions were held at the Bomaderry Aquatic Centre – unstructured opportunity to talk one on one with Council staff

· Information sessions held with key stakeholders groups

· Correspondence and a copy of the Master Plan was sent to all immediately adjoining property owners

· This is in addition to Community consultation undertaken by the consultants between September – December 2015.

58 public submissions were received. Only 16 related to the loss of a 50 metre pool.