The City of Joondalup has chosen a less expensive option to repurpose the Sorrento Surf Life Saving Club.
While councilors unanimously agreed on Tuesday night that the 1960-built facility no longer met the needs of the club, which has more than 2,200 members and has just been named Surf Life Saving WA’s Club of the Year, they were divided on how much the city should do. Spend.
They voted 7-6 in favor of a $14 million draft rather than the club’s preferred $18 million draft.
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The state government has committed $8 million to the project, and the club is providing $1 million. Still, the city will have to pay the rest and increases and items not included in the cost, such as gym equipment, temporary facilities needed, and future traffic improvements.
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City officials had recommended the estimated $18 million Option 3, including a clubroom and separate commercial facility “to avoid potential conflicts with access, security, and operating hours.”
The facilities would also be larger, with 2240 sqm for the club, 482 sqm for the commercial and 202 sqm for public facilities, and 64 additional parking spaces for shared cars.
Camera icon An artist’s impression of option 3 for the proposed redevelopment of the Sorrento Surf Life Saving Club. Credit: Hodge Collard Preston Architects
Several club members attended the council meeting to argue their case.
Daniel Walton, architect and member of the club’s building committee, said the club’s membership continued to grow beyond expectations and that “full-size option 3” “would best meet current and future demand in the 2030s and beyond.” then”.
He said it would also deliver a “greatly improved community waterfront” to create “a great destination in the city.”
Mr. Walton said option one would not meet the club’s needs with significantly reduced floor space, shared amenities, and inferior urban design.
“Now is the time to take the best option for the foreshore and get it right the first time without compromise,” he said.
Stuart Hawkins said it would be “excellent value to taxpayers” if the city-owned an $18 million facility that would be half paid for by the state government and the club.
He also reiterated that Sorrento was one of the city’s largest volunteer organizations, not just a sports club.
And Ron de Gruchy added that $18 million was not “unreasonable” compared to other coastal developments in recent years, with the Scarboro Surf Life Saving club costing $13.3 million four years ago and the City Beach club six years ago—Years ago, $12.1 million.
Camera IconThe current Sorrento Surf Life Saving Club. Credit: Justin Bianchini
Cr Christine Hamilton-Prime, also a deputy patron of the club, urged councilors to go ahead with option 3, saying the smaller option 1, which is only 300 square meters larger than the club already has, is a “short-term bond”. -Help Solution”.
“It will reduce the club facility by 25 percent, which will hinder the club’s growth and future use options for the community,” she said.
“The club will outgrow and exceed capacity within three to five years. We want to do it once and do it right.”
She also said it would have a “more pronounced” effect on West Coast Drive, with Option 1 as a two-story building compared to the single-story appearance of Option 3, which residents had expressed concerns about.
Cr Hamilton-Prime said she understood costs were a concern, but the city had the financial capacity to fund it.
Camera icon An artist’s impression of option 3 for the proposed redevelopment of the Sorrento Surf Life Saving Club. Credit: Hodge Collard Preston Architects
She said option three would be an “outstanding” outcome for the city, which would own $18 million in assets for just $9 million.
“I think any taxpayer would agree if they could get 50 percent of their home, they’d be really happy. And this includes an income-generating asset,” she said.
However, Cr Suzanne Thompson moved the board to approve $14 million option 1, which had 1,778 sq ft for the club, 369 sq ft of commercial space and 186 sq ft of public amenities, and 69 additional public parking spaces.
The club and commercial facility would share one building but have separate entrances to operate independently.
This option was initially presented to the municipality in April 2021 when it was considering a renovation or renovation.
At the time, it was estimated to cost $8.85 million, but with construction costs escalating, it has risen to $14 million.
Camera icon An artist’s impression of option 1 for the proposed redevelopment of the Sorrento Surf Life Saving Club. Credit: Hodge Collard Preston Architects
Cr Thompson said the council had “an entire city to consider when mobilizing funds,” and they had the opportunity to save $4 million for other projects or “equally crumbling facilities available to all members of the community.” community”.
She also said Option 1 had a better commercial return for the city, bringing in an estimated $21 million instead of $13.5 million for Option 3 and a significantly lower 15-year deficit of $2.7 million instead. of $12.6 million.
“These are things we, unfortunately, have to weigh,” she said.
“And you get five more cars and toilets at street level with better access for the public.”
Cr Thompson said that although the club was concerned about sharing a building with the commercial facility, their kitchens would still be separate.
Camera icon An artist’s impression of option 1 for the proposed redevelopment of the Sorrento Surf Life Saving Club. Credit: Hodge Collard Preston Architects
“It ticks all the boxes with a very generous contribution from the city, and I can’t believe anyone would walk away feeling like they have been shortchanged,” she said.
“We have to look at the costs and benefits to the club rationally and the wider community, and option one is piling up. Everything else feels like unnecessary bragging.”
The surf club said that while it was disappointing not to get approval for the preferred option, they were grateful that the council still “recognized the importance of this project and voted unanimously to support a new club facility”.
“We can now move forward with certainty and excitement that in due course we will have a new surf club,” it wrote on Facebook.
The city’s 2022-23 budget, also approved Tuesday evening, has already allocated $814,000 to the project, which will fund the community engagement process, followed by detailed design.
Camera icon An artist’s impression of option 1 for the proposed redevelopment of the Sorrento Surf Life Saving Club. Credit: Hodge Collard Preston Architects
The remaining resources needed will be listed for treatment in the next three budgets.
