The future of the long-standing Leeming Recreation Centre appears bleak as the City of Melville considers demolishing the facility. Councillors have voted unanimously to progress a detailed feasibility study into demolishing and rebuilding the centre, which has been a community hub for nearly 40 years.
Council Allocates Funds for Study
Melville councillors agreed to allocate $100,000 in the 2026/27 draft budget to complete the study. This will include further investigations into redeveloping the existing site or finding an alternative location for the centre. The decision follows a pre-feasibility study completed last year that highlighted the advanced age, compliance issues, and high upkeep costs associated with the rec centre.
Community Consultation Planned
The new study will involve wider community consultations, including continued collaboration with the Department of Education and Leeming Senior High School. Feedback will be used to prepare a concept design and site master plan, including detailed capital, life-cycle, and operational cost modelling, as well as a financial sustainability assessment.
Cost Estimates and Options
An officer's report presented to council in May provided a $55.3 million cost estimate to demolish and redevelop the site, claiming this was the preferable solution. Officers stated that it offers the greatest capacity to meet long-term community and school requirements, improve accessibility and sustainability outcomes, review operational and management arrangements, and attract external funding from state and federal governments.
The feasibility study will prioritise plans to replace the centre with an accessible and sustainable facility. It will also investigate potential nearby locations to host Leeming rec centre activities and operations while the new facility is built.
Other options considered include maintaining the existing centre, which officers said could increase safety risks and would not align with community needs. Refurbishing the centre, at an estimated cost of $42.2 million to $52 million, would likely cause prolonged shutdowns. A demolish and dispose solution, which would develop the empty land into public open space without replacing the centre, was also considered at a cost of $4.3 million to $11 million, but was not supported in community engagement.
About the Centre
The centre, also known as Striker Indoor Sports and Fitness, has existed for nearly 40 years. It features four multi-use indoor courts for futsal, cricket, and netball, as well as several basketball courts. The gym, circuit room, and group fitness rooms host regular classes on a weekly rotation. The centre is also home to Inflatable World during school holidays.
