A contentious $60 million redevelopment of the 50-year-old Wally Hagan Basketball Stadium is a step closer after Cockburn council voted last week to progress the plan.
Cockburn councillors voted 8-2 to progress to stage one of the stadium’s transformation into a multipurpose recreation centre to meet a huge surge in demand for additional player space and provide better facilities, including improved disabled access.
The project currently has $40 million committed, including $20 million from the City of Cockburn and $20 million from the State Government — prompting some community concern that ratepayers will be forced to underwrite a $20 million funding shortfall.
The building is leased to the Cockburn Cougars Basketball Association and provides four courts for more than 5000 members. The Cougars have been lobbying for years to upgrade the stadium to meet growing local demand for basketball.
Council last week voted to endorse a detailed business plan and further public engagement for stage one of the project, which would include the development of a health club, community spaces and six new courts to add to the existing ones.
Councillors also decided to obtain the remaining $20 million required to fully fund the project through a combination of “additional funding sources”, including own-source financing and continuing to advocate for State and Federal contributions.
Deputy mayor Phoebe Corke proposed an alternative motion that would force further community consultations and council discussion on where the unfunded $20 million would come from. Her motion lost 8-2.
“Council has not yet deliberated or voted on whether it is prepared to contribute up to potentially an additional $20 million to this project, making a total contribution of at least $40 million and possibly more if costs blow out,” she said ahead of the vote.
“I don’t think we should be saying we are going to provide up to $40 million without it being an absolutely transparent vote on it. We should be saying we are prepared to put this money forward.
“We have to remember what our role is as councillors – it’s to do the best for the whole community, for all our ratepayers, not just those who lobby us.”
Cr Chontelle Stone said adding in “additional steps” would risk delaying the project.
“The recommendation before us tonight is to progress the planning, investigation and design of the Wally Hagan redevelopment,” she said.
“We are not approving construction tonight, we are not approving the final design tonight, we are not approving a loan tonight.”
Local families and basketball members flooded the June 9 council meeting to share their opinions on the contentious project.
Some were concerned over potential cost blowouts and increased traffic the development would bring to the quiet area, while local basketball members claimed the revamp was desperately needed to accommodate rapid player growth.
Cockburn Basketball Association chief executive officer Tia Ucich said the Cougars had more than 800 kids on the waitlist to play basketball because the centre lacks adequate facilities.
“Fifty years ago, four courts in a tin shed served a couple of hundred members. Fifty years later, those four courts in that tin shed are expected to do the same thing with 5000 members, 10,000 registrations and 150,000 annual visitors,” she said.
“As this growth continues, so too does the age of Wally Hagan. Wally is 54-years-old this year, and has truly served our community well, but is no longer growing with it.”
Ms Ucich claimed the centre has experienced six power outages, circuit issues and a scoreboard blow up during an NBL 1 game in the past six months alone. She also said the tin shed building often gets so hot in summer that games have to be cancelled.
Aubin Grove mother Claire Gardiner said the building was not properly accessible for her young daughter, who uses a wheelchair.
“The City of Cockburn is really inclusive of wheelchair users. As a building with such high usage, I feel Wally Hagan is a blemish on the council’s reputation,” she said.
“Without the redevelopment, I can’t help but feel Cockburn is missing out on a great opportunity to involve wheelchair users, not only as spectators, but as players in basketball.
“My child deserves the same opportunity as her brother and any other child to feel included and connected through sport.”
However, other community members questioned the consequences of building a “concrete fortress” in the middle of their quiet suburban streets.
“This redevelopment would tear away that protective layer (of safe roads and shared public space) by paving green space, funnelling thousands of extra cars through our child-friendly streets ... essentially planting a concrete fortress in the heart of a village,” nurse practitioner student Audy Pascale said.
She also questioned where the remaining $20 million funding for the project would come from.
“The scheme before you is priced at $60 million, and yet $20 million of that sum is missing. We are told that the shortfall will be found after you give your blessing. Ratepayers are being asked to underwrite a cheque that has no funds in the account,” she said.
“Worse, we will pay twice – once to build the complex and again at the door. Everything from the gym to basketball memberships will run on user fees, and who benefits the most? Cockburn Basketball. It feels like public money for a private clubhouse.”
The council will begin forming the business plan with more community engagement, and is hoping to secure remaining funds through the Federal Government’s Thriving Suburbs grant program.
Mayor Logan Howlett said construction could commence as early as January 2028, subject to funding.
