The City of Wanneroo has officially pulled the plug on a contentious plan to construct a multi-million-dollar sports facility on the environmentally sensitive foreshore of Lake Joondalup.
Council Vote Overturns Staff Recommendation
In a decisive move that reflected strong public sentiment, the council voted 10–1 on Tuesday night, 18 December 2025, to abandon the proposed Scenic Park Sports Hub. This decision directly opposed official advice from city staff, who had recommended endorsing the project. The council has now directed administration to go back to the drawing board and explore alternative locations.
The ambitious hub, which carried an estimated price tag of $21.2 million, was slated to include a major sports hall with two indoor basketball courts, a dedicated boxing club room, a calisthenics and fitness space, two changerooms, a kitchen, meeting rooms, and 125 parking bays.
Overwhelming Community Opposition Seals Fate
The project's demise followed extensive and vocal criticism from local residents. When revised concept plans were unveiled in July 2025, they triggered a wave of concern focused on environmental damage, threats to turtle nesting habitats, increased traffic, parking problems, and the loss of precious open public space.
During the formal community consultation period, the city received 461 public submissions, with a significant 71 per cent expressing opposition to the Scenic Park site. A petition bearing 802 signatures further amplified the call to relocate the facility to a more suitable location that would not harm the lake's ecosystem.
Despite this clear feedback, city officers had argued for the project's continuation. They cited growing demand for indoor sports courts in Wanneroo and the need for modern, accessible facilities. Officers maintained that environmental risks had been mitigated through detailed reports, including a turtle management plan and a bushfire management plan.
Funding and Political Pressure
The project was partially funded by a $5 million commitment from the State Government, secured by Wanneroo MLA Sabine Winton prior to the 2021 election. At the council meeting, Ms Winton delivered a stern critique, warning that proceeding with the Scenic Park plan would jeopardise the state funding.
"You would be going ahead, not understanding where the funding for this project is coming from, and you would also certainly be undermining all the environmental advice," Ms Winton told councillors. She challenged them to consider whether neighbouring councils would permit a similar large-scale development on their own iconic lakeside parks.
Deputy Mayor Paul Miles successfully moved the motion to halt work at Scenic Park. He acknowledged the critical need to replace the ageing, 50-year-old Wanneroo Recreation Centre, but insisted it should not be expanded on its current lakefront footprint. "We need the facility, but it doesn't need to be built on the lakefront," Cr Miles stated, accepting that an alternative site would likely cost more money.
The council has now instructed staff to progress plans for replacing the recreation centre with two separate buildings: a new or refurbished community hub on the existing site, and a new sports hub at a different location. Potential alternative sites, including land on Leach Road next to the Wanneroo Sports & Social Club, will be investigated.
