Rec centre upgrade gets a tick

The massive face lift of the Karratha Leisureplex that will provide expanded gym facilities and a brand new children’s waterslide is now one step closer.

The $19.27 million upgrade of the facility includes new shading for the ovals and outdoor courts and spectator seating at the 50m pool.

Other features include redeveloping outdoor and indoor basketball courts, redesigning the function room to include a group fitness area and upgraded pool lighting. The plan, designed by Perth-based firm Peter Hunt Architect, is expected to be rolled out in stages over five years.

City of Karratha councillors last week endorsed the master plan and agreed to proceed to detailed design of the first three stages of the project this financial year.

The first three stages are estimated to cost $8.35m and include the new shade for the facility’s ovals and outdoor courts, solar power and a new water slide.

Councillors moved to include the indoor and outdoor court redevelopment in the detailed design.

Karratha Mayor Peter Long said since the building was opened, it had been used by more than 3.5 million people.

“Seven years for a public building like that, it starts to get a little bit tired but also we’ve found some of the limitations,” he said. “Some of the limitations were for example the size of the gymnasium.”

Mr Long said the improvements were needed because of the facility’s popularity.

“It’s not that it’s been designed wrong in the first place, when we first built it we were wondering if it was going to be too big, but it’s just been such a success,” he said.

Mr Long said some elements of the project were expensive and required funding through grants or savings. Others, such as shade and pool seating, could done quickly and early on in the project.

“We are basically committed tonight to do an extensive amount of design on all the projects that have been proposed that we think are worth going ahead with and also to look at starting a few of them, the physical construction of a couple of them in this financial year,” he said.