South Perth council to look at leasing part of Collier Reserve to WASPs hockey club

The City of South Perth council has narrowly voted in support of a motion to investigate leasing part of Collier Reserve to a local hockey club for 21 years.

The council voted 5-4 in support of the proposal from deputy mayor Bronwyn Waugh for city staff to negotiate with the Wesley South Perth Hockey Club to prepare a deed so it can lease part of the reserve.

The WASPs would still need to obtain development approval to build club facilities and hockey fields.

Collier Reserve would still need to be accessible to the public when it is not used by the hockey club and trees removed during construction would need to be planted and replaced.

The WASPs hockey club — which is currently based in Richardson Park — and the city have been in discussions since 2012 about a new hockey facility which would have a clubhouse, a synthetic hockey turf, sports lighting and grass hockey grounds.

Cr Waugh said at Tuesday night’s council meeting that while she “didn’t care” about hockey, she cared about the needs of her community.

“This club (WASPs) has a heart and soul in our city, this club attracts players to our city, this club presents opportunities for our children for their health and wellbeing networks and these opportunities are lifelong,” she said.

“This council endorsed and adopted plans for providing public facilities in 2019 (and) one of the key recommendations of the plan is to relocate WASPs to Collier Reserve and we need to stick to the strategic direction and now give them that opportunity to have a place to call home.”

Earlier this month WASPs president Jenness Gardner said the Richardson Park playing fields were “no longer fit for purpose”.

“We need a single facility which incorporates an artificial hockey turf, grass grounds and a clubroom in (a) single location,” she said.

“Collier Reserve has been used for sporting activities for decades but not to its full capacity and the city’s own long-term plan for the area is for the development of a broader range of recreational facilities for the residents of South Perth.”

But Cr Mary Choy, who voted against the motion, said there was “no need” for the hockey club to relocate.

“Not first exploring and exhausting any other possible alternative opportunities, given the challenges of public open space (that) have been discussed this evening and previously at other meetings ... could potentially undermine the city and council decision or work done to date,” she said.

“It is the view (that) no State Government support for WASPs hockey club’s new facilities proposal at Collier Reserve has potential consequences for both the WASPs hockey club and the city in expanding significant resources.

“The city has also reported what potentially appears to be quite significant environmental concerns and challenges for the city if a synthetic turf is installed on Collier Reserve.”

A City of South Perth Residents’ Association spokesperson said the verdict was “another example” of some councillors “putting the interests of a small group ahead of the whole (South Perth) community”.

“The decision was taken despite the vehement opposition from hundreds of residents and ratepayers who are concerned about loss of public open space as well as the traffic and parking problems this will cause,” the spokesperson said.

“Whilst there are many hurdles that the WASPs Hockey Club must overcome in the process of gaining a lease and licence for this public open space, City of South Perth Residents Association is concerned that the council may be asked to fund some of the project’s infrastructure costs, including for parking, power, water and sewerage.

“We do not believe the ratepayers should be funding any costs toward this venture if it ever gets approval.”

The South Perth council also voted unanimously for town staff to speak with the WASPs and Hockey WA to determine “how the WASPs needs can best be met” at the Australian High Performance Hockey Centre being developed in the Town of Victoria Park.