THE City of Cockburn has backed a new national infrastructure campaign, reinforcing the council’s push for a $15m redevelopment of Dixon Reserve in Hamilton Hill.
The National Growth Areas Alliance (NGAA), of which Cockburn is a member, launched its Catch up with the Outer Suburbs campaign last week to advocate for more funding to meet the infrastructure needs of Australia’s rapidly-growing outer metropolitan suburbs.
Cockburn Mayor Logan Howlett said the national campaign reinforced the local Growth Areas Perth and Peel (GAPP) cause, which has brought together 11 Perth councils, including Cockburn and Armadale, to advocate for a special purpose, Federally- funded allocation to enable councils to collaborate with the State on building major sporting facilities.
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READ NOWCockburn’s proposed Dixon Reserve redevelopment would include an integrated sport and recreation hub, including the replacement of Wally Hagan Stadium with a new six-court, multi-purpose sports stadium, a bike pump track, playing fields and skate park.
Mr Howlett said the new NGAA campaign was a timely reminder about how important this type of funding was to the provision of critical infrastructure.
“We share the NGAA’s concerns and through our own GAPP campaign are calling on the Federal Government to help us plug the infrastructure funding gap, so much-needed sport and recreational facilities can be provided to our communities,” he said.
“In Cockburn we have worked hard to deliver a range of sporting and recreation facilities for our community, including the $9m Cockburn Bowling and Recreation Club, the $2m Walliabup Skate and Recreation Park, plus the $6.53m Lakelands Hockey and Community Facility due to open mid-2019.
“However, it is important this necessary funding is secured as soon as practicable. New infrastructure will help improve the liveability of communities and lead to growth, job creation, greater productivity and improved health and social outcomes.”
He said the campaign highlighted the disadvantage some outer metro communities currently faced, particularly regarding access to key sporting and recreation infrastructure.