City of Joondalup redevelopment of Penistone Park in Greenwood gets green light

The City of Joondalup applied in August for the Department of Sport and Recreation’s Community Sporting and Recreation Facilities Fund for $829,100 to help fund the project.

The City had applied for the grant in 2015-16, but it was unsuccessful.

In March, the City was approved partial funding of $550,000.

At the time of applying the project was estimated to cost $3.78 million, but it is now estimated at $3.704 million.

The budget shortfall from the partial funding is $203,100.

Councillors at last Tuesday’s meeting voted for the City to fund the shortfall and $203,100 be listed for consideration in the City’s 2017-18 five-year capital works program.

Last August, the City also requested an additional $277,000 be listed for consideration in 2017-18 to keep the tennis courts.

Councillors at Tuesday’s meeting also voted to name the new clubrooms the Penistone Park Community Sporting Facility.

The project will include a new four-lane cricket practice net, twin tennis courts and a hit-up wall, 3-on-3 basketball pad, new playground and pathways, a barbecue and picnic shelter and more car parking.

Construction is expected to start next financial year.

Cr John Logan said he was “delighted” work would start next month on the “eye-sore sump”.

“This work is going to allow the sump to be changed into a swale to form part of a useable park space,” he said.

He said this was at a cost of about $200,000.

Joondalup Mayor Troy Pickard said despite the City not receiving the anticipated funding from the Department of Sport and Recreation, the council decided the project was too important not to proceed.

“Penistone Park is home to over 1300 registered members, with users ranging from a playgroup to junior and senior cricket clubs, as well as football, lacrosse, little athletics and softball clubs,” he said.

“This redevelopment will ensure the facility continues to service these very important groups as well as the needs of the wider community who also use this popular district park.

“Currently, the site faces challenges including storage, drainage, toilet facilities, car parking and general sporting infrastructure, and these will all be addressed by the redevelopment.”

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