In 2005, Council recognised the need to address longer term issues to improve our community facilities and services and developed a Financial Plan to achieve a number of Major Projects. The Major Projects were adopted by Council in its 2005/06 Management Plan and Major Projects Resources Plan as follows:
An update of the funding arrangements for Council’s Major Projects was reported to Council’s Meeting of 20 November, 2007.
A copy of the report to this meeting can be viewed here:
Further updates to these arrangements arose from Council's resolutions at the 18 March, 2008, meeting for the New Enmore Pool (Item GM 25, C/M 02/08) and New Library/Civic Centre (Item GM 24, C/M 02/08) projects.
The current status of each of these projects is as follows:
Marrickville Council is proposing to redevelop the Annette Kellerman Aquatic Centre at Enmore Park, Enmore, to provide a new state-of-the-art aquatic centre including a 50-metre pool, learn-to-swim pool and leisure pool, a cafe, creche and Wellness Centre (including fitness and gym facilities) and improved seating, changing and administration facilities.
A new design plan has been prepared which includes some significant design changes to the initial concept design that was exhibited for public comment in May 2008. Marrickville Council took into consideration the views of the community and supported a series of design changes to the initial concept design. On Tuesday 16 December 2008, Council approved the new design for the Annette Kellerman Aquatic Centre and approved a public exhibition and consultation process.
While some features of the initial design have remained the same, the project has undergone significant design changes. The new design for the aquatic centre involves changes to the form, size and height of the building, the footprint and enhancing its relationship to Enmore Park.
The new design and supporting documentation for the aquatic centre were put on public exhibition in February 2009. You can view the designs here. Council also put a Traffic and Parking Study for this new design on exhibition in March 2009, which can be viewed here.
Following approval of demolition and redevelopment works, the closure date of the existing pool was set at Sunday 12 July 2009. Construction of the new facility is expected to commence by late September 2009 and Council aims to have the project completed by the end of 2010 for the summer swimming season of 2010/2011.
For more information go to the Aquatic Upgrade web page.
The upgrade of the Fanny Durack Aquatic Centre at Petersham was covered in the Marrickville Aquatic Leisure Facilities Feasibility Study of 2004, which was presented to Council at the meeting of 20 February 2006 (Item GM 14, 02/06) as part of the Aquatic Upgrade Package.
At this meeting, Council resolved to adopt the Aquatic Upgrade Package, including the upgrade of Petersham Pool to include a 25-metre pool, 15-metre program pool, refurbished foyer and changing rooms and new café and deck at a total cost of $2,615,624. Council also resolved at this meeting that the Enmore Pool upgrade be undertaken before the Petersham Pool upgrade.
Extensive work has been undertaken to develop a concept design for the refurbishment of the Fanny Durack Aquatic Centre. This is now on exhibition until 15 October 2009. Please click here to visit the consultation page.
The first stage of the works which will involve the refurbishment of the amenities building is scheduled for the winter of 2010. The second stage which will involve the replacement of the pools and infrastructure will commence in early 2011.
At its meeting of 17 June 2008 (Item GM 52, 05/08), Council resolved to endorse further investigation of a revised scope for the Waterplay Park project in accordance with a holistic option involving a broader integration with Council’s planned Steel Park upgrade, recently presented by the consultants KIAH Infranet. Council also resolved to allocate additonal funding of $500,000 from the Property Reserve (arising from the projected savings in New Children’s Centre Marrickville South project) as a means of addressing the current shortfall in funding for this option.
It is expected that further technical and design investigations will be carried out on the holistic option, prior to community consultation and further reporting to the Major Projects Steering Committee and Council, and subsequent lodgement of a development application.
Further information on the Waterplay Park projects, including details of the recently lodged Development Application, can be found on the Aquatic Upgrade (including Waterplay Park) page.
Council and its officers have been undertaking a series of further planning and financial feasibility investigations in order to advance Council’s previously endorsed redevelopment concept for the site from February, 2006.
Following a series of reports from external consultants, Council resolved at its meeting of 18 March, 2008, (Item GM 24, C/M 02/08) to defer any decision in relation to the new Library/Civic Centre until the pool projects are complete or there is a significant turn around in the residential property market.
For further details on this decision please visit the New Library/Civic Centre web page.
Throughout 2007 and 2008 Council has investigated the viability of a new multi-functional children's centre within the grounds of the Marrickville West Public School, and looked at options to retain the existing May Murray Children's Centre. This involved engaging consultants, consulting with key stakeholders and reporting on financial viability of both existing services and new projects.
Council resolved to advance a proposal to adapt classrooms and facilities in the ground floor of the western wing (Building C) of Marrickville West Public School (MWPS) for a combined Council Out of School Hours (OOSH)/Connect Marrickville service. Council is currently working with the NSW Department of Education to refine the construction and future licence agreement details for this proposal, and has lodged a funding application with the Federal Government.
While the new Council OOSH/Connect Marrickville facility is being resolved a temporary OOSH has been provided in another part of MWPS (Building A).
Alterations and additions to the existing May Murray Children's Centre have been completed, allowing the Centre to increase its enrolments and provide an enhanced service.
Further information on this project is contained within the New Children's Centre web page.
At its meeting of 20 November, 2007 (Item GM 123, 10/07), Council decided to proceed with a proposal to re-locate the Marrickville State Emergency Services (SES) building from its current location in Livingstone Road, Marrickville to Sydenham Green (along Railway Road between Stone Villa and the Princes Highway). This also enables Council to move forward on its earlier Major Projects funding proposal to subdivide, and re-locate the boundary between Ness Park and the rear of the existing SES building, and to dispose of the smaller SES site through a public tender or auction process, requiring a continuation of community uses by retaining the current Special Use 5(A) zone.
The various approvals processes required for the SES and Sydenham Green will be initiated in upcoming months, involving consultation with the respective surrounding communities.
Further information on this project is contained within the Relocation of SES web page.
An inter-Divisional team across Council is currently implementing a prioritised schedule of works to advance expenditure of the allocated funds for this project, with a specific focus on upgrades to Council's four (4) Town Hall buildings at Petersham, Marrickville, St Peters and Newtown.
Further information on this project is contained within the Community Facilities Upgrade web page.
Council's current program of Major Projects are primarily guided through a Councillor and Senior Staff led Major Projects Steering Committee. The Major Projects Steering Committee is co-ordinated by Council's Executive Manager Major Projects, William Blunt. For details on any of the projects, you can contact William Blunt through the following:
Each of the projects are being developed along different timelines. Council places a high priority on keeping its citizens fully informed and consulting with them at key steps of the projects.
We will keep you informed of any upcoming consultation events through a combination of advertisements in local newspapers and direct mail-outs to property owners and residents, where appropriate.
Further details on the consultation events can be obtained from Council's Executive Manager Major Projects on 9335 2222.