Perth Voice Interactive

REDEVELOPING Bayswater’s sports and recreation grounds will be a hot topic for the new council over the next six months, mayor Barry McKenna says.

Cr McKenna has given the Voice a snapshot of key issues for the council over the next few months.

A big one, he says, is having another crack at developing a plan for Frank Drago Reserve that works for all on-site sports groups and wider community.

He hints at new tennis clubrooms, but is wary of making such a statement before properly consulting with the community.

“We know the old council made a lot of mistakes with Frank Drago Reserve, particularly with community consultation,” Cr McKenna says.

There was community backlash after the council drew up $25 million plans for the park, with critics arguing the plans favoured the football club over other neighbouring sports groups.

The Frank Drago plans were subsequently dumped in September.

Meanwhile, over at Morley’s Pat O’Hara Reserve, Cr McKenna says there’s talk of new clubrooms for Perth-Bayswater Rugby Union Club.

He says there is an idea to build new rugby clubrooms at the back of Morley Sport and Recreation Centre.

Rugby club president Alister Milligan says the club is is need of a upgrade .

“But we know this involves a number of key stakeholders in the contribution of funding,” he says.

“This year a lot of ideas were floated around and the club will always work closely with the City of Bayswater for the development of facilities in the area.”

According to the council’s long-term “Morley activity centre structure plan” a master plan for the sports and recreation centre should be developed within the next five to 10 years.

Plans for the Morley city centre include Galleria Shopping Centre, Progress Street as the centre’s “main street” and a better Morley bus station.

by EMMIE DOWLING