WAVES FITNESS AND AQUATIC CENTRE REDEVELOPMENT
2.3 SERVICE NEED, ALIGNMENT AND PRIORITY Sustainable Communities
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CERM national benchmarks for aquatic centres of a similar size and design indicate an average ERR of 102% (indicating that, on average, revenues typically exceed costs by a small margin). Current performance indicates that, from a financial perspective, Waves is performing at a level slightly below the average. From an asset perspective, contributing factors for the below-average performance include:
x poor condition and general attractiveness of the facility x poor physical accessibility, particularly access for seniors x lack of suitable capacity for running learn-to-swim classes x poor design and capacity of the health centre (gym) x poor design and attractiveness of kiosk/café facilities
x poor functionality (generally) impacting operational efficiencies x lack of rooms available for hire, as additional income streams.
There is a strong case indicating that a redevelopment of Waves would create an environment that supports a level of financial performance at, or above, the benchmark average – and eliminating the need for annual subsidisation.
2.3 SERVICE NEED, ALIGNMENT AND PRIORITY
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Waves is already more than 50 years old and lacks many contemporary features. An ageing aquatic centre and a lack of compliance with basic water quality and accessibility standards is an impediment for Council to achieve this goal.
The Hills Shire Plan Delivery Program includes a focus on delivering and maintaining infrastructure.
Waves is visited and used by hundreds of thousands of residents each year, but is in poor condition and subject to high annual maintenance costs. The redevelopment of Waves is a priority project, with Page 29 of THSC Delivery Program 2017-2021 highlighting a commitment by THSC to proceed to prepare options for the redevelopment of Waves as part of its strategy for shaping growth in the region.
Operational Plan
The Hills Shire Council Plan Operational Plan details expenditure for each of the Plan’s strategies. The Council did not undertake any borrowings during the previous two years.
Building maintenance costs across Council’s building portfolio exceeded $10m in 2018-19. Deficits from Community Services, which includes Culture, Heritage and Sport, was in the order of $3m. Redeveloping Waves will have a positive impact on THSC recurrent costs due to the elimination of operational subsidies and opportunities for deriving income from proposed profit-share arrangements.
Resourcing Strategy Asset Management Policy
Waves corresponds to several of the assets described in the “Buildings” Asset Class in the Asset Management Policy. Those are: Amenities and Sports Facilities, Recreational and Cultural Centres, and Swimming Pool Buildings.
The redevelopment of Waves falls in line with the Risk Management Strategies noted for Buildings:
x routine asset assessments and defect inspections x proactive maintenance programs
x planned renewal programs
x sustainability and cost reduction initiatives.
Failing to deliver a redeveloped and improved Aquatic Centre will fall short of meeting needs emanating from demographic changes and increase Health and Safety risks on facilities which have exceeded their useful lives.
Long Term Financial Plan
The Long Term Financial Plan Financial Charter states maintaining operational surplus, cost recovery and property developments as priorities.
Operational performance of Aquatic Centres highly correlates with visitations. Redeveloping Waves would increase the likelihood of demographic changes to reflect on visitations and Expense Recovery.
Hills Shire is expected to see a population increase of 46.91% between 2018 and 2036.
Several graphs compare HSC financial performance to industry benchmarks. HSC is expecting to considerably increase its Own Source Operating Revenue Ratio and exceed the benchmark (60%) by 2021. Waves has a current ERR of 97%, this is partially caused by above average Asset Maintenance and Capital Expenditure Ratios. Redeveloping Waves would contribute to lowering those ratios and bringing them in line with market ratios.
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Disability Inclusion Action Plan
Local Governments are mandated to develop Disability Inclusion Action Plans (D.I.A.P) by the NSW Disability Inclusion Act 2014. Hills Shire Council’s D.I.A.P spans four focus areas which encourage an increased role of people with disability in all community processes.
Focus Area 1 ensures that people with disabilities participate in the Council’s Community Engagement processes. Focus Area 2 states that ongoing reviews and upgrades of community facilities shall be undertaken to meet best practice in Access to Premises Standards. Waves Fitness and Aquatic Centre was assessed and found to be non-compliant with several DDA standards.
Focuses 3 and 4 promote more equitable employment and communication systems and processes to cater for special needs of people with disability. This focus area consolidates all previous goals and activities and ensures that disability is gradually eliminated as barrier to communal participation at every level.
All options considered for Waves will be designed to comply with Council’s D.I.A.P, thereby rectifying a number of deficiencies with the current facility.
Alignment with NSW State Government 2021 Goals
Most if not all Local Government priorities, strategies and plans follow broader State Government directions and align with our National approach to community and civil service.
The NSW State Premier also lists priorities which both State and Local Governments aim to achieve in given timeframes. One of those priorities is “Tackling Childhood Obesity”. 22% of children aged 5-16 years were above a healthy weight in NSW in 2014. Aquatic Centres are highly frequented by children from an early age, initially for swimming lessons, and later for squads, recreational swimming and social events such as birthdays.
Offering a contemporary facility which caters for the needs of all community segments would promote higher attendance by children and contribute to meeting this Priority.
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3 THE PROPOSED PROJECT Project Vision and Values
THSC community vision is to “build a vibrant community and prosperous economy through proactive leadership, shaping growth, delivering and maintaining infrastructure and valuing our surroundings”.
The project vision is to “provide THSC with a well-planned, well-designed, and well-constructed aquatic centre that provides suitable opportunity for the community to participate in a range of appropriate aquatic activities and leisure activities”. Project values include:
x remain true to the Shire Tag: “Sydney’s Garden Shire”
x respect the heritage of the existing memorial
x cater to as many community groups and activities as feasible within the parameters of the redevelopment
x provide as much open space and green space as possible within the parameters of the redevelopment
x provide as much sustainability and efficiency across the site as possible within the parameters of the redevelopment.
Project Scope
In response to the vision statement, and acknowledging the extensive feedback from users and the community, the scope of the Waves Redevelopment will include:
x pools, including:
external Olympic pool: 50m x 10 lanes external training / free play pool: 25m x 25m internal learner pool: 25m x 6 lanes internal activity pool: 25m x 6 lanes
new, efficient plant and equipment for all the above x community facilities, including:
a fitness centre with three distinct areas: strength room, cardio room, fitness room a foyer area with multiple services
covered protected tiered seating area child play splash zone
a new club house for The Hills Swimming Club & Life Saving Club two community rooms for hire
a commercial café, with both internal and external seating, including areas inside & outside the fence
x a range of amenities, including:
therapy features – Spa Tub / Spa Pool / Wet Sauna / Dry Sauna
toilets, showers, change rooms, and lockers suitable for individuals, families, and groups multiple site offices, and extensive storage
passive enjoyment areas – including BBQ, picnic, and casual seating enhanced parking and drop-off facilities.
Project Delivery and Operation
The project will aim to be delivered with minimal interruption over peak summer periods, for school swimming carnivals, and learn-to-swim programs. Implementation will consider operational models that prioritises quality of service, supports the full range of community activities, and provides opportunities for improved financial performance.
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4 DEMAND PROJECTIONS 4.1 CATCHMENT POPULATION
Waves is located in the Hills Shire, about 30km North West from the Sydney CBD. The Hills Shire is bounded by Hawkesbury City in the north, Hornsby Shire in the east, the City of Parramatta in the south, and Blacktown City in the west.
The Hills Shire population was estimated at 167,8471 in 2017, up from 157,241 in 2016. Forecasts estimate that the Shire’s population will reach 250,971 by 20361.
The user catchment considered for Waves uses the criteria applied by the CERM performance indicators, which limits the catchment to an area within a 5km radius of the facility. On this basis, the catchment includes West Pennant Hills, Castle Hill, Norwest, Baulkham Hills, Bella Vista, and Kellyville.
The catchment also includes parts of some suburbs outside the Hills Shire LGA, including Winston Hills and Northmead, south of the M2. Figure 5 shows the estimated catchment area, including the location of a number of competing facilities.
Figure 5: Catchment area and competing facilities
The catchment area includes the majority of the LGA’s population. The population within the catchment is estimated at 121,499 in 2017 and is forecast to grow by 40% to 170,368 by 2036. Table 4 summarises the current and forecast populations in the Local Government Area, and within the 5km catchment area.
1 Source: Profile.id
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Table 4: Catchment population and projections by suburb
2017 2036 Total Δ
2017-36
Total % 2017-36
Hills Shire LGA 167,847 250,971 83,124 49%
Waves Primary Catchment
Baulkham Hills 37,164 39,502 2,336 6%
Castle Hill 35,602 44,245 8,643 24%
Kellyville 24,543 39,9502 15,407 63%
West Pennant Hills 13,213 17,123 3,910 29%
Bella Vista 8,560 17,5502 8,990 50%
Norwest 2,417 12,0002 9,583 396%
Total Catchment 121,499 170,368 48,869 40%
Currently, Baulkham Hills is the catchment’s largest contributing suburb, but by 2036 Castle Hill is projected to have the largest population.