Baldivis Sporting Complex officially opened
Baldivis MLA Reece Whitby, City of Rockingham Mayor Deb Hamblin, and Premier Mark McGowan. PIC: City of Rockingham
The City of Rockingham has officially opened the new $39 million Baldivis Sports Complex (BSC), with the major project aiming to provide sports and recreational facilities for local clubs and community groups for generations to come.
To mark the occasion, a formal opening event and the unveiling of the memorial plaque took place at the BSC on Friday, March 17th.
Rockingham Mayor Deb Hamblin was joined by Premier Mark McGowan, Baldivis MLA Reece Whitby and several representatives from Baldivis White Knights Cricket Club and Baldivis Brumbies Football Club.
Construction on the first phase of the BSC began in early 2020 and over the past three years the City has delivered a new main pavilion, changing rooms, a maintenance shed and eight acres of floodlit playing space, including three separate ovals for AFL and cricket parking, as well as the Baldivis Indoor Sports Complex (BISC).
BISC has four indoor courts suitable for a range of sports including; basketball, netball, badminton, volleyball, indoor soccer and floorball.
It also contains a variety of multipurpose rooms and an outdoor cafe. The BISC is open to all community members for use.
The Main Pavilion is home to the White Knights Baldivis Cricket Club during the summer season, while the Baldivis Brumbies Football Club will call home during the winter football season.
A unique public art element titled Karrikins Dirdong, depicting the six Nyoongar seasons, is also a key feature of the project, centrally located within the complex adjacent to the central pedestrian street.
In addition, the city has worked to preserve the site’s environmental values by planting 40,000 native plants and installing nine nesting boxes for native black cockatoos.
Mayor Deb Hamblin said the project is guided by the Baldivis Sports Complex Master Plan and will play a key role in fulfilling the City’s Strategic Community Plan goal of planning for future generations.
“The BSC on Eighty Road is one of the largest infrastructure projects the City has ever undertaken and it will help fill a significant shortage of active reserve space in Baldivis for current and future sports groups,” Mayor Hamblin said.
“Exercise and recreation play a vital role in achieving positive health and well-being outcomes in our community, and the City looks forward to the BSC continuing to provide sporting and social benefits to residents for many years to come.
“The City also gratefully acknowledges the State Government’s $12.5 million contribution to the project and the $100,000 in support provided by Cricket Australia and WACA through the Australian Cricket Infrastructure Fund. “
Rockingham Prime Minister and MLA Mark McGowan said it was a pleasure today to officially open the Baldivis District Sporting Complex – a significant infrastructure project for the City of Rockingham that will benefit so many families and the local community in the future.
“As local sports clubs continue to boom and require more pitches and facilities, this significant investment will help meet demand for pitches for our local Aussie Rules and cricket clubs and free up pitches at other ovals across Baldivis,” said Mr McGowan.
“I would like to commend the City of Rockingham for their role in bringing this project to fruition and their key role in planning for future generations. I also want to acknowledge everyone’s hard standing and contribution to this important piece of community infrastructure.”
James Allsopp, Cricket Australia Executive General Manager Community Cricket and Capability, thanked the City for developing the BSC.
“Providing the best possible facilities for cricketers and local communities is a key priority for Australian cricket. This magnificent new complex will be tremendous for our players and residents of the City of Rockingham, as well as all the other sports that have worked on its development,” said Mr Allsopp.
WA Cricket GM Community Cricket, Jo Davies, said the Baldivis Sports Complex project will inspire even more boys, girls, men and women to get active and enjoy the benefits of cricket.
“This project will go a long way towards improving the cricket experience not only for White Knights Baldivis Cricket Club but also for the surrounding communities and will continue to support the continued growth in cricket attendance across the region.
“I would like to thank all parties involved in making this project a reality. Your support has created a fantastic sports complex that will benefit the local cricket community well into the future.”
The next phase of the BSC that the city will deliver includes the South Pavilion, Baldivi’s Outdoor Recreation Space and outdoor hard courts.
For more information see https://rockingham.wa.gov.au/planning-and-building/current-projects-and-works/baldivis-sports-complex