Facility and recreation

Hard and soft infrastructure

This stream targeted the people managing and operating the facilities within which recreation takes place. Presentations included aquatic sustainability, programming innovations, zero depth water play and alternatives to traditional problem solving and management.

 

Aquatic Sustainability: Ensuring Our Pools are Greener

Tony Head & Peter Leaversuch (LIWA Aquatics)

As individuals or as part of local authorities, cities, states or country, we are all being challenged to reduce our carbon and environmental footprint. From an aquatic recreation perspective this is no different, with local authorities and individual managers working hard to pull back the spiralling costs of utilities.

In partnership with Curtin University, the Department of Sport and Recreation, Water Corporation, Royal Life Saving and others, LIWA Aquatics has embarked on a project that will aid managers across the country to make decisions of how better to conserve and mange our finite water resources.

 

 

 

Practical Solutions: Aquatic Energy Conservation

Roger Knight (Kwinana Recquatic)

The Town of Kwinana has recently undertaken a major refurbishment linking knowledge, resource and community youth facilities with the existing Kwinana Recquatic. One of the key aims of the Town Centre development was to incorporate sustainability options, catering for community needs in an environmentally friendly way.  Roger Knight, Centre Manager at Kwinana Recquatic, will present on the sustainable initiatives applied to the facility and the corresponding impact brought about by this progressive course of action. 

 

 

Splash Pads: Zero Depth Water Play – Q&A Panel Session

Splash pads and spray parks are an aquatic facility trend gaining traction in WA today.  These facilities consist of a zero depth play area with water shooting from colourful structures and ground sprays and then quickly draining, thus often being acceptably run as unsupervised aquatic play areas.  

The City of Swan, City of Stirling and City of Joondalup will each give a short presentation on their zero depth water play facilities and experiences learned both in terms of construction and operation, followed by an opportunity for the audience to ask their own questions of the panel.

 

 

 

 

 

Strategic Decision Making in Sport & Recreation Facilities Planning

Greg McNally (Coffey Commercial Advisory)

A lot is heard about strategic planning and its importance but what does it mean in a practical sense to the sport and recreation industry? This presentation will take you through the various aspects of strategic planning from concept to operations and focus on:

• Why we plan strategically
• What are the key elements to be aware of
• The importance of research and consultation
• Key issues that arise
• Examples of case studies – the good, the bad, the ugly and lessons learnt.

 

 

Alternative Procurement Options

Murray Jorgensen (Isis Capital)

After fifteen years as a Local Government CEO, ten years as a national business and management consultant and now as CEO of Isis Capital, an asset finance company, Murray Jorgensen has an inside out view of some of the funding challenges that face the dedicated Recreation Centre Manager. He knows most managers are striving to improve and grow their facilities but at the same time they rarely seem able to do all they want due to financial constraints. Murray will share some of his thoughts on alternative procurement solutions and help you “grow money on trees”.

 

 

PPCA Licence Scheme and the Fitness Industry

Ben Ritchie (Fitness Australia)

Fitness Australia will present on the issue of PPCA licensing and the fitness industry. Fitness centres that play music for group exercise are facing large increases to copyright licence fees from the PPCA, which is threatening the future of group exercise. Hear about Operation M.U.S.I.C. including an overview of the copyright claim, how Fitness Australia has dealt with the copyright claim and why they are fighting it.

 

 

Increasing Participation

Karen Roberts (Herb Graham Recreation Centre)

Herb Graham Recreation Centre is enjoying a renaissance in its position in the community. The centre has strategically moved from a standard regional sport and recreation centre to a community development model that embraces the changing demographic diversity of the region through uniquely tailored sport and recreation programs and events.

 

 

Skate Park Participation Project

Chris Camwell (YMCA Perth) & Steve Bennett (Department of Sport and Recreation)

The challenges around skate park participation across WA were identified by the YMCA, Department of Sport and Recreation and many stakeholders after an extensive community consultation process in 2008. This led to the development of the Skate Park Participation Project as a response to those challenges. The desired outcomes of the project are:

• A substantial increase in active participation in skate parks state-wide.
• All Local Governments have access to a centralised skate park service including policies, case studies, codes of conduct, event coordination and development advice.
• WA skate park users have a development pathway across local, regional, state, interstate and international events.
• A decrease in crime associated with skate parks in the general community.
• The pursuit of a model to take carriage of skate park activities post project.

The project has commenced and will eventually offer a range of benefits to communities state-wide.

 

 

Getting the Trail Bike Priorities Right

Steve Pretzel (Trail Bike Management Australia)

Applying his unique brand of pragmatic and creative thinking, Steve Pretzel developed the highly regarded State Trail Bike Strategy and has subsequently been engaged to develop Management Plans for several commercial and public Off Road Vehicle Areas. In “Getting the Trail Bike Priorities Right”, Steve will explore the relationship between the facilities and the communication and controls needed to balance the needs of riders and the community.

 

 

TopTrailsWA

Linda Daniels (Bibbulmun Track Foundation)

With over 600 trails across the unique landscapes of Western Australia, deciding which ones to explore can be a difficult decision. TopTrailsWA is a selection of some of the best trail experiences across the state; from a gentle stroll to a challenging 8-week hike; an easy cycle to an adrenalin fuelled mountain bike ride; or a paddle along a tranquil river to an outback four-wheel drive adventure.