City of Kwinana receives $17 million funding for Recquatic facility upgrade and city centre redevelopment

The City of Kwinana has been awarded over $17 million in Federal Government funding from the Thriving Suburbs Grant program towards two key projects.

The funding will see $15 million spent on improving the Kwinana Recquatic Centre - increasing its pool capacity and redeveloping health, fitness and wellness facilities - while $2.1 million will go towards the Kwinana City Centre redevelopment.

Announced on Tuesday by Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King, the grant recognises the vital importance of the Kwinana Recquatic centre in providing essential health and recreational services and the need to activate the Kwinana City Centre to provide improved amenities and accommodate the city’s rapidly growing population.

The proposed upgrade to the Kwinana Recquatic will address the immediate need for increased pool capacity to accommodate the growing number of families looking at participating in swimming lessons and aquatic fitness programs offered at the centre.

Kwinana Recquatic’s health, fitness and wellness facilities at the centre will also be redeveloped to cater for our growing community and support healthy lifestyles.

Welcoming the funding, Kwinana Mayor Peter Feasey said the redevelopment of the Kwinana City Centre precinct and the City of Kwinana's flagship aquatic and recreation centre would provide many benefits for the community and deliver on several strategic priorities, stating “this grant is the most significant investment in infrastructure in the City of Kwinana to date and we could not be more appreciative of the opportunity, nor understate the positive impact that this will have on the lives of the Kwinana community.

“The Thriving Suburbs grant will enable the redevelopment of the already, multi-award-winning but ageing Kwinana Recquatic Centre, into a more modern, versatile, accessible, and community-focused facility that will serve the needs of our rapidly growing community into the future. $21.9 million was budgeted in the City’s Long Term Financial Plan from 2028 to commence the redevelopment, now with the grant funding the City can fast track this project with a total budget of $36.9 million.

“The design is proposed to include an expanded pool area including learn-to-swim, hydrotherapy, family leisure pool with water play feature and a toddler and family area. As well as expanded and modernised health, fitness, and wellness facilities, a state-of-the-art gym, group fitness studio, wellness facilities, health programs and new change areas.”

The Kwinana City Centre precinct plan seeks to provide a vibrant, accessible and sustainable urban space for the growing Kwinana community. The project will improve key connections with new surface treatments, installing public art to link spaces and improve wayfinding. Public spaces in the City Centre will be improved with additional landscaping, seating and strategic lighting. Water-sensitive urban design initiatives will further enhance the area's functionality and sustainability.

Mayor Feasey added “this Kwinana City Centre precinct plan will bring much-needed vibrancy and a space in the heart of Kwinana that its community can be proud of. The plan will improve connectivity and amenity, fostering greater vibrancy and social cohesion for the community, with accessibility a priority and design considerations tailored to Kwinana's diverse community and the area's terrain.”

The planning and design phases for both projects will begin early next year.

Images: The Kwinana Requatic facility will undergo a huge transformation. Credit: City of Kwinana/Kwinana Recquatic.