City of Rockingham completes expansion and upgrades at Koorana Reserve

The City of Rockingham has completed a $5 million project that has seen the Koorana Reserve expanded and upgraded to boost sporting opportunities for residents living in the outer southern Perth suburbs of Warnbro, Waikiki, Port Kennedy and surrounding areas.

The project was delivered for the City by Shelford Constructions.

Work on the project commenced in April 2021 with the City delivering a major refurbishment and expansion to the existing clubrooms and two additional hectares of playing space, which includes two new soccer fields for use in winter and one cricket oval in summer.

The cricket nets on site have been expanded, reticulation has been upgraded, a new car park has been constructed, and state-of-the-art sports floodlighting has been installed.

Guided by the Koorana Reserve Master Plan, Mayor Deb Hamblin said the project was a key part of fulfilling the City’s Strategic Community Plan aspiration of planning for future generations.

Mayor Hamblin notes “the upgrades the City has delivered at Koorana Reserve will be integral to catering for the rapid growth that the Port Kennedy Soccer Club and the Hillman Hornets Cricket Club are experiencing. Along with the local community, students of the adjoining Koorana Primary school will also be able to enjoy the benefits of the improved sporting and recreation amenities available.

“Community sport is crucial to fostering positive physical and mental health outcomes for residents, and we look forward to community members of all ages, genders and backgrounds enjoying the facilities at Koorana Reserve for many years to come.”

The City received support for the project from the Western Australian Government along with funding contributions from Cricket Australia, the Australian Cricketers’ Association and WA Cricket through the Australian Cricket Infrastructure Fund. In addition, the Australian Government has committed $335,000 towards the lower playing fields through the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program.

The LRCI Program supports local Councils to deliver priority local road and community infrastructure projects across Australia, supporting jobs and the resilience of local economies to help communities bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic.

WA Cricket Chief Executive Christina Matthews advised “the expansion and upgrade of Koorana Reserve’s sporting facility will inspire even more boys, girls, men and women to get active and enjoy the benefits of cricket. Local sporting clubs and volunteers are pivotal in our communities and this project certainly goes a long way to improving the cricket experience for the local community and supporting the continued growth in cricket participation across the area.”

Images from top:The upgrades at Koorana Reserve will enhance sporting opportunities for community members; he cricket nets at Koorana Reserve have been expanded while soccer players will benefit from an additional two new soccer fields for use in winter; aerial shot of Koorana Reserve; (from left) Hillman Hornets Cricket Club President Carl Sanders, The Hon Stephen Pratt MLC, Mayor Deb Hamblin, and Port Kennedy Soccer Club President Radmila Popovic, officially opened the redeveloped Koorana Reserve. All images credit: City of Rockingham