Wanangkura Stadium set to reopen?

With water and fire services issues approaching resolution at the Town of Port Hedland's Wanangkura Stadium, the new recreation centre is set to reopen later this month.

Closed because of fire risk at the beginning of August, just four days after having been opened by Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett during the 2012 Spinifex Spree Carnival, the $34.1 million facility, known as the Multi Purpose Recreation Centre (MPRC)until its naming has been a source of embarrassment for the Council.

Shortly after the opening and naming event, which saw the Perth Wildcats play the Cairns Taipans in a sold-out exhibition game, low water pressure and flow were identified as creating a fire risk.

Speaking at the time of the stadium's closure, Port Hedland acting Mayor George Daccache told the North West Telegraph that "the temporary closing of the building is in the best interest of the community.

"The limitations of the water and fire capacity on site mean that in the event of fire we may not have the resources to manage it, potentially putting the safety of staff and users of the stadium at risk."

Since the closure the Council approved the installation of water tanks and pumps and relocation of fire boosters as assessed by engineering consultants, with acting Mayor Daccache stressing that "temporary measures, which were endorsed by fire engineers, were in place while the Stadium was open to minimise any safety risk to the community."

The Council also resolved to commission an independent review of the project history, compliance, processes and responsibilities and to present the findings to Council.

Doric Constructions, the company which was awarded the original tender to construct Wanangkura Stadium (formerly known as Multi-Purpose Recreation Centre), will be participating in negotiations with Council staff regarding the supply and installation of the remediation work.

The Stadium has also been criticised for its disability access with Western Australia Disability Services Minister Helen Morton raising issue with access for patrons in wheelchairs.

Minister Morton asked the Disability Services Commission to investigate whether the council met the requirements of the disability access inclusion plan in the centre.

Wanangkura Stadium was funded by the WA Government's Royalties for Regions and a $15 million contribution from mining company BHP Billiton.

In respect of current arrangements, acting Mayor Daccache concluded "Council is eager is to move forward and implement remediation works as soon as possible.

"We understand the inconvenience this has caused to the community, especially regular users of the Stadium. The Town has suspended membership fees while the Stadium is closed and has relocated all gym and fitness services to the JD Hardie Centre."