More than golf
Consultation has concluded
More than Golf was the community consultation undertaken in 2020 to seek input and ideas from the community to shape the development of the Whaleback site in Parkwood.
Engagement and consultation has closed.
Backstory
The Whaleback site holds a unique position within the City, as it has the potential to be a vibrant community hub that, through development of place making activities and infrastructure, could in time support its own maintenance, improvements, and upgrades. The Whaleback site can also demonstrate a credible response to environmental challenges and opportunities, and upgrades would support many of the City’s environmental strategies.
Ideas and views gathered from our community guided the development of the first draft of the concept plan which was taken to Council in early 2022 for consideration.
In March, Council deferred consideration on the Whaleback Concept Plan to the September Ordinary Council Meeting (OCM).
At a briefing with Elected Members in late August it was determined that further work was necessary to better consider all of the available options to improve the golf course and associated facilities.
In the current economic times, further development of an expansive and multi-million dollar Concept Plan does not make sense, particularly considering the fantastic golf offering Whaleback currently provides.
What are the next steps?
The City will be turning its focus to the current facilities at Whaleback – the driving range, the buildings, car park, sports courts etc. – building business cases to consider renewal or upgrades to ensure they continue to meet your needs and those of the wider community.
The ‘More than Golf’ consultation demonstrated the importance of Whaleback Golf Course as a valued community asset. The City is keen to foster that passion and recognises that any shaping of Whaleback can only be done through ongoing discussion with the community.
In the short-term, the City is working to ensure the ongoing operation of the golf course by seeking an extension of the leases to the current lessee Mr Peter Hopkins for a further 12 months, with a new expiry date of 17 December 2023.
This recommendation will go to Council at the September OCM. This report to Council also recommends the City investigate alternative operating models for the Golf Course beyond the expiry of Mr Hopkins’s extended lease.
A 12-month extension to the lease will allow an appropriate amount of time for Council to take a considered approach to the future management of the golf course and will ensure that the course remains operational throughout.
We appreciate your patience and support throughout the process so far and look forward to continuing the conversation with you going forward.
Project updates
PROJECT UPDATE – 17 March 2022
The Council at its Ordinary Meeting on 15 March 2022 resolved to not support the Officer’s Recommendations for the Whaleback Concept Plan item CC-012-22 in its current format.
An alternate motion was moved and Council resolved unanimously to:
- Defer consideration of the Whaleback Golf Course Concept Plan to the September 2022 Ordinary Council Meeting: and
- Request the CEO to facilitate a workshop to discuss community feedback from the “More than Golf” community engagement process.
Officers are working through what needs to be done in order to get the Concept Plan back to Council in September.
Officers will continue to work with the current operator and look into options to achieve the ongoing operation of the golf course. The City remains committed to achieving the best outcome for the future of Whaleback Golf Course, direct stakeholders and the Canning community as a whole.
We will keep you informed as the project progresses.
PROJECT UPDATE - 25 February 2022
We are excited to advise that the papers for the March Agenda Briefing have been uploaded to the City’s website and can viewed here.
If you have questions regarding the Architects Concept Plan drawings of the proposed redevelopment you can "ask a question" below. If you ask a question in this way, then it's possible to share the answers with everyone. If you would prefer to keep your questions one-to-one, then please get in touch by email jane.maddern@canning.wa.gov.au.
If you believe your question can only be addressed at the Agenda Briefing, then you can submit your question in advance of the Agenda Briefing here.
PROJECT UPDATE - 4 February 2022
Due to unforeseen circumstances there has been a change to the dates that the Whaleback Concept Plan will be referred to Council. We will now brief Elected Members on Thursday 10 February, and will be seeking Council’s endorsement to progress the project via the March Agenda Briefing and Ordinary Council Meeting on 8 and 15 March 2022 respectively.
Ideas and views gathered from our community have guided the concept plan draft and once we have a decision from Elected Members, we can commence the project in earnest. The City is looking at funding options to deliver the redevelopment of Whaleback Golf Course and associated facilities, with these most likely to come from private investment.
In progressing this project it is recognised that Whaleback is enjoyed principally for its traditional golfing experience and it is important to keep providing this type of facility whilst renewing, upgrading and activating new facilities and services to deliver a more inclusive community hub.
The plan is being prepared, respecting the community’s desire to protect the unique environmental qualities and natural beauty of the Whaleback site without involving the disposal of the City’s freehold land. It has been developed with input from key stakeholders and recognises the City’s priority issues, strategies and actions that development of the Whaleback site could support.
PROJECT UPDATE - 20 January 2022
After we brief Elected Members on the draft Whaleback Concept Plan on 2 February, we will be seeking Council’s endorsement to progress the project via the Special Council Meeting scheduled for Thursday 24 February 2022.
Ideas and views gathered from our community have guided the concept plan draft and once we have a decision from Elected Members at this meeting, we can commence the project in earnest. The City is looking at funding options and preliminary investigations have indicated that potential funding mechanisms could be established in the new lease arrangements with a partner organisation who will commit to investment in improvements.
In progressing this project it is recognised that Whaleback is enjoyed principally for its traditional golfing experience and it is important to keep providing this type of facility whilst installing and activating new facilities and services to deliver a more inclusive community hub.
The plan is being prepared, respecting the community’s desire to protect the unique environmental qualities and natural beauty of the Whaleback site without involving the disposal of the City’s freehold land. It has been developed with input from key stakeholders and recognises the City’s priority issues, strategies and actions that development of the Whaleback site could support.
PROJECT UPDATE - 21/12/2021
More than Golf was the community consultation undertaken in 2020 to seek input and ideas from the community to shape the development of the Whaleback site in Parkwood.
We asked the community to help shape what the future might look like at this site, and we have taken the ideas and feedback and formed a draft concept plan that we can share with you - refer to the document called Whaleback Concept Plan (PRELIMINARY DRAFT) on the right hand side of this page. Please understand that this is a very draft concept plan and we are working to develop something more suitable in terms of graphic quality that we can take to Council for consideration in February, and thereby continue the conversation about the future of this site.
The project has morphed into what we are now calling the Whaleback Concept Plan. The goal of this plan is to outline activities to revitalise the Whaleback site over the next 10 years, with the aim for this site to appeal to a more diverse customer base and ensure this large City asset supports the City’s vision of being welcoming and thriving.
The Whaleback site holds a unique position within the City, as it has the potential to be a vibrant community hub that, through development of place making activities and infrastructure, could in time support its own maintenance, improvements, and upgrades. The Whaleback site can also demonstrate a credible response to environmental challenges and opportunities, and upgrades would support many of the City’s environmental strategies.
Golf can be sociable, challenging and fun, but traditional golf courses make golf seem difficult, time-consuming and stuffy, leaving the audience at a site like Whaleback limited to only the golfers in our community. Alternative formats of golf, such as mini golf, virtual golf and driving ranges address barriers to participation and can provide development and participation pathways for the sport in this modern day.
Golf courses can be community hubs that provide the traditional golfing experience and can also be places where more than golf is undertaken. Whaleback can be a place where all community members feel included regardless of age, gender, culture, and abilities.
In progressing this project it is recognised that Whaleback is enjoyed principally for its traditional golfing experience and it is important to keep providing this type of facility whilst installing and activating new facilities and services to deliver a more inclusive community hub.
Ideas and views gathered from our community have guided the concept plan draft and once we have a decision from Elected Members, we can commence the project in earnest. The City is looking at funding options and preliminary investigations have indicated that potential funding mechanisms could be established in the new lease arrangements with a partner organisation who will commit to investment in improvements.
The plan will be prepared, respecting the community’s desire to protect the unique environmental qualities and natural beauty of the Whaleback site without involving the disposal of the City’s freehold land. It has been developed with input from key stakeholders and recognises the City’s priority issues, strategies and actions that development of the Whaleback site could support.
