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The Greenough lifestyle
Getting a place fit to match the Greenough lifestyle
In the Midwest region of Western Australia surrounding the City and Port of Geraldton lays the Shire of Greenough, a picturesque region with abundant heritage sites that draw visitors from around the globe. The remnant flour mills, wide open spaces and popular equestrian events hosted within the Shire create the impression that Greenough offers the leisurely lifestyle of a bygone era.
Like many places with tourism appeal, Greenough has experienced an influx of people seeking an alternative to their urban lifestyle by way of a ‘sea change’. The once small and sparsely spread out population has more than doubled in the past decade, with the Shire Council suddenly having to provide services for over 13,000 residents.
With a growing population keen to participate in social and recreational activities, Greenough’s tiny derelict community house struggled to accommodate anymore than 10 people at a community meeting. Two years ago its sagging roof was deemed unsafe and the old house was condemned and assigned for demolition.
Faced with the prospect of having no place for community groups to gather, Community Development Manager, Neil Bennett, argued for a new community facility to be built and included it in The Greenough Five-year Parks and Recreation Plan as Council’s highest priority. Bennett, considers a dedicated community meeting place as “vital for community identity” and consulted extensively with residents and sporting groups, including the Geraldton Greenough Joint Recreation Advisory Committee, to clarify community need.
With the greatest demand expressed in areas of significant growth such as the catchment area serving the Woorree community, Woorree Reserve, a 10 acre regional equestrian and BMX park was identified as the best location for a multipurpose community facility. In collaboration with sporting user groups from Woorree Reserve and the Woorree Ground Management Committee, Bennett developed a concept design that catered to the needs of both sporting and community user groups.
Having community endorsement, Bennett gave Council cost estimates and concept reports seeking support and a financial commitment. Despite the modest capital works budget, the Shire committed almost $100,000 towards building a public toilet block and carpark and pledged a further $90,000 towards the building provided other funds could be sourced.
Encouraged by the willingness of the Woorree Reserve User groups and the Greenough Progress Association to give financial and in kind support to the building project, Bennett submitted grant applications to Lotterywest and the Community Sporting and Recreation Facilities Fund to get the remaining funds needed for the construction. Although the facility was primarily servicing sporting needs, Bennett acknowledges he approached Lotterywest, “…because of the extent that community use was driving the project, it needed to accommodate two local Progress Associations, choral groups, a bag pipe group, a patchwork club, a bridge club and church groups that had struggled for two years without a meeting place.”
Lotterywest was able to give a grant for $77,685, representing 35% of construction costs which was equivalent to the extent to which the community groups would use the facility. With Lotterywest supporting community usage Bennett was then successful in obtaining support for usage of the various sporting groups through a Community Sporting and Recreation Facilities Fund grant.
Having secured the amount required for the construction, Bennett is hoping that building, which starts in August, will be finished by September October, “Just in time to kick start the summer sports and festive season” .