Randwick City Council Archives - Page 2 of 2

Malabar Ocean Pool Amenities Building Development Up for Consideration

The Malabar Ocean Pool could get a brand new amenities building after overwhelming support from the public to proceed with the development.

In a survey conducted by Randwick City Council, 70 percent of the residents agreed that the ocean pool must have its very own amenities building whilst 24 percent said that a structure might unnecessarily ruin the site’s character.

There are currently no toilets near the Malabar Ocean Pool and locals have to use the amenities at the Cromwell Park some 700 metres away.

The Malabar Ocean Pool has been around since the 1890s. In the 1970s, the Council, along with the Sydney Water and NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation, closed the site due to pollution. Following an extensive restoration, the ocean pool was ready for public use again in 1997 but it was still without the needed amenities.

Because of its popularity with the locals, especially in the summer months, the Malabar Ocean Pool usually accommodates a large number of visitors. The precinct committee has approached the Council to build toilet facilities around the site, while a probe into a potential location was conducted in 2019.

Locals said that the car park area could be an ideal space for the amenities building, which must also include outdoor showers, changing rooms, drinking fountains and disabled access.

Following the result of the public consultation, the Council will now consider allocating funds to develop detailed plans in its 2021-22 budget.

Maroubra SLSC Secures $400,000 for Stage 1 Upgrades

Good news for Maroubra locals as the people prepare to enjoy a safe and healthy summer! Randwick City Council has agreed to allocate $400,000 for Stage 1 of the planned upgrades to the Maroubra Surf Lifesaving Club (Maroubra SLSC).

The scope of works covers the following:

140sqm increased storage capability for lifesaving equipment
New beach surveillance and observation platform
New training and education room
Improved community room space

The start date of construction has yet to be determined. The remaining stages of redevelopment and upgrades will still be decided upon based on the Maroubra Beach Foreshore plan.

Maroubra SLSC is crucial to the community’s safety and protection in the water, especially when Maroubra’s beach is deemed as one of the more hazardous beaches in Sydney. Club members rescue some 285 people every year, which is considered as one of the highest in New South Wales.

The organisation also hosts various community activities for physical and mental well-being, making the clubhouse an important social hub. Club membership increased by more than 25 percent in three years, making the current building’s format and condition unfit for the expanded membership.

The facility improvements will help support Maroubra SLSC’s mission and value to the precinct. The upgrades will also push the club to become a world-class site.

Heffron Centre Development: Concept Design Unveiled, Project to Bring 200 Jobs

The concept design for the Heffron Centre development in Maroubra has been unveiled following a public consultation in April 2020. The planned multi-purpose, state-of-the-art sports facility will move on with the development application, with an estimated target date of construction in mid-2021.

The new Heffron Centre will include two indoor sports halls with spectator seating and ample storage spaces. This site will house the Community and High-Performance headquarters of the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Souths Cares.

Lecture rooms, gymnastic zones, training and operational areas, bathrooms for athletes and guests, as well as a merchandise shop were incorporated in the design, based on the residents of the locals.

Photo Credit: CO-OP Studio/Randwick City Council

Part of the centre will also include a cafe within an open plaza with both indoor and outdoor seating. The plaza is envisioned as a community hub for relaxation and socialisation.

An internal street will be built to link these facilities and connect the front and back of the site. Visitor areas for viewing the NRL training field will also be established.

“The concept designs have been informed by community feedback and are the result of more than four years of hard work, research, consultation and planning,” Randwick Mayor Danny Said stated in the unveiling of the concept design. “This is an exciting project that will see grassroots and elite sports co-exist at Heffron Park. It will also see the Rabbitohs move to their supporter heartland in Maroubra,” Mr Said added.

Randwick City Council and the South Sydney Rabbitohs were able to secure about $21 million in state and federal funding for the Heffron Centre. About 200 jobs will be generated once construction starts, with at least 60 ongoing jobs to be retained once the site is operational.

The Council expects the development to be completed in late 2022.