Mt Claremont Proposal FAQ

Mount Claremont Oval

Proposed development of sporting facilities

Frequently Asked Questions

1. This seems like a significant cost to ratepayers?
   • The project is still in its infancy, and a completely defined funding model can't be determined until we fully understand the expectations of the City and the community (which will occur once consultation is completed).
   • However, as is common with most sporting club facilities, Westside Wolves intends to make a significant financial contribution to its development and maintenance through fundraising and other funding models.
   • City of Nedlands (the “City”) will maintain full ownership of the facility, leasing it to the club who will be responsible for running the facility, maintenance of the facility and turf replacement when needed.
2. Is the City privatising part of the Oval?
   • No. This is a City asset and will remain a City asset. The development will be fully owned by the City and will be leased to Westside Wolves who will maintain the facilities. Community groups and Nedlands residents will be able to use the facilities just like other sporting complexes in the area.
   • Westside Wolves, like all other grass roots community clubs, is a not for profit organisation. The proposal does not involve the oval being used for commercial gain, but to continue to support an ever expanding and inclusive sport.
3. Why is public open space been given up?
   • Mount Claremont oval is a designated sporting precinct, not a parkland. 70 hectares of parkland is across the road at Lake Claremont.
   • The proposed development will help to significantly improve the utilisation of the oval for the greater benefit of the local community.
4. Why are Westside Wolves so passionate about building a hockey turf?

• Westside Wolves have been in the Nedlands area for nearly 90 years, playing at many venues in the area, but the game has changed, and increasingly artificial turf is the preferred surface. We presently share the pitch at Lemnos Turf (Shenton College) with two other clubs.
• Our club has 38 junior teams (currently with more girls participating than boys) and vast numbers of volunteers, in addition to a number of senior teams, and a strong minkey program. People play hockey from 5 to 75 years old. There are enormous health benefits from playing sport, and team sport in particular.
• Finding a home for our hockey club will ensure we continue to provide great sporting, exercise and team-working benefits for our approximately 1,500 members.
• Some members of the club, such as those who play minkey will continue to play on grass, however a new facility would make continuing with the game more attractive and support retention of those younger players.

5. How will existing users be impacted?
   • Hockey will be an additional sport played on the oval. All existing users will be catered for and we will work with council to ensure this so:
     1. Mt Claremont Primary School children will continue to utilise the sporting oval for sport and fundamental movement classes. The remaining grassed area of 1.4 hectares is significant for a school of approximately 250 students. The school may also want to make use of the all-weather synthetic turf for some of their activities. Further, the school has its own grass and tarmac areas within the school grounds and 70 hectares of parkland in the Lake Claremont area, which is diagonally opposite the school grounds.
     2. UWA Soccer use the oval as an overflow facility for their 5 fields at McGillivray oval (the home of UWA soccer). There will still be an equivalent sized grass soccer pitch for use by UWA, other clubs or members of the community. We have already undertaken to work with the City and UWA Soccer to resolve any further concerns.
     3. There are 3 cricket clubs that use the oval: Swanbourne CC, Western Suburbs CC and Claremont Nedlands CC. The City have already committed to placing an additional synthetic surface at Allen Park and at College Park, which are the homes of Swanbourne CC and Western Suburbs CC respectively. These clubs will benefit now from being able to play games at their home pitch rather than the Mount Claremont overflow facility. Claremont Nedlands CC will also have the use of the new synthetic pitches at these two ovals (where some of their teams currently play each week). The smaller cricket oval will remain for use by younger junior teams. Further, with the wicket being moved further east, spectators will be able to take advantage of the shade offered by the existing changing rooms and trees whilst having a closer view of the wicket.
     4. The cricket nets are currently beside the children’s playground. This is dangerous as cricket balls regularly fly out of the nets and into the surrounding area. The playground will be moved slightly under the proposal, which will improve safety.
     5. Gridiron will be able to utilise the remaining grassed area of 1.4 hectares. They may also wish to train on the synthetic turf and utilise the proposed new club rooms or changing facilities.
     6. Local residents sometimes walk dogs on the lead-on grassed area. 1.4 hectares of remaining grass after the development is a significant area for dog walking, combined with the approximately 70 hectares of Lake Claremont directly opposite the sporting oval.
     7. Local residents currently use the sporting oval for casual sporting activities and general exercise. This will be able to continue on the remaining space.
6. How will we safely deal with parking?
   • Significant further parking spaces will be created – it is proposed 60 additional spaces.
   • Presently there is a lack of proper parking at the oval with cars regularly parking on the verge along Alfred Road and Montgomery Avenue. Increased car parking spaces will improve safety and provide better access to the oval for all City residents.
7. Will there be a significant increase in traffic?
   • There will be more traffic due to the better utilisation of the sporting precinct. However, at peak time, there will only be 2 hockey teams playing on the turf and therefore there will not be a significant increase in the number of cars at any one time.
   • Training and game times on the turf will normally be outside school hours so should not materially affect school drop-offs (these will normally finish by 7:30am and start again at 4pm on weekdays).
   • Increasing parking to provide approximately 60 additional spaces will improve road safety by removing the need for many cars to park on the grass verges around the oval.
   • To ensure the impact on traffic aligns with these expectations the club, will undertake an independent traffic study as part of any final proposal.
8. Is this going to be a single-use site that can’t be accessed by the public because of a fence?
   • No. There are many activities that the community can use the turf for including hockey, general sports training and gridiron training. In addition, the club rooms could be used for children’s birthday parties, yoga and other similar activities.
   • For practical reasons the fence is a requirement for the turf to be built. This is the same for bowling clubs, tennis clubs, basketball courts, volleyball, Futsal, swimming pools and similar organised sporting clubs that might be considered ‘single use’.
   • The turf is just one part of this development/proposal of course – there is still the 1.4 hectares of open space available for the public to access.
9. Will the development adversely affect the Farmers Market?
   • No. We would anticipate that any increase in foot traffic and visitation to the area could only benefit the stallholders at the Famer's Markets - like any grassroots sport, our parents and supporters need their early morning coffees and kids need pre or post-match food! What a wonderful way to showcase the markets to a broader audience.
   • In any case, most of the activity at the turf would occur after the Farmer's Markets finishes, plus the additional parking available at the oval can ease congestion and mitigate resident's concerns about verge and street parking when the school car park reaches capacity.
10. Aren’t hockey turfs just for elite senior players?
    • No. We have a number of junior and senior teams that play on turf.
    • From 2018, all junior hockey teams from Year 9 onwards will play on turf, regardless of grade.
    • Younger teams from Year 5 have 1 game of turf per season under Hockey WA scheduling and some teams from Year 5 train on turf, subject to turf availability
    • There are various training programmes run on turf that are open to all ages and abilities.
    • Basic hockey skills can be easier to learn on a synthetic turf making it a more attractive proposition for younger or beginner players.
11. Does there need to be another turf in the western suburbs?
    • Yes. We absolutely need more turfs in the western suburbs.
    • In Victoria, there is approximately 1 Hockey turf for every 200 players
    • In WA, there is currently 1 Hockey turf for every 1,900 players
    • In the western suburbs there are currently 3 turfs (4 if you include Hale) and well over 5,000 players (over 6,000 if you include Hale). The western suburbs are home to some of the largest hockey clubs in the country.
    • Currently Westside Wolves have more than 1,500 members and only have one quarter share in Lemnos Turf (Shenton College).
    • All of our turf teams train with multiple teams on a single turf at the same time. Our teams are forced to train very early in the morning and late at night due to lack of turf availability in the western suburbs.
    • Currently some of our designated “home” games in juniors and in seniors are in locations such as Joondalup, Rockingham, Warwick and Melville due to lack of turf availability in the western suburbs.
    • Retention of players in high school and university is an issue for all sports – access to facilities is a significant contributor to that issue at our club. There are clear health benefits for older children to continue playing organised sport.
12. Why Mount Claremont Oval and have we considered other sites?
    • Mount Claremont Oval is a designated sporting precinct that is currently under-utilised.  
    • The proposed turf fits comfortably into the oval, while maintaining a balance with other sports and community users.
    • The oval is well separated from houses due to the thick western and northern bushland areas and hill that banks behind the oval. To the east would lie the large grassed area, Montgomery Rd and Mt Claremont school. To the south, Alfred Rd and the 70 hectares Lake Claremont reserve.
    • Westside Wolves have been searching for a location for over 10 years and have explored various other options before identifying Mount Claremont oval as the preferred and suitable location.
    • Other sites considered included: Allen Park; Cresswell Park; Scotch College; Christchurch playing fields; Nedlands Foreshore and land around Brockway.
13. I hear turfs are bad for the environment, is this true?
    • No.
    • Turfs are an incredibly efficient use of space. The turf will be highly utilitised and be lower maintenance than a comparable grass field.
    • Hockey turfs use approximately 40% less water than a comparable grass surface. Further, it is proposed that water used on the turf will be recycled for the remaining grass. Fertiliser that can leach into surrounds is not required.
14. Is the development going to include a licensed bar?
    • Yes. It is likely to include a licensed bar.
    • Like many sporting clubs, members often gather after playing to enjoy snacks and sometimes the odd alcoholic beverage. The proceeds of this assist in supporting the maintenance of the club facilities.
    • Having a licensed venue is also valuable if the rooms are ever used for community functions. However, at all times, and in accordance with City policy, any service of alcohol will be done responsibly by people holding appropriate certification, and there is a zero tolerance on any anti-social behaviour.
    • This is not dissimilar to the arrangements at all other major sporting club venues in the area such as Creswell Park and Cruikshank Reserve currently.
15. If I have more questions, where can I get the answers?
    • Contact: president@wolves.org.au