As leaseholder of a cutting-edge $9m+ facility, Cockburn Bowling and Recreation Club will celebrate its 54th year in style when the doors of its new home at Visko Park in Yangebup open officially today (Saturday, 1 September).
The club has been busily preparing to vacate the Rockingham Road premises it built in 1952, since well before work began on the new Bowling and Recreation Facility at Birchley Road, Yangebup 12 months ago.
The new 1,400sqm+ club and recreation facility boasts two synthetic bowling greens, a new bowling club members’ section with a bar and darts area, a large multi-purpose activity and function room available for community hire, a commercial kitchen to cater for functions and other meals, plus meeting and office facilities.
In a landmark combined community facility, Volleyball WA will run competitions and training from beach volleyball courts at the facility while Area 5 Football will offer mini-football competitions.
Community members are welcome to experience the new facility at a free family fun open day today (1 September) from 11am-3pm, following its official joint opening by Senator for Western Australia Slade Brockman and Cockburn Mayor Logan Howlett.
Mayor Howlett said a focus of Cockburn’s newest recreation facility was enabling families to increase their activity levels together close to home in a safe, welcoming social environment.
“Being more physically active in our everyday lives doesn’t always have to be hard work. At Visko Park, there will be a focus on family-oriented games and competitions with an accent on fun and making new social connections,” Mayor Howlett said.
“Belonging to a club and getting active is great for our physical health, but is also an important part of staying mentally agile and involved in our community.”
Bowling club president Pat McBride said it was an exciting time of growth for the organisation.
President for 10 years and a member for nearly 18 years, Mr McBride said the club’s membership had grown from about 300 to well over a 1,000 in the past three months in anticipation of the new premises and the opportunities it offered.
“People are wholeheartedly embracing the new facility and we hope the people of the district continue to adopt it as their social centre into the future.”
Area 5 Football Director Bryan Raeburn said there was a large football community that had been asking to head south of the river for a number of years.
“With the World Minifootball Federation World Cup coming to Perth in 2019, this new facility will be utilised by the 32 teams as a training facility, giving local youngsters the opportunity to see the world’s best in action in the City of Cockburn,” Mr Raeburn said.
Volleyball WA CEO Robyn Kuhl said Visko Park was an exciting new development that would allow Volleyball WA to expand its presence in the south metropolitan area with a new beach volleyball club.
“As a game for all, we can’t wait to get the local residents out on to the sand and let families discover volleyball together,” Ms Kuhl said.
“The four new beach volleyball courts also represent a great opportunity for us to deliver more state development programs.”
The facility is jointly funded by the Australian Government through a $4.55m grant and the City of Cockburn.
FREE FAMILY FUN DAY FEATURES:
- Free sausage sizzle and drink for first 500 people
- Mini-football
- Bowling
- Darts
- Jack Attack
- Beach Volleyball
- Face painting, bouncy castle, farm animal petting zoo
THE FACILITY AT A GLANCE:
- 2 synthetic bowling greens (one covered) with outdoor lighting and spectator shelters
- 2 mini-football soccer pitches with outdoor lighting
- 4 beach volleyball courts (available for community hire/ membership)
- Multi-purpose community facility with kitchen, dining room, activity and function room (available for community hire)
- Meeting and office rooms
- Change rooms and toilets
- Carpark - 150 bays including accessible car bays
- Grassed area with playground
Pictured are: (l-r) Trevor Leggett (darts), Karen Wickham (Volleyball WA), Pat McBride (Cockburn Bowling and Recreation Club), Susan Butler (City of Cockburn Club Development Officer) and Bryan Raeburn from Area 5 mini-football.