West Australia’s reputation as the most progressive state in Australia could be set to take a mighty leap forward with the announcement a former big ass footy field could be transformed into a $120 million “Urban surfing wave park”.
News Limited’s The Sunday Times today trumpeted the “exciting new vision” for Subiaco Oval, till now home to the state’s two AFL teams and various other sporting codes in the West.
Though just a pipedream at the moment, the preliminary drawings reveal a set up similar Snowdonia’s Wave Garden albeit surrounded by one and two bedroom apartments at one end and an assortment of parks, shopping centres and “wellness venues” at the other.
The Sunday Times reports Wave Park Group Chairman Andrew Ross said: “Developers were that excited some were prepared to sign up already even without current land rights.”
“There are actually more surfers in WA than there are people who play cricket, indoor and outdoor combined. There are over 300 AFL and cricket ovals in Perth and not one dedicated surfing facility,” Mr Ross said.
“Most of our good beaches are shut six months of the year to surfboards anyway … this will be the best and longest wave within a three-hour drive of Perth.”
Details as follows:
A 300m-long by 120m wide freshwater lagoon using groundbreaking “Wavegarden” wave generating technology only used in two European surf parks, with another under construction in Texas;
- Six zones with different sized waves catering for everyone from beginners to professionals, with scope for other water-based activities including uninterrupted 300m swimming laps. Waves would be up to 2m high and travel 200m for a 30-second ride;
- 220 dual-aspect one and two bedroom apartments ranging from $500,000 to $800,000;
- New elevated public parkland (12,800sq m extension to Kitchener Park) with views over Subiaco, Kings Park and Perth CBD, inspired by New York’s High Line park;
- Dedicated market hall and plaza and hospitality and wellness venues;
- 52 TERRACED homes along the railway line; and
- a permanent home for the WA Football Hall of Fame.
