Ground could soon break for WA’s first surf park, and its owners are working to bring world class surfers and musicians to the venue.
Ground could break at Western Australia’s first surf park in early 2024, and its owners are already holding discussions with promoters to bring world class surfers and musicians to the venue.
Aventuur’s $100 million, 5.8-hectare surf park in Cockburn will feature a 2.2-hectare lagoon with surf breaks of up to 2.1 metres, a large surf store, grassed events area, wellness centre and a 140-person beach club inspired by Las Vegas.
Planning and environmental approvals are in place and the park expects some 1 million users annually once opened by early 2026.
Speaking on the sidelines of a Committee for Perth forum on Wednesday morning, Aventuur chairman Andrew Ross said he hoped contractors would mobilise on site in the first quarter next year.
“Everyone is really excited by the fact that we found a home here in Cockburn, that we've achieved our planning consent, and that we have got a timeline now for delivery of the project,” he said.
“The fact that it hasn't been done before here doesn't really bother us too much, only because we had all the learning through building the Melbourne park.
“We are in detailed design right now which is incredibly exciting.”
Mr Ross told the forum he anticipated demand to be stronger than it is at Melbourne’s park, which is at times booked out six weeks in advance.
Among ambitions for the park once operational are to host national and international touring acts.
The park’s owners have gauged interest too from the World Surf League to host auxiliary events around the Margaret River Pro in a pitch to get the world’s best surfers to stay in Perth longer.
“Parks now around the world are being used as a critical part for the training routines for professional surfers,” Mr Ross said.
“The ability for them to practice manoeuvres and work on their technique over and over in a repetitive environment is incredibly useful.
“So the opportunity for us to showcase that surfing talent right here in the heart of Perth is going to be incredible.”
The surf park is one of several major developments slated for Cockburn’s station precinct which will be the only station outside of Perth connected to multiple lines once Metronet’s Thornlie link opens.
Perron Group property investment general manager Andrew Byars told the forum the company hoped to begin major refurbishment of Cockburn Gateway Shopping Centre in 2025.
That refurbishment would herald the start of a 20-year, $1 billion plan to transform the precinct into a high-density mixed use residential and commercial area with better links into the rest of the community.
Mr Byars said construction costs had thrown a spanner in the works, but Perron remained committed to the build.
Early discussion around how to connect the Cockburn Gateway precinct, train station, surf park and aquatic and recreation centre is being held between the City of Cockburn and stakeholders.
City of Cockburn Mayor Logan Howlett said some 160,000 people would call Cockburn home by 2031, and Cockburn station’s catchment would number upwards of 900,000 people.
Cockburn’s council offices will move to Cockburn Central near the ARC, where a $12 million revamp to improve facilities for women is also on the cards.
