COMMUNITY groups and sporting clubs are in a race to secure the use of Queens Park Recreation Centre.
The City of Canning is transferring the centre’s facilities and services, along with those provided at Queens Park Library and Canning Aquatic Centre, to the newly constructed Cannington Leisureplex opening in September.
Contemporary Gym Academy and the Burmese Association of WA are the first two groups to approach the council asking for use of the recreation centre.
City of Canning councillors will consider the future use of the centre, along with Queens Park Library and Canning Aquatic Centre, after the review of the City’s land and property assets has been completed in coming weeks.
In the interim, councillors resolved at last week’s meeting to use the City’s patrol and security service to monitor the three facilities.
Contemporary Gym Academy director and head coach Michele McDermott said the recreation centre would provide an ideal base for the gym club, which is used by up to 220 people a week in its current Carlisle home.
“It is more than just a good centre, it would be the ideal centre,” she said.
“A gymnastics club needs lots of space for training and the equipment can not be put away each night, which means it is hard to share a facility with other groups. We also need a high roof, all of which are provided at Queens Park Recreation Centre.”
Swan MHR Steve Irons supported the push by Contemporary Gymnastics Academy to use the facility and said the move would help Queens Park become a sports hub.
However, The Burmese Association of WA president Denzil D’Vauz said the centre could provide a cultural hub for the growing migrant community in the area.
He said the association, which represented seven other ethnic groups, had been searching for a permanent home for 15 to 20 years.
Mr D’Vauz and Mrs McDermott both said a low rental rate would be a key appeal of the centre.
At its recent meeting, council also agreed to drain the pools at Canning Aquatic Centre and erect fencing around the site until a decision is made on its future.