Beaton Park fans await critical news on leisure centre's future

It’s nearly two years since The Illawarra Flame revealed a plan to shut out community sports and exercise classes from the popular Ted Tobin Hall at the Beaton Park Leisure Centre.

That move by Wollongong City Council management sparked a backlash, a public rally, a petition, and finally a backdown, with then newly elected Lord Mayor Tania Brown promising no change to who can and can’t use the hall.

As first reported in the Flame in October 2024, just before the last council election, and with no consultation with affected sporting groups, council negotiated with the Illawarra Hawks an arrangement which would push community sports such as badminton, table tennis, pickleball and fitness classes out of Ted Tobin Hall.

A “block booking“ of the hall to prevent community sports accessing the facility was removed once word got out about the “secret” Hawks takeover proposal.

In the 20 months since, council has undertaken a costly consultancy exercise to try to appease all parties.

The lord mayor, “a die-hard Hawks supporter”, has promised “conversations with all major indoor sport organisations who use indoor courts at venues across Wollongong” to find a happy balance.

Cr Brown said, however, that demand was outstripping supply for indoor and outdoor sporting venues across the city and the 2018 master-plan for Beaton Park may already be outdated.

Council has enlisted the services of MI Global Partners – described as "a boutique management consultancy" on the company's website – to tackle the issue. MI Global Partners lists the Illawarra Hawks among their "Sport Projects" on its website.

For the record, the “Beaton Park Master Plan” was discussed in a council behind-closed-doors “workshop” on May 4. On June 1, in another un-minuted meeting, council discussed its “Aquatic and Indoor Sports Strategy”.

Early on, Eric Bradley, president of the Illawarra Badminton Association, described the process as “a fiasco”. Now, as a key stakeholder, having heard nothing for six months, he wants to know “what happened to the much touted WCC mantra of “transparency” and “accountability”?”

Eric has been involved in the consultation process, and, while he no longer feels badminton is on council’s “endangered species” list, he still suspects the prime motivation for council is to provide the Hawks with some sort of exclusive arrangement for a new home to replace the ageing Snakepit.

According to Eric, the last he’s heard from the consultants was before Christmas last year – more than six months ago.

What council is saying on the record is that $800,000 has been allocated in the next budget for the design of a “new multipurpose facility”. Eric has asked council what is the purpose of the new facility and who will benefit. He has not yet received a response.

In a statement to The Illawarra Flame, a council spokesperson said following initial consultation in early 2025, “workshops with current users of Beaton Park and other indoor sports and state sports organisations were conducted over November 2025 and January 2026”.

“The information provided from various stakeholders will inform a preliminary discussion document, providing the feedback from these workshops to further develop options,” the spokesperson said.

“Considerations include the size and scale of the initial master plan, the number of indoor courts and complementary facilities to accommodate current and future users, identified health and fitness needs for central Wollongong, potential funding opportunities, and the ability to host regional and state-based competitions.”

Council has confirmed the design won’t happen until 2028-29. Best-case scenario is that construction might begin in 2030.

“The size and scale of the new multipurpose facility is yet to be approved,” the council spokesperson said.

Eric Bradley said a presentation by MI Global Partners to Beaton Park stakeholders in late 2025 provided four options or “concepts”. “None had then firmed as a favourite to be presented to council.”

“Since then, Illawarra Badminton Association (IBA) has received no update whatsoever from MI Global on any progress, or any indication as to whether an option has been selected to be progressed.

“However, most of the new stadium options presented to stakeholders last December involved repurposing or enveloping Ted Tobin Hall. So this facility would be unavailable for any activities during the construction phase of any new complex.

“During the failed Hawks bid for Ted Tobin Hall exclusivity, council was unable to find any local facility able to accommodate IBA in Wollongong or the Illawarra, so maintaining IBA activities during any lengthy construction period would be of significant concern to local badminton groups,” Eric said.

“During the 2025 MI Global presentation, a desire was expressed to have concrete proposals for a new sports complex ready in time for the next NSW government election, with construction coming to fruition as a training facility prior to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.

“I don’t see such optimism reflected in council’s recent draft delivery plan documents.”