Beaton Park vision expected by Christmas (then it's a bit of a wait ...)
Final community consultation is expected to take place next year, and design work isn’t expected to take place until the end of the decade
Wollongong City Council’s grand plans for the “renewal” of Beaton Park Leisure Centre are drawing closer to completion but it’s still likely to be the end of the year before they’re shared with the community.
Council has also laid out a time-frame for the long-term vision of the popular sporting precinct. Final community consultation is expected to take place next year, and design work isn’t expected to take place until the end of the decade, meaning any new construction and expansion of facilities isn’t likely until the 2030s.
It was in October 2024 that The Illawarra Flame first reported that council was looking at options to provide the Illawarra Hawks and basketball with improved facilities, including better access to the popular Ted Tobin Hall within the Beaton Park complex.
No sport disadvantaged
This created angst among other sports using Ted Tobin Hall who feared they’d be squeezed out to make way for the Hawks. Council promised no sport would be disadvantaged should any changes occur and looked at potential relocation options for sports such as badminton, pickleball and table tennis, and the regular fitness classes.
To date, no sports have been relocated but the fast-growing sport of pickleball has benefited by the provision of several new outdoor courts at Beaton Park.
Since that time, council has engaged several consultants to assist with consultation and a review of the 2015 Beaton Park Masterplan to ensure it is still fit for purpose. One of those consultants is MI Global, whose website says “we immerse ourselves in our client’s vision, collaborating to realise opportunities, solve complex problems and deliver unforgettable experiences”.
MI Global has been engaged by the Hawks, the NBL and the WNBL for strategic advice.
MI Global lists among its clients the Illawarra Hawks, for whom they’ve performed work for in an advisory role, and the National Basketball League and Women’s NBL, where the company looked at the feasibility of the leagues’ expansion.
A council spokesperson has confirmed MI Global has been appointed as one of three consultants to work on the Beaton Park project. Together with the others, Co Op Studios and WT Partnership, they’re tasked with providing council with “a business case, architectural design and construction costs analysis”, and were selected from 17 companies invited to quote for services.
“These contracts did not meet the required threshold for open tender (greater than $250,000), however a broad industry request went out to seek competitive pricing expertise, and best value,” a council spokesperson said. “Consultants were appointed based on financial assessment and demonstrated experience delivering sporting venues and precincts of similar size and scope.”
No conflict declared
Council said there had been no declared conflicts of interest relating to the procurement process.
“MI Global has been engaged with the specific aim of reviewing the 2015 needs analysis that underpinned the adopted Beaton Park Masterplan (2018) to develop a detailed feasibility study and strategic business case for future options for the site,” the spokesperson said.
“The feasibility study considers whether the 2015 needs analysis reflects the present and future needs of the community and includes fresh conversations with all major indoor sport organisations who use indoor courts at venues across Wollongong, including Ted Tobin Hall.
“The feasibility study will provide a clear understanding of the size and scale of facilities required at Beaton Park to meet the masterplan objectives, and costs associated with future construction before any detailed scope and design is developed.
“Renewal of Beaton Park Leisure Centre is currently programmed for design in 2028-29, recognising its age and condition, while provisional design costs and construction timeline for a new multipurpose facility have been included in successive council budgets for future years, pending the outcomes of the feasibility study.
“The information provided by various stakeholders through initial consultation will inform a preliminary discussion document that is anticipated to go before council prior to Christmas 2026. Following completion of the discussion paper, council will provide further opportunities for community feedback.”
