Background

The Bassendean Oval Precinct is located a short walk from the town centre and was officially opened in 1929. The Oval has been the home to Swan Districts Football Club since 1934. The Bassendean Oval Precinct is listed on the State Heritage Register, with particular reference to the Heritage Gates and the two grandstands.

The Oval has hosted a variety of sports as well as concerts and other events. The current facility is aging, predominantly used solely by the Swan Districts Football Club and no longer meets the needs of the Club or the community.

Several master plans have identified the potential opportunity to integrate mixed use development into the precinct whilst redeveloping the football club and providing new community facilities to the residents of Bassendean. The recently completed Town Centre Master Plan identified these opportunities to improve use, accessibility and amenity. The Town Centre Master Plan was the outcome of extensive consultation with the community through the BassenDream Project.

The Project

The Town of Bassendean has engaged consultants to prepare a Business Case, inclusive of a Concept Plan, for the redevelopment of the Swan Districts Football Club and the broader Bassendean Oval Precinct.

The aim of the project is the redevelopment of the SDFC facilities within the Bassendean Oval Precinct, along with development of integrated community and complementary commercial facilities and amenities to meet the growing needs of the SDFC and the community. The new facilities within the reserve must enhance community usage of the precinct and promote financial viability.

Project Governance

The consultants report to a Project Steering Committee comprised of representatives from the Town of Bassendean Council, Town of Bassendean Staff and Swan Districts Football Club.

Taking on board information from the Town Centre Master Plan and BassenDream Project, the Project Steering Committee devised the following list of objectives to govern the project:

• The Town of Bassendean in partnership with the Swan Districts Football Club are jointly pursuing the redevelopment of the Bassendean Oval site.
• Achieves a positive commercial outcome to support the financial sustainability of the venue and Swan Districts Football Club as well as provide broader economic benefit to the Town of Bassendean.
• Creates a sporting facility and venue of excellence that is suitable for AFL and AFLW as well as for general community use.
• Facilitates and complements future residential development.
• Promotes and provides efficient transport linkages between the Oval, the town and the broader metropolitan Perth and surrounds.
• Delivers community benefit with the development of an inclusive community green space that provides multiple offerings including but not limited to major events and open space amenity.
• Creates a landmark and destination point that enhances the cultural and heritage of the Town.
• Is aligned to the vision, goals and objectives of the Town of Bassendean Council Plan.
• Provides a culturally safe place that recognises the Aboriginal people in their contribution to sport at Bassendean Oval and as Traditional Owners of the site.
• Adopts a partnership approach in the delivery of the above outcomes.

Design Considerations

People familiar with the Town Centre Master Plan will notice some differences in the current design. The Town Centre Master Plan is a Guiding Principles Approach document that was developed as a future or aspirational state for the Town Centre, which would be subject to a more detailed and robust planning approach, and architectural concepts.  

It has been used a guiding document to inform this project; however, the Steering Committee and consultants have been directed to explore the best way to increase the intensity of use of the precinct and site, allowing it to serve the community more, especially outside of Swan Districts Football Club match days.

Key differences from the Town City Master Plan are:

The Oval has been reoriented to the AFL recommended orientation of 15 degrees off North/South.

• This is the optimum orientation for the playing of Australian Rules Football and for the maintenance of the playing surface in the winter months.
• It enables the football facilities to be located in the ideal location on the wing, while also keeping the heritage grandstands in suitable vantage points.
• It optimises the opportunity for the development of public open space to the north of the oval and provides a significant opportunity for other developments to the east of the oval whilst providing viewing of the heritage gates and stands from the Guildford Road entry.

Potential Residential Development to the east of the oval:

• The creation of additional residential development in the precinct enhances:
  • the ability to attract significant State and Federal Government funding which underpins the commercial viability of the project, and
  • the Town’s potential to achieve its infill dwelling target of 4150 additional dwellings throughout the district.
• Any potential residential development would become a separate project to the current Bassendean Oval Precinct Project, to be explored independently by the Town in the future and will be subject to further community consultation.

Larger development to the west of the oval:

• This location has been designed to complement and interact with the adjacent shopping centre and the town centre.
• As well as the new football facilities, this development will include community and commercial entities that will benefit the Bassendean community and enhance the vibrancy of the town centre.
• Better connection and greater use of heritage grandstands, celebrating the history of the club and the Oval.
• Increased Public Open Space that is accessible and usable on non-match days.
• Residential development above the football and commercial facilities with under croft and basement parking will also be provided in this zone.

Frequently Asked Questions

 Bassendean Oval Redevelopment Concept Masterplan FAQs