Power House redevelopment

Victorian Government investment is required to support the redevelopment of an Albert Park institution.

What is the ask?

Council is requesting the Victorian Government to commit to developing the Lord Somers Camp and Power House (LSC&PH) building in Albert Park.

What is the issue this initiative will address?

With growing participation by women and girls across many sporting clubs run from Power House, the change rooms and facilities are well overdue for redevelopment to meet these demands. Modernised, safe and inclusive facilities will empower participation by people of all genders and abilities. These works will ensure everyone can have safe and easy access to sport and community participation.

What is Council proposing?

Council is advocating for the Victorian Government to invest in the refurbishment of the building to include full accessibility access and safe, equitable and modernised infrastructure to carry forward for 50+ years.

Through a major refurbishment, change room facilities will be purposely designed and constructed to ensure they are suitable for people of all genders and abilities. Provision of lifts, wider corridors and open spaces will provide easier and more welcoming access throughout the building.

With modernised facilities, communities can come together with fit-for-purpose change facilities that also improve access for all abilities.

The project will provide key deliverables such as:

• a modernised and inspiring community space
• accessible infrastructure
• inclusive change facilities
• gender-equitable facilities
• solar and sustainable infrastructure
• a safe and fit-for-purpose facility to deliver community programs
• welcoming and inviting sports entrance
• desirable major events space.

How does this initiative align with the Council Plan and Victorian Government Priorities?

Council

Council Plan 2021-31: Inclusive Port Phillip - a City that is a place for all members of our community, where people feel supported and comfortable being themselves and expressing their identities.

• Council Plan Measure - Advocacy support to individual clubs within Albert Park that are applying for funding through third parties.
• Partner with Parks Victoria to improve communication and engagement with Albert Park users and clubs. Parks Victoria over time to align plans for sport and recreation within Albert Park with broader municipal sport and recreation strategies.

This project is consistent with outcomes in our Sports and Recreation Strategy 2015-2024.

LSC&PH provide and facilitate a diverse range of sport and recreation programs and services to the Port Phillip community and align with the key actions, which include:

• provide training and support to build the capacity of sport and recreation clubs and community groups to enhance sport and recreation opportunities to the wider community
• increase awareness of the sport and recreation opportunities and services that are available in the City of Port Phillip
• strengthen existing relationships with external organisations to enhance the range of sport and recreation opportunities available to the Port Phillip community
• work to overcome existing barriers to participation in sport and recreation and identify opportunities to increase informal participation.

Victorian Government

The project supports the following Victorian Government priorities:

• commitment to increasing the number of women and girls participating in sport and active recreation, from grassroots through to senior leadership roles
• Sport and Recreation Victoria’s work to inspire women and girls to participate and become leaders in sport at all levels
• Sport and Recreation Victoria initiatives that create more participation opportunities for all Victorians, including building a more sustainable and inclusive sport and recreation sector
• support for under-represented groups experiencing barriers to participation in sport and recreation.

How does this initiative assist the community to recover from COVID-19?

Increased participation of women and girls in sport is a key objective of the refurbishment. By providing adequate facilities, a more inviting and open facility will strategically remove barriers so that more women and girls can participate in sport and theatre.

The social enterprise will drive traineeships and jobs and underpin ongoing operational revenue that allows the above points while also driving the below outcomes. Power House will be an environmentally sustainable project and a financially sustainable project that delivers real community impact for decades to come.

Directly aligned with the Victorian Social Enterprise Strategy 2021-2025, the social enterprise industry economic impact in Victoria is $5.2 billion and supports an estimated 60,000 jobs. Power House empowers a long-established social enterprise and is a focal point for generating economic activity that empowers strong and positive community impact.

Impact directly generated from the Power House:

• 2,000 volunteers across Lord Somers Camp and Power House and tenants creates $50 million worth of economic, social, cultural and civic benefit across the Victorian community
• $12 million forecast social enterprise revenue generated in the next decade alone
• 170+ jobs across hospitality, creative arts, sport, and community plus an estimated 30 trainee jobs annually (every trainee hospitality role creates another two jobs in other parts of the supply chain)
• 150,000+ forecast users, guests and visitors annually across events, theatre, sport and community.

The redevelopment will be a positive community outcome, achieving an inclusive, safe and fun environment, promoting social connectivity, motivating individuals to reach their health and fitness goals through the recreational opportunities that LSC&PH tenants have to offer, improving mental health and creating a sense of belonging. An investment into the redevelopment will build community cohesion because inclusive, flexible and innovative participation programs will contribute to increased liveability across the municipality.

These benefits include:

• creation of short-term jobs
• creation of long-term jobs
• fostering community connection and collaboration
• assisting people who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19
• allowing for greater social distancing
• supporting local traders and businesses
• attracting tourists and visitors to the area
• creating more open spaces
• supporting COVID-Safe travel modes – more bike riding, for example, helps reduce stress on public transport.

Cost and current status?

Cost

LSC&PH has conducted a thorough assessment of the redevelopment works, refining the project from a complete $32 million rebuild to a smart and adaptive $19.6 million redevelopment, delivering safe, sustainable, inclusive and accessible community spaces.

Status

Currently, LSC&PH requires additional funding to commence construction. LSC&PH has concept designs, project costings, conducted consultation with internal and external stakeholders, obtained a sustainability vision report and building condition reports, developed a project and governance team to coordinate the project and attained appropriate approvals from Land Managers.  o date, $8 million is required to commence the project. Collaborative funding support of $5 million is requested from the Victorian Government, inclusive of the $250,000 request from the 2021-22 Local Sports Infrastructure Fund through Sport and Recreation Victoria, and the remaining $3 million from philanthropy and community loan.

Project Schedule

*estimated timeframes due to delays of financial funding for the project.