Athletic facility given to City of Canning

11/07/01
The Department of Education will give the Ern Clark Athletic Centre to the City of Canning, in exchange for use of Coker Park by Cannington Community College.
Education Minister Alan Carpenter said the department did not need the centre since Cannington Senior High School was redeveloped into two schools, so it made sense to swap it for the park.
"This is a win-win situation for the city and department," he said.
"The city wants freehold title on the athletics centre, while the sporting facilities and ovals on Coker Park are needed for the students at Cannington Community College."
Mr Carpenter said the City of Canning had leased the 2.43ha of land that made up the athletics centre for 18 years and, with community assistance, had developed a running track and other infrastructure on the site at its own cost.
The athletics centre and Perry Lakes are the only two athletics venues in Perth for senior competition.
The centre is also used by a wide range of Government and non-Government schools for athletics meetings.
Mr Carpenter said in return for the Ern Clark centre, the department's Cannington Community College would have use of the recreational and sporting facilities on Coker Park, which abutted the Ern Clark facility and college.
The college is an amalgamation of the old Cannington Primary School and the Years 8-10 section of the old Cannington Senior High School. Cannington Primary underwent an $8.3m refurbishment and extension to create the new school that opened in February this year.
"The college - which is on a small 3.72ha site - doesn't have enough room for playing fields and other sporting facilities," Mr Carpenter said.
"In exchange for the transfer of the athletics centre, the city will provide access to the park for 23 years at no cost.
"The city has agreed to take responsibility for maintaining the facility for the 23 years after the department funds initial minor extensions to the club rooms, including a storage facility, minor refurbishment of the toilet facilities and new cricket practice nets at a cost of about $100,000."
Media contact: Owen Cole 9213 6800