Kalamunda Community Centre

Opportunity

Research shows there are numerous benefits to being an active part of a community including opportunities for support, connection, learning, and personal fulfilment. Community centres work at the heart of communities, contributing to improvements in local development and life-long learning.

Kalamunda Community Learning Centre Inc. (KCLC), was the main user of the original Kalamunda Community Centre, a re-purposed golf club, which contained asbestos and had significant accessibility issues and space limitations. Other regular users of the centre included Kalamunda Girl Guides, Born to Sing, Man Kind Project, camera clubs and art groups.

In 2013, KCLC met with the City of Kalamunda to discuss what they would need from a facility to operate most effectively. With demand for activities, programs and spaces increasing, a forecast population growth and an increasing number of users aged over 55, the need to improve the facilities and increase capacity at the Community Centre was evident.

In January 2014 a feasibility study of the existing site was undertaken with support of a Lotterywest grant. This study focussed on understanding user group needs, design options, and costs associated with building a new facility.

Approach

Based on the study, in 2016 a concept plan was presented to the City of Kalamunda to redevelop the existing site and build a new, purpose built Kalamunda Community Centre. The plan aligned with the National Strategy for Ageing Australia, the State Government's approach to Age-friendly Communities and the City of Kalamunda's Strategic Plan. It was subsequently endorsed by Council and a motion to include budget for design as part of the 2016-17 budget was passed. 

In July 2017, the City established the Kalamunda Community Centre Reference Group to ensure the final plans met stakeholder expectations. The reference group comprised 12 members including local residents and direct neighbours, Friends of Jorgensen Park, KCLC representatives, Elected Council Members and City staff representatives. The reference group endorsed the design of the new building in March 2019.

The final design included multi-purpose internal spaces of approximately 1,000sqm, outdoor spaces, car-parking, and pathways linking the Centre to the closest bus stop. Ensuring the Centre was accessible was a key consideration, with final designs from architect Bollig Design Group exceeding the current statutory requirements for disability access.

Ensuring ongoing community engagement and consultation was important, and continued with the naming of the facility. From March to May 2020, residents were invited to suggest names for the Centre, with some 80 responses received. Six shortlisted names were put to a community vote, with Kalamunda Community Centre the overwhelming winner.

The Kalamunda Community Centre was officially opened in March 2021. The building includes seven activity rooms, two halls, and a kitchen, with each room named after a Noongar colour to represent the Wagyl. Room signage displays design elements by local artist Aurora Abraham, and timber and stone design textures give the building a natural feel, paying tribute to its surrounds in Jorgensen Park. The Kalamunda Community Centre also showcases local creative talent, with artist Leanne Bray creating several pieces featured across the facility.

Changes to doors (to automating entry doors) and upgrades to accessible toilets were done retrospectively, after peer review of the building. These modifications were done in direct consultation with the City of Kalamunda’s Disability and Carers Advisory Committee, to increase the accessibility of the building for all users.

Impacts and outcomes

The opening of the of the Kalamunda Community Centre in March 2021 has seen KCLC, the primary user, grow significantly. As of May 2023, KCLC had a membership of 805 people, offering 84 classes to the community each week.

Between July 2022 and May 2023, Kalamunda Community Centre saw:

These sessions, alongside the on-site creche for use by families, parents and carers with young children, have enabled the community to come together, connect, and skill-build with like-minded community members. This supports the work of City of Kalamunda to reduce social isolation, improve mental wellbeing, and strengthen connectivity.

Countless community organisations and individuals have been able to utilise the new centre for a variety of events and workshops, including men’s mental health talks, acapella vocal workshops, the Community Arts Network symposium, volunteer luncheons, fundraisers and quiz nights, NAIDOC week programs, parties, awards nights and business networking meetings.

The high-quality facilities, capacity and venue capabilities has strengthened the City of Kalamunda’s ability to attract events to the area. This, in turn, is expected to aid the City’s efforts to boost tourism, economic growth, and showcase arts and cultural activity with community and visitors alike. City of Kalamunda, Kalamunda Chamber of Commerce and Hawaiians Forrestfield hosted the 2023 SEED Young Entrepreneurs Program in the facility.

What worked

Long term advocacy

The City of Kalamunda’s work in advocating for and promoting the delivery of a purpose-built community centre started at a grassroots level more than a decade prior to project delivery. This long-term vision delivered best practice across all stages of the project.

A community reference group provided ongoing connection and insights

The Kalamunda Community Centre Reference Group was a vital component in the project’s successful delivery, with members helping the City to understand and stay across local issues and community concerns. The early and continuous community involvement from concept through construction has been one of the project’s most significant achievements.

Flexible design increased usability

To ensure the facility is inviting to all age groups and demographics now and in the future, the Kalamunda Community Centre was designed to offer multi-purpose areas delivering more than 80 classes of activity each week. Vertical partitions fold to the side to give added flexibility when expanding or contracting spaces, allowing different sized groups to be accommodated.

Working with KCLC as a keystone user ensured that since opening, the Kalamunda Community Centre had a high utilisation rate. Additionally, private bookings demonstrate the diverse range and capabilities of the venue to service the local and wider community.

Key challenges

Plan for universal accessibility from the outset

Due to cost savings, initial installation included non-universally accessible doors on entry and at the toilets. This generated negative feedback from the community, which required retrofit modification around doors. These modifications were delayed by a 12-month holding period that restricted building modifications being made.

Plan for inclusion of additional equipment

Since opening to the public, additional AV technology has been added to the rooms to further enhance their usability for presentations and speaking events. Larger cooking equipment has also been installed in the kitchen due to usage frequency and needs of users.

REFERENCES

1. City of Kalamunda. Demographics and Statistics. 2021 [cited 15 March 2023]; Available from: https://www.kalamunda.wa.gov.au/our-city/about-kalamunda/demographics-statistics
   
   
2. City of Kalamunda. Population Forecast. 2021. [cited 15 March 2023]; Available from: https://forecast.id.com.au/kalamunda/population-summary