Why is the new multi-purpose facility needed in Mundaring?

A larger and improved replacement of the Albert Facey Memorial Library has been needed for quite some time and other facilities are not well suited to accommodate their current uses. Consolidating facilities and services will also improve efficiencies in energy use, facility maintenance and staff resourcing.

The Mundaring Cultural Hub will help activate the Mundaring Town Centre by creating a strong anchor to the reimagined civic and cultural heart, better supporting:

• community wellbeing and access to services;
• local business; and
• tourism development.

Where will the facility be built? 

The Multi-purpose Community Facility (MPCF) will be located on the land between Jacoby and Craig Street, east of the Mundaring Hotel.

How much will it cost and how will this be funded? 

Council has provided a budget of $25 million to deliver the project, the majority of which will be directed towards design and construction of the Mundaring Cultural Hub. While the Shire has capacity to fund the project, it will advocate strongly for funding from both the State and Federal Governments to reduce the financial impact to the Shire. 

Will it cost users more to use the new facility? 

A key component of the project is to co-locate community facilities. One benefit of co-location is improved efficiencies compared to servicing and upgrading numerous, ageing facilities. Significant modelling will be undertaken to ensure user costs are as affordable as possible.

What will happen to the old library and other facilities that are no longer needed? 

Community engagement undertaken throughout 2023 will assist Council in determining the future of existing community facilities, on a case by case basis. Council will also consider factors such as the heritage value of the facility and whether productive re-use of the facility is a sustainable option.

What is the plan to improve access across Great Eastern Highway?

Great Eastern Highway is under the control of Main Roads WA. The Shire's influence on the design of the road and crossing points is limited to advocacy and advice. A new north-south pedestrian axis is proposed to connect Sculpture Park and MPCF through to Great Eastern Highway. The Shire will continue to advocate for improved pedestrian movement across Great Eastern Highway, consistent with its endorsed planning strategies.

Are roads proposed to be closed?

At this stage, there is no proposal to close any roads. The design of Jacoby Street is proposed to be modified to make a more welcoming environment for pedestrians and encourage lower vehicle speeds.

Where are the Men's Shed and Ambulance going?

The Mundaring Men's Shed are constructing a new facility in the Mundaring light industrial area. The Shire is working with St John WA to find a new premise for the Mundaring ambulance depot which meet their needs.

What future development is proposed next to the Mundaring Cultural Hub? 

We don't know exactly what future development surrounding the Mundaring Cultural Hub might look like at the moment, however it is something we are planning for. Future development will need to align with the community's vision for the Mundaring Town Centre, which includes:

• Mixed-use developments and increased residential densities;
• Improved circulation and connectivity; and
• Improved streetscapes and vibrant public spaces

Where will people park?

A review of existing parking in the Cultural Precinct demonstrates that the area is already well serviced by street parking. There also has been strong community feedback that parking should not dominate the landscape. However, we understand that parking remains a high priority for some community members.

Broadly speaking, the proposed parking strategy is to:
  a) Retain and improve existing street parking;
  b) Provide parking for those with high accessabilty needs (e.g. ACROD) close to building entrances;
  c) Provide dedicated parking for community vehicles (e.g. mini-vans used by community groups);
  d) Provide better parking for visitors with long-vehicles (e.g. caravans);
  e) Identify and deliver improvements to existing, gravel parking areas, in order to maximise their capacity; and
  f) Consider some new parking areas.

What will happen to the existing trees/vegetation? 

Much of the existing vegetation onsite is introduced. This means it did not originally grow in Mundaring and was instead planted after European settlement. However, there are some sections of large trees which the community still value and would like to retain, where possible. Where practical, existing large trees will be retained and integrated with new buildings and landscaping.     

Why isn't an aquatic facility/ gym included? 

There are many reasons why a pool and gymnasium are not proposed as part of the Multi-Purpose Community Facility. Some of these include cost, demand and the availability of land.

The cost to construct a regional level aquatic facility and gym would be in excess of $30 million, with an estimated operating deficit (cost to ratepayers) of between $1 million and $2.5 million annually (influenced by the low numbers of people living in surrounding areas).    

Also, the Shire's Recreation Facilities Informing Strategy (2019) found that the Shire's existing aquatic facilities meet benchmarked demand and there was no requirement for a regional aquatic facility. 

In regards to land requirements, an indoor aquatic facility and gymnasium would take up a large portion of the land currently planned to accommodate the proposed Multi-Purpose Community Facility, as well as anticipated future development (which may include civic, community, commercial, retail and/or residential purposes). 

Notwithstanding the reasons mentioned above, if at some future point:
a) there was sufficient demand to build a regional aquatic and gymnasium facility in Mundaring: and
b) community willingness to pay the construction and ongoing operating costs,

the project would be so large, that it would require its own significant resources to manage consultation, planning, design, funding and construction.

How was the concept sketch and masterplan developed? 

Informed by preliminary planning and community and stakeholder engagement undertaken during Stage 1, community members collaborated with the Shire's design consultants to develop three concept options during a three-day Collaborative Design Forum in May 2023. 

Informed by additional feedback from key stakeholders and a panel of community members, design development progressed on two viable options developed during the Collaborative Design Forum.

Community feedback was then sought on the two refined concept options via a survey in July 2023.   

Informed by the feedback provided during the community survey, the Shire's design consultants analysed a range of accommodation (area) and two design scenarios against Council's nine decision making criteria for the project, including a high-level costing of each option. 

The panel of community members then made recommendations to the Shire, prior to Council endorsing a preferred option in September 2023.