AusLeisure

A proposal to develop Western Australia's first artificial wave surf park has been revealed with the Wave Park Group advising that it has presented a formal proposal to the City of Melville to redevelop a 4.4 hectare site at Tompkins Park, Alfred Cove into a world-class surfing destination.

The $25 million URBNSURF Perth project is proposed for a site on the southern shore of the Swan River, situated in a 22 hectare sport and recreation precinct that currently caters for multiple sporting activities.

Planned to be part of a chain of similar attractions across Australia, with URBNSURF projects also announced for Sydney’s Olympic Park and Melbourne Airport, the suef lagoon would use Wavegarden technology to produce surf as high as 1.7 metres and waves 110 metres long that can last up to 17 seconds.

Commenting on the proposal, Wave Park Group founder and Executive Chairman Andrew Ross stated “w are very much looking forward to creating an amazing piece of world-class sporting infrastructure that will allow residents of Perth and visitors to our beautiful city to simply #surfmore.

Perth-based Ross added "Perth is blessed with a number of idyllic beaches but the surf quality at some of those beaches is often poor, with over-crowding in the line-up also becoming an increasing issue.

"Surfing is enjoyed by millions of Australians for excitement, lifestyle and recognised health benefits and is second only to AFL in terms of participation, so it seems fitting that Tompkins Park, a hugely popular sporting hub, could now include a surfs sports facility."

The facility will offer multiple lagoon-side amenities and provide something for everyone, including:

• A quality licensed café, sunset roof -top bar, and beach club facing the Swan River and the Perth CBD skyline.
• A casual and relaxed family venue that’s perfect have a coffee and watch the action, to grab a post-surf snack on the run, or to share a beer and a meal with friends after a session
• A fully equipped pro-shop will allow try-before-you-buy surfing hardware
• A wetsuit and board rental centre
• An Academy deliver training programs for all levels of surfing, from beginner to elite, as well as a range of surf-fit styled personal and group fitness programs
• High quality landscaping and architectural design that acknowledges the environmental and cultural values of the adjacent Swan River
• Beach cabanas, children’s playground, rock-climbing and parkour course
• An upgraded public park integrating the Atwell Arts Centre & Gallery.  Proposed facilities include a pump track, outdoor fitness and adventure play equipment.
• Rehabilitation of adjacent wetland vegetation and water sensitive urban design upgrades to adjacent stormwater drainage
• Improved access and new car parking to service existing riverfront amenities and dual use pathways
• Multipurpose event and function space
• RFID guest management and video tracking technology that will further enhance the visitor and surfing experience

Should a lease for the site be awarded by the City of Melville, it is anticipated that a development application would be lodged in the early months of 2017, and that development activity would commence in late 2017, with the first riders taking to the waves at URBNSURF Perth in late 2018.

For more information go to www.urbnsurf.co/perth-project.html

Image: The $25 million wave lagoon proposed for the Swan River foreshore.

28th April 2016 - SECOND URBNSURF ATTRACTION TO BE DEVELOPED AT SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK

7th April 2016 - MELBOURNE AIRPORT LOCATION FOR FIRST SURF PARK IN AUSTRALIA

23rd October 2015 - PLANS FOR SURF PARK ON SITE OF DOMAIN STADIUM

22nd January 2014 - WAVEGARDEN TECHNOLOGY TO REVOLUTIONISE ARTIFICIAL SURFING

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