Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre

Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre

Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre

Client

Rau Paenga (formerly Ōtākaro) and Christchurch City Council (New Zealand)

Status

Under construction, due to open late 2025

Otium’s Role

  • Business Case, including detailed financial operating model and management structure.
  • Development of facility component schedules to guide the development of the architectural brief.
  • Ongoing Stakeholder engagement to guide facility component schedules.
  • Engagement with Sport New Zealand through the development of the key facility components to support high performance and national sporting bodies.
  • Ongoing advisor to the Design Team.
  • Functional and operational imperatives.
  • Community sport requirements.
  • High performance sport training requirements.
  • Event overlays at a regional, national and international level.

Estimated Capital Cost

$365 million

Project Challenges/Key Learnings

  • Addressing multiple stakeholder needs
  • Balance between community and elite sport training needs.
  • Design implications to support the facility as an event centre.

Community Benefits

Contemporary sport and recreation facility that supports community participation, elite training and national and international competition.
Para Sports South East Queensland IndoorInfrastructure Legacy Strategy

Para Sports South East Queensland IndoorInfrastructure Legacy Strategy

Para Sports South East Queensland Indoor Infrastructure Legacy Strategy

Client

Paralympics Australia

Project Purpose

The Strategy incorporates a Hierarchy Framework for indoor para sport facilities that provides guidance on the purpose, location accessibility and facilities needs of indoor para sports.

Otium’s Role

  • Principal consultant
  • Research
  • Stakeholder engagement
  • Demand analysis
  • Indoor para sport infrastructure hierarchy framework
  • Future network development
  • Benefits assessment.

Project Outcomes

Used as a tool by Paralympics Australia to facilitate optimised legacy outcomes with 2032 Paralympic Games organisers.

Project Challenges/Key Learnings

  • Planning within Australia for disability sports is limited compared to the framework for able bodied athletes.
  • Otium was able to leverage its engagement techniques to acquire the knowledge necessary to develop a strategy that gained the support of the para sports community.

Community Benefits

Once implemented, para sports in South East Queensland will, for the first time, better address demand and accessibility, optimise high performance partnerships, including shared resources and learnings, have an environment for ongoing research, rehabilitation and recovery.
Review Of Supply and Demand for Sports Facilities in the NSROC Region

Review Of Supply and Demand for Sports Facilities in the NSROC Region

Review Of Supply and Demand for Sports Facilities in the NSROC Region

Client

Northern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (NSROC) (NSW)

Project Purpose

Provide a strong evidence base to assist NSROC and its Member Councils to advocate for greater strategic direction, secure grant funding, respond to pressure from stakeholders and coordinate a regional approach to supply and demand issues.

Otium’s Role

  • Catchment analysis.
  • Development of detailed inventory and mapping.
  • Trends analysis.
  • Demand modelling.
  • Assessment of supply and demand.
  • Future opportunities identification.

Project Outcomes

  • Adopted and currently being implemented.
  • Generated strong national and state media interest.
  • Winner of Parks & Leisure Australia (NSW) Strategic Planning Award (2024).
  • Commendation Parks & Leisure Australia Award (2024).

Project Challenges/Key Learnings

  • Coordinating data from eight Member Councils.
  • Facilitating an agreed approach to future opportunities.
  • Regular engagement with all key stakeholders is critical to ensuring collective agreement.

Community Benefits

  • Increased awareness of supply and demand gap challenges by all stakeholders.
  • Clear pathway to optimising current assets and planning for new assets via innovative strategies.
Northern Beaches Indoor Sport and Recreation Needs Study

Northern Beaches Indoor Sport and Recreation Needs Study

Northern Beaches Indoor Sport and Recreation Needs Study

Client

Northern Beaches Council (NSW)

Project Purpose

Otium was appointed by Northern Beaches Council to develop their Indoor Sport and Recreation Needs Study to guide Council’s provision, management and future planning of their indoor facilities for the long-term (15 years).

Otium’s Role

  • Analysis of the Northern Beaches indoor sport and recreation facilities.
  • Demand model analysis to outline current and future spatial requirements.
  • Engagement with local sporting associations, Government Agencies, and local venue operator site visits.
  • Development of evidence-based future directions and site-specific recommendations to guide Council’s planning.

Project Outcomes

The Indoor Sport and Recreation Needs Study provides Council with preliminary directions of future planning that considers its impact on demand deficit, financial resourcing, and timing.

Project Challenges/Key Learnings

  • Analysis of the Northern Beaches indoor sport and recreation facilities.
  • Demand model analysis to outline current and future spatial requirements.
  • Engagement with local sporting associations, Government Agencies, and local venue operator site visits.
  • Development of evidence-based future directions and site-specific recommendations to guide Council’s planning.

Community Benefits

  • Indoor sport and court facilities provide all-weather opportunities, can absorb greater capacity, and host a range of events.
  • The Indoor Sport and Recreation Needs Study will seek to optimise the shared use of indoor facilities which will provide greater access across a variety of user groups.
Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre (NARC) Redevelopment

Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre (NARC) Redevelopment

Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre (NARC) Redevelopment

Client

Darebin City Council

Capital Cost

$63.5 million

Project Purpose

Replacement of the former Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre, with a new contemporary facility.

Otium’s Role

  • Feasibility Study.
  • Business Case and Financial Modelling.
  • Funding Application – $10 million low-interest loan from the State Government.
  • Design and planning advice as part of the design team. Review of
  • Operational and Management Options.

Project Outcomes

  • Successful funding and construction of an integrated aquatic and leisure centre.

  • 6-star green star design included full electrification, skylights within pool hall for natural light, use of timber construction and pool blankets.

  • No net increase in carpark numbers with a focus on supporting active transport strategies.

Project Challenges/Key Learnings

  • The Centre design aligns with community expectations and addresses the needs of key user groups.
  • It includes key aquatic features such as a warmwater pool and a range of change room options responding to the evolving community profile.
  • The design is adaptable, allowing for future modifications based on changing trends.
  • There is engagement with First Nation organisations, ensuring integration into the facility design and programming opportunities.
  • A temporary displacement plan is in place for existing clubs and activities, including negotiations with other providers.
  • Appointing the management group early is essential for managing presales and transition.

Community Benefits

  • The Centre opened with 5,353 members, with 700 members signed in the first week of operation, and over 10,000 members by 12 months of operation.
  • The Centre attracted 1 million visitors within 10 months of opening.
  • 80% of staff live or study in Darebin.
  • 3,000 learn to swim members.
  • Partnership created with 10 local businesses.
  • Extended programming to satellite venues due to high demand.