Sport UNE commissions Master Plan

July 27, 2007

Sport UNE is looking for feedback from the University and the wider community after commissioning a master planning project that will steer the development of the organisation's facilities and services.

What do you think of the sports and aquatic centre at UNE? Is there a need for additional facilities and programs? Does the range of facilities limit the activities you can take part in? Are there things that might be "just not good enough" or are there things that are lacking? Is Sport UNE somewhere you never go because it doesn't attract you? What could be done to make it useful to you?

The study is being carried out by Suters Prior Cheney Architects and HM Leisure Planning and will assess the feasibility of further developing the Centre's aquatic and dry health and fitness facilities. It will also assess a range of complementary market opportunities including drama, other performing arts, expositions, and child care facilities – all of which could be used by both members of the University and the wider community.

Key elements of the feasibility and planning study will be:

• A review of the demographics of the University and the Armidale and wider regional community, and an assessment of the needs and opportunities these generate.

• A review of trends in aquatic, health and fitness, and related recreational activities and the implications for future needs and provision at the University.

• An assessment of the needs and interests of both users and non-users of the existing University facilities and of the ways in which the existing provision could be improved to better meet the needs of the University, Armidale, and wider regional communities.

• The development of a set of costed designs and recommendations aimed at improving the facilities, programs and services that can be offered.

In order to assess the needs of users, non-users and the wider community, Dr Ken Marriott from HM Leisure Planning will be holding meetings with individual user groups and clubs and holding a public forum. Dr Marriott is also inviting members of the University and wider community to meet him to discuss their needs or to prepare written submissions regarding the things they would like to see added or changed at the sports centre.

Over the next few weeks, relevant clubs and groups will be contacted regarding these meetings. A public forum to discuss development ideas and priorities will be held at Sport UNE on Tuesday July 31 from 7.30 to 9.30 pm. All Centre users, non-users, and members of the wider community are invited to attend. Members of the University and wider communities who would like to meet the planning team are invited to contact Mr David Schmude (pictured here), the Acting Executive Director of Sport UNE, on 6773 5185 to make an appointment. Written contributions can be sent to Mr Schmude at Sport UNE, University of New England, Armidale, 2351.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at July 27, 2007 12:23 PM