Paraburdoo Community Hub

Hodge Collard Preston were awarded the contract to design, document and contract administer the new Community Hub for the Shire of Ashburton which consists of a new Multi-purpose facility and refurbishment and conversion of the existing Sports Pavilion building into a Community Support Services Centre.

The project included master planning of the central town precinct to ensure the new facility is well integrated into its setting and complementary to the surroundings while ensure the existing amenities are not compromised in any way. Designing a public building in a regional location prone to climatic extremes and with a lack of local labour and readily available building materials has meant that careful consideration of construction methodologies and materials selection has been imperative to the design.

The new Multi-purpose Facility caters for a variety of user and community groups and includes new swimming pool facilities, multi-purpose indoor courts, 24 hour gymnasium, clubroom and changeroom facilities for the local football club, as well as a multitude of shared spaces like kitchen, bar and centralised administration. The facility has also been designed to serve as a community welfare centre for emergency situations.

The new Community Support Services Centre required extensive refurbishment and significant reconfiguration of existing internal spaces to suit new users and community needs and upgrading the building corridors and toilet facilities to ensure universal access and equitable use.

We are proud to be involved in this significant project for Paraburdoo, it is the largest Local and State Government public infrastructure project in Paraburdoo in 40 years and has been in the planning in various forms for over 25 years. The project is developed with the intent to create a strong community hub and be the centre of sporting and community activities, encourage teen engagement, facilitate community training and education and accommodate welfare and mental health services.