The Leisure Institute of Western Australia (LIWA), in partnership with Royal Life Saving WA and proudly supported by the WA Government, has successfully delivered its inaugural Community Infrastructure Planning Course (CIPC), marking a significant milestone for the state’s sport and recreation industry.

Developed over 10 months in collaboration with an industry reference group, the five-day program brought together delegates from across Western Australia—from Albany to Derby—to build capability in community infrastructure planning. Facilitated by Wayne Stuart (Otium Planning), the course combined strategic insight, technical knowledge and practical application to support emerging, new and experienced planners working across local government and the broader sector.

The course commenced at Scarborough Beach with an Introduction to Community Infrastructure Planning led by Sam Stewart (Urbis), who provided valuable context on the WA planning landscape and the importance of evidence-based decision-making. Delegates then explored the Scarborough precinct through a technical tour hosted by Simone Pastor (City of Stirling), gaining firsthand insights into contemporary public space design and redevelopment. The afternoon session on Project Planning, delivered by Shane Spinks (Shane Spinks Consulting), equipped participants with foundational skills in scoping, delivery and evaluation of community infrastructure.

Day 2 was held at the John McGrath Pavilion, set in the heart of the picturesque City of South Perth. The focus shifted to Project Budget Planning, with Matt Emmott (City of Rockingham) guiding delegates through financial management terminology, processes and timeframes within a local government context. Participants also explored funding pathways, grant opportunities, and the development of project budgets and high-level cost estimates.

Jenni Hess (City of South Perth) led a technical tour of the facility and surrounding sporting grounds, providing insights into infrastructure planning processes, including stakeholder engagement with a wide range of community sporting groups to maximise outcomes, as well as existing partnerships and agreements.

In the afternoon, Suzanne Angus (City of Gosnells) and Wayne Stuart delivered the Stakeholder Engagement module, equipping delegates with the tools to identify key stakeholders, understand their influence, and develop effective engagement plans.

The day concluded with Dave Lanfear (Otium Planning) presenting an overview of the WA Planning System, including key state frameworks, instruments and the historical context of public open space (POS).

Days 3–5 of the course continued to build momentum, taking delegates deeper into the technical, strategic and design elements of community infrastructure planning.

Participants were introduced to Asset Management, highlighting its influence on long-term infrastructure planning and decision-making. This was followed by the Site and Facility Analysis module, where delegates explored both invasive and non-invasive assessment techniques before undertaking a practical site analysis at McGillivray Oval.

Mark Casserly (CCS Strategic), Sam Stewart and Wayne Stuart led the Strategic Planning Documentation module. This provided a comprehensive understanding of the key documents used in planning community infrastructure, enabling participants to source, interpret and analyse relevant data, and develop a resource library for their organisations.

Day 4 was hosted at the Morley Sport and Recreation Centre, where Jon Vines and Dan Barber (City of Bayswater) delivered a technical tour and presentation on the court expansion, offering practical insights into project delivery and facility development.

The final day, held at Royal Life Saving WA, focused on Design Planning for the Built Environment, facilitated by Wayne Stuart. This module explored architectural and landscape design principles to support functional and operationally effective infrastructure outcomes. Delegates developed an understanding of design terminology, documentation and processes, as well as how to develop design briefs and interpret drawings.

Mitchell Davies (LD Total) provided further insight into the role of landscape architects, highlighting current challenges and opportunities within community infrastructure planning.

Throughout the course, participants worked collaboratively on group projects, culminating in final presentations that demonstrated their ability to apply course concepts to real-world scenarios.

LIWA extends its sincere thanks to the course presenters—Sam Stewart, Shane Spinks, Simone Pastor, Matt Emmott, Suzanne Angus, Dave Lanfear, Jenni Hess, Mark Casserly, Jon Vines, Dan Barber and Mitchell Davies—as well as facilitator Wayne Stuart for delivering the program. Our appreciation is also extended to the City of Stirling, City of South Perth, City of Bayswater and Royal Life Saving WA for hosting across their venues, and to the industry reference group whose expertise shaped the course from concept to delivery.

Most importantly, the success of the inaugural CIPC reflects the dedication of its delegates—professionals committed to enhancing the planning, design and delivery of community infrastructure across Western Australia.

With strong demand and overwhelmingly positive feedback, the Community Infrastructure Planning Course is set to become a cornerstone of professional development for the WA aquatics and recreation industry—helping ensure communities across the state are supported by well-planned, sustainable and future-focused infrastructure.