Case Study

Community Hub – Feasibility Study

Introduction

A regional local government sought to explore the feasibility of developing a recreation and community hub in a satellite town. To support this initiative, the Shire engaged BlueSalt Consulting to conduct a detailed feasibility study, including design drawings and costings (prepared by our project partners at Slavin Architects).

Situation

The proposal for a community hub was a contentious issue, with competing stakeholder groups and diverse perspectives. The community, particularly the younger demographic (20-40 years), had limited engagement, and the economic implications were a significant consideration due to the limited commercial activity following the closure of area’s key employer.

Solution

The engagement process was carefully designed to ensure inclusivity and address the needs of all stakeholders. The external team conducted:

Broad consultations with community members to capture aspirations and concerns.
Focused engagement with the younger demographic to understand their needs and priorities.
Economic analysis to identify opportunities and implications.

Three options for the hub were explored based on the findings:

Two options for a completely new build.
A third option leveraging and remodelling the existing community hall to meet user needs more effectively.

Outcome

The feasibility study successfully captured community aspirations and provided clear guidance on how these could be achieved. While some stakeholders initially advocated for a new build, broader consultation revealed strong support, particularly among younger residents, for remodelling the existing hall.

The study’s recommendations provided valuable insights to guide the Shire’s decision-making process. Based on the findings, the Shire is continuing to collaborate with the community to further refine and pursue the development of the hub facility, ensuring it meets the needs of current and future users.