Persistence and Passion Pays off in Harvey

The sod was turned to mark the start of construction of the Harvey Community and Sporting Facility on Monday, 13 May 2019.

The new $2.1 million facility will be an upgrade and addition to the Harvey Recreation and Cultural Centre at Tom Latch Drive in Harvey.

Harvey Shire Council president Tania Jackson said this project was made possible by the tenacity and hard work of the Harvey Cultural and Recreation Centre board of management who worked hard to acquire funding and enabled the project to get off the ground.

“This is a fantastic addition to what is being offered through the current centre and provides a home for more sporting groups who are currently using the facilities,” she said.

“It will enable more events, enable more ownership of the building and shows that this community is really engaged and really interested.”

The new building will provide major improvements to the Harvey Recreation and Cultural Centre, including a function room, change rooms, a tiered spectator viewing area and kitchen.

Nola Marino MP said since 2007 the community had rallied together to make it happen and said “it was a massive effort” that she was proud of.

“Persistence, passion and leadership matters and that’s the reason we are here today,” Mrs Marino said.

“I’m even more delighted to see local builders, Civilcon WA delivering this project.”

Robyn Clarke MLA said it was a wonderful community effort and she was pleased the State Government could provide funds to support the project.

Harvey Recreation and Cultural Centre Manager David Marshall said on 20 September 2007 they first met with the clubs who were using the facilities to work out what it was they required and this had been “a long-awaited day”.

He said the clubs wanted a place for storage and memorabilia, but most importantly “a place to call home” and he was proud to say that this dream could now be a reality.

He commended the Centre’s management committee on their “steadfast belief that this was going to happen.”

“To see they have stuck at their guns and whatever hurdle came along has been an opportunity to find a way through, it has been great to see.”

Mr Marshall commended the community on fundraising $69,000 in addition to applying for a $150,000 Alcoa Sustainability Grant to support the project.

He thanked all the funding bodies who contributed to making this project possible.