- Published on
By Catherine Watson
THE plans are out and everyone agrees they look great - but can we afford to build two aquatic centres at a cost of up to $90 million?
Bass Coast councillors voted this week to release feasibility studies for proposed and long-awaited aquatic centres at Wonthaggi and Cowes – and called on the community to help them decide the way ahead.
Moving the recommendation to release the report for public comment, Cr Michael Whelan noted there was a federal and a state election in the next two years. “We have an opportunity in the next two years with two elections to take this to the politicians and hope funds will be forthcoming.
THE plans are out and everyone agrees they look great - but can we afford to build two aquatic centres at a cost of up to $90 million?
Bass Coast councillors voted this week to release feasibility studies for proposed and long-awaited aquatic centres at Wonthaggi and Cowes – and called on the community to help them decide the way ahead.
Moving the recommendation to release the report for public comment, Cr Michael Whelan noted there was a federal and a state election in the next two years. “We have an opportunity in the next two years with two elections to take this to the politicians and hope funds will be forthcoming.
“The previous council set the target of having two shovel-ready projects to use our advocacy towards aquatic centre facilities in Bass Coast.
"We’ve achieved that … Now it’s important the community gets on board because if we’re a divided community we’ll get nowhere. We need to show a united front to Government."
The studies will guide future decision-making relating to a redeveloped Bass Coast Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Wonthaggi and a new aquatic and leisure centre in Cowes, Phillip Island.
The studies, by Otium Planning Group In association with Peddle Thorp Architects & Turner Townsend Quantity Surveyors, found the current and predicted population of the shire did not justify the extra cost – estimated at about $8 million for each pool – of constructing a 50m pool. However, both facilities have been designed to allow a 50m pool to be constructed in the future.
They recommend an extra two lanes be added to a standard eight-lane pool to cater for a 20 per cent more users as the population grows.
The study estimates the cost of the Wonthaggi centre at $35-41 million and the Phillip Island centre (which incorporates a highball court) at almost $46 million for the aquatic centre and another $7 million for indoor sports and squash courts.
Each feasibility study recommends leisure and aquatic components based on population data, growth modelling and best-practice industry trends.
The proposed complex in Wonthaggi would be the regional centre for the shire, replacing the current pool, which was built in 1976. It remains within the Wonthaggi Sports Precinct but has been relocated to the corner of Korumburra Road and Wentworth Road. It would involve relocating the existing skate park and croquet club to another area within the sports precinct.
"We’ve achieved that … Now it’s important the community gets on board because if we’re a divided community we’ll get nowhere. We need to show a united front to Government."
The studies will guide future decision-making relating to a redeveloped Bass Coast Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Wonthaggi and a new aquatic and leisure centre in Cowes, Phillip Island.
The studies, by Otium Planning Group In association with Peddle Thorp Architects & Turner Townsend Quantity Surveyors, found the current and predicted population of the shire did not justify the extra cost – estimated at about $8 million for each pool – of constructing a 50m pool. However, both facilities have been designed to allow a 50m pool to be constructed in the future.
They recommend an extra two lanes be added to a standard eight-lane pool to cater for a 20 per cent more users as the population grows.
The study estimates the cost of the Wonthaggi centre at $35-41 million and the Phillip Island centre (which incorporates a highball court) at almost $46 million for the aquatic centre and another $7 million for indoor sports and squash courts.
Each feasibility study recommends leisure and aquatic components based on population data, growth modelling and best-practice industry trends.
The proposed complex in Wonthaggi would be the regional centre for the shire, replacing the current pool, which was built in 1976. It remains within the Wonthaggi Sports Precinct but has been relocated to the corner of Korumburra Road and Wentworth Road. It would involve relocating the existing skate park and croquet club to another area within the sports precinct.
10-lane 25m main pool
Learn to swim pool
Outdoor water slides at Phillip Island
The Phillip Island Aquatic and Leisure Centre is proposed to be a district-level facility to be located on the corner of Phillip Island Road and Ventnor Road, Cowes. The council recently bought the site and the adjoining parcel Hilton Chadwick Reserve for a dedicated recreational reserve.
Cr Clare Le Serve said a lot of work had been done to get to this point. “A Phillip Island aquatic centre has been on the agenda for a long time. We’ve done our bit. We’ve got a good product. I implore people to get involved and have a look.
Cr Leticia Laing said the two facilities were sorely needed in Wonthaggi and Phillip Island.
“It’s great to see disabled access so people with a disability can enjoy these facilities, and to see a commitment to reducing the environmental impact with a focus on electricity to power the facilities.
“Hopefully it happens pretty soon because the Wonthaggi pool is leaking its guts out.”
Cr Bruce Kent said the council would be looking for support from the state and federal governments.
“We’re putting forward a good product – both pools – but they also have to be paid for. and that’s multi millions.
“We need some sort of decision making from the community to gauge which pool we look at first, or do we consider doing both, knowing what it will cost?”
Cr Ron Bauer was disappointed that neither facility would have a 50m pool which means they cannot host swimming championships
“I think it has to go out to the community. I think it’s very important for the Phillip Island community and the rest of Bass Coast to look at this proposal.”
Cr Les Larke was the only councillor to oppose releasing the feasibility study for comment.
“Basically we cannot afford a two-pool strategy requiring $90-100 million in funding, regardless of council’s potential advocacy. My belief is one regional pool is realistic and we need to rethink the strategy accordingly.”
Cr Leticia Laing said the two facilities were sorely needed in Wonthaggi and Phillip Island.
“It’s great to see disabled access so people with a disability can enjoy these facilities, and to see a commitment to reducing the environmental impact with a focus on electricity to power the facilities.
“Hopefully it happens pretty soon because the Wonthaggi pool is leaking its guts out.”
Cr Bruce Kent said the council would be looking for support from the state and federal governments.
“We’re putting forward a good product – both pools – but they also have to be paid for. and that’s multi millions.
“We need some sort of decision making from the community to gauge which pool we look at first, or do we consider doing both, knowing what it will cost?”
Cr Ron Bauer was disappointed that neither facility would have a 50m pool which means they cannot host swimming championships
“I think it has to go out to the community. I think it’s very important for the Phillip Island community and the rest of Bass Coast to look at this proposal.”
Cr Les Larke was the only councillor to oppose releasing the feasibility study for comment.
“Basically we cannot afford a two-pool strategy requiring $90-100 million in funding, regardless of council’s potential advocacy. My belief is one regional pool is realistic and we need to rethink the strategy accordingly.”
Comments are closed.
Council could add a pool levy to everybody’s rate notice. You would be surprised how quickly the funds grow. The Pool Rate Levy would send a strong message to the State & Federal governments that we are serious about these infrastructure projects.
Cheers
Breaking it down it means a swimming pool for the Bunurong Ward, and a swimming pool for the Island Ward of Bass Coast Council. True San Remo and Newhaven are part of Westernport Ward but are ''neighbours' for the Island Ward.
Does this mean a hose and a sprinkler for the Waterline townships?
Is it unfair for a levy across all wards which will house the two swimming pools.
Bearing in mind the inadequate public transport and the lack of facilities in the Waterline townships, you cannot help but wonder if I wonder if Councillors have forgotten that the Waterline towns are part of Bass Coast Council.
A commitment like this from our communities would almost certainly guarantee support from other levels of government.
As a former minister of Home and Community Care Program, I became aware of the overall health results of warm water therapy, and it is truly amazing and if continued is long term.
We will have a state of the art Public hospital at Wonthaggi. a community hospital at Cowes alongside the Small Trauma Centre in Cowes, all overwhelmingly funded by the State Government.
Large pools have been built (by Various Governments) in other municipalies and the evidence gathered (Maroondah and Darebin has 2 large water facilities) from various therapies and activities across the whole Community.
I suspect that when the funding is broken down to visits of all types to the pool we will see the costs become miniscule.
In addition we have an aging population and water therapy is also for the well.
Of all services , a modern pool is the most democratic. It takes everyone, the severely disabled (if the equipment is provided) Very sick people, as it is for fun and learn to swim programs and swimming squads. The argument that we are surrounded by the sea for swimming, is not really an arguement as the users of this pool are ovcerwhelmingly people that wouldnt swim in the sea because of various valid reasons.
Council should be responsible and brave enough to declare that it cannot afford two pools and the yearly maintenance cost while the basic needs of the community are neglected. A single aquatic centre with a 50m pool should be located centrally, possibly at Kilcunda to avoid the squabble between Wonthaggi and Cowes.
Ebuses and ebikes are the future.