Council votes to keep North Bellarine Aquatic Centre open

ELLIE CLARINGBOLD AND ANGUS SMITH

CITY of Greater Geelong councillors have voted unanimously to keep the North Bellarine Aquatic Centre (NBAC) open following significant community backlash.

At the council meeting held on Tuesday this week, Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan said it was a much-loved facility.

“To have a facility open in November last year, and to possibly close in its honeymoon year, is unfathomable by many.”

Councillor Eddy Kontelj added that it was a no-brainer to keep the pool open.

The eagerly anticipated $15.5 million 50-metre pool opened its doors in November last year amid considerable excitement.

However, the enthusiasm quickly dissipated when residents learned it would shut down at the end of March each year and only reopen in November as a cost-cutting measure.

A petition to keep the pool opened garnered almost 3,000 signatures in a few short weeks.

The petition noted that if the city were to close the facility at the end of March, it would remain shut for a larger portion of the year than it would be open.

The effort to keep the pool open year-round attracted some influential supporters, including Corangamite Labor federal member Libby Coker, and Victorian Liberal senator Sarah Henderson.

“I’m pleased the council has responded to our communities on the North Bellarine and listened to my call to keep the outdoor pool open longer,” Ms Coker said.

“Many residents rely on the pool for recreation, rehabilitation, exercise, and social connection and the petition – with more than 2,200 signatures – reflects how important this facility is to locals.

“This decision is a good result for our communities on the North Bellarine and I know many of them are looking forward to the next stage – it’s federal and state-funded, it’s indoor, it’ll offer learn to swim, rehab, a 25-metre eight-lane lap pool, and council has made a commitment that it will be open year-round.”