Funding flows for Aquatic Centre

FUNDING for the Northern Bellarine Aquatic Centre’s design and start of construction is among the city’s big community infrastructure spends in its 2021-22 Budget.

City of Greater Geelong adopted the budget this week, allocating cash to kick off the project which will cater for the needs of a growing Northern Bellarine community with a 50-metre outdoor, heated pool, with a hydro-therapy area, along with a meeting room, exercise space and a rehabilitation facility.

Among other key projects in next year’s budget for the Bellarine and beyond include:

* Construction of a new library in Drysdale

* Community Infrastructure Grants Program

* Redevelopment of Eversley Street community facility to a multipurpose community hub

* Develop business cases for the cultural venues: The Potato Shed, National Wool Museum and Geelong Gallery

* Design and construct Barwon Heads Arts and Community Hub, and

* A sports lighting upgrade program.

Sporting and recreation infrastructure upgrades in the budget include the design and construction of the Drysdale Sub-Regional Sporting Precinct Masterplan; Ocean Grove’s Collendina Reserve pavilion upgrade including gender neutral facilities; and the upgrade of the facilities at Shell Road Reserve in Ocean Grove including lighting, seating and shelter, additional netting and a new scoreboard.

The 2021-22 Council Budget and the city’s Community Plan 2021-25 were both adopted at Tuesday night’s council meeting after they attracted 126 written submissions from the community.

Submissions included 75 specific budget requests; 33 indicating support for projects listed in the draft budget for next year; 15 providing general feedback or specific to the OCP; and three opposed to listed budget projects.

In presenting the 2021-22 Budget, Geelong mayor Stephanie Asher and CEO Martin Cutter said the Budget had been developed “against the backdrop of the most challenging year in living memory from both a social and financial standpoint”.

Council acknowledged that large, ongoing debt would not be sustainable and the budget needed to balance financial responsibility with the region’s ongoing pandemic recovery, Greater Geelong’s rapid population growth, continued investment in community services, new facilities and infrastructure.

Check online for updates on Tuesday night’s council meeting, including the final decision on the draft Budget, at<b> timesnewsgroup.com</b> or visit <b>geelongaustralia.com.au</b> for more information.