Public forum for pool build info

NORTH Bellarine Aquatic Centre’s advocacy group will host a forum next week to provide locals with direct information about progress of the major project.

A panel of representatives from all levels and sides of government will answer community questions on the much-publicised pool, while guest speakers will put forward their case about how the centre should accommodate for particular sections of the community.

Construction is well under way for the new pool at Drysdale Sporting Precinct, though conjecture remains about how the facility will look once delivered amid calls to create an indoor facility as part of the initial build phase.

Topics on the meeting agenda include information on the design of the aquatic centre, and advocacy for the needs of older residents, encouraging women in sport and community health.

Representatives from the City of Greater Geelong, Bellarine state election candidates including Labor’s Alison Marchant and the Liberals’ Donny Grigau, and Labor’s Corangamite federal MP Libby Coker will be part of a panel to field questions on the project and their vision for it.

NBAC advocacy group chair Rob Kolomeitz said the discussion forum was an opportunity for local residents to have their questions answered on the project.

“We want to create more community awareness. Some people have asked us just randomly as we’re working around, about what’s happening to it, and where’s the pool up to,” he said.

“We just thought it’s time to open it up to the public and tell them.

“We’ll get all the stakeholders in the room to they can have their say.”

Mr Koloweitz said the event would be of interest to all Geelong ratepayers, not just pool users, with the city already committing $5.5 million for the first stage that has started, and likely millions more for a planned second stage to deliver indoor facilities.

“We seem to have a lot of interest and it is gathering a lot of momentum in terms of what we’re doing,” Mr Kolomeitz said.

“And people should be (interested), because it’s a major infrastructure project. We will, as ratepayers to Geelong council, end up paying for it.

“We want to make sure we get the best deal possible and end up with a community-based aquatic centre.”

The information session is at The Potato Shed in Drysdale on Tuesday, August 30.