RAISE THE ROOF: Design approved for Drysdale indoor pool facilities

THE City of Greater Geelong council has approved a concept design for an indoor second stage of the North Bellarine Aquatic Centre (NBAC) at Drysdale.

An eight-lane 25-metre pool, warm water pool, a gym and other health and wellness facilities, and a café will all be delivered in the next phase of the project.

An officers’ report indicated the preferred design would deliver on the top priorities identified by a 12-member Community Advisory Panel earlier this year, which the city formed to gather input from a range of stakeholders and user groups.

The city presented nine concepts to the panel in recent months and unanimously endorsed the now-approved design earlier this month.

Councillors roundly celebrated the milestone at their meeting on Tuesday this week.

“This has been something that’s been a dream for many, many decades on the Bellarine; to have a full aquatic centre in the location, [so] that people don’t have to go all the way into Geelong to receive full access to aquatic services,” Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan said.

“The last thing we wanted to do was to have to wait 10 years before we had stage two.

“We have backing by the local MPs, Alison Marchant and Libby Coker – $20 million apiece – [which] we’re incredibly incredibly grateful for.”

Fellow Bellarine Ward councillor Stephanie Asher agreed: “This has been a very long time coming… it’s got essential facilities that the Bellarine wanted and deserved.”

The state and federal government will each contribute $20 million to the second stage to fulfill election commitments made by their respective local MPs last year; Bellarine MP Alison Marchant and Corangamite federal member Libby Coker.

The endorsed design has an expected cost just above the contribution at $40.3 million, but the officers’ report indicated the city could trim $300,000 through design tweaks and reducing delivery timeframes.

The city will not contribute to the building costs but will be responsible for its operating budget once the centre is open.

Up to $1.3 million a year in operating costs is proposed to be recouped through commercial opportunities for health and fitness facilities and learn-to-swim programs.

The second stage will complement the under-construction outdoor stage 1, which is due to open later this year.

The first stage includes an Olympic-sized 50m outdoor pool, change facilities, an entry pavilion and kiosk, tiered seating and landscaping.