Senator applauds Drysdale pool progress

THE North Bellarine Aquatic Centre is on track to open by the end of this year, and one of its funding advocates is thrilled with the progress so far.

Victorian Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson toured the $15.5 million facility under construction in the Drysdale Sporting Precinct, and walked the length of the 50m outdoor pool being built as part of stage 1.

She congratulated the City of Greater Geelong and builder Kane Constructions for the works.

“Backed by $10 million from the former Coalition Government, the North Bellarine Aquatic Centre is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when a government works closely with the community to deliver much needed facilities,” she said.

“This aquatic facility will make a real splash when it opens.

“The North Bellarine Aquatic Centre will be a wonderful health and wellbeing asset for the Bellarine including more than 3,000 local school students.”

The centre has been designed to be used by the whole of the community, including swimming carnivals, learn to swim and various aquatic programs, public meeting space and multi-purpose activity spaces.

Its delivery follows an independent study in March 2020 that found communities such as Drysdale, Curlewis, Portarlington, St Leonards ad Indented Head had lesser access to aquatic facilities than elsewhere in Greater Geelong.

Stage 1 will include an eight-lane 50m outdoor pool, all abilities change facilities, an entry pavilion, kiosk, tiered covered seating, and landscaped community lawn area with umbrellas.

Plans for stage 2, which were endorsed by the city in November 2022, include a complementary indoor facility.

Stage 1 is being jointly delivered by the federal government via Senator Henderson’s $10 million election pledge in 2019 and $5.5 million from the city.

The City of Greater Geelong has an election commitment of $20 million from Bellarine Labor MP Alison Marchant in addition to Corangamite Labor federal member Libby Coker’s commitment of $20 million towards stage 2.

Senator Henderson said the Liberals worked with the community to bring a new pool to the Bellarine after the closure of the Portarlington pool.

“In partnership with council, the Liberals were determined to get this project underway and not leave local residents in Drysdale, Clifton Springs, Curlewis, Portarlington and other parts of the north Bellarine high and dry.

“By building stage 1, we forced state and federal Labor to back our vision and commit to funding a stage 2 indoor pool

“I thank the council for its investment of more than $5 million towards stage 1 and commend Cr Stephanie Asher, in particular, for her determination to help make this happen.”