Pool party: SCALCAG to lay out case for Surf Coast aquatic centre to council

THE community group calling for a Surf Coast aquatic centre will give a special presentation to Surf Coast Shire councillors laying out all the facts about the proposal and the long-running popular desire to have it built.

The Surf Coast Aquatic and Leisure Centre Action Group (SCALCAG) has successfully requested a meeting with the council, which will be held on February 2.

There is $30 million on the table to build the centre – $20 million from the federal Coalition government and $10 million from the state Labor government – and a study commissioned by the previous council recommended building a $38.5 million centre.

However, the recently-elected council has not yet determined its position on the centre.

SCALCAG spokesperson Colin Fowler said the February 2 meeting would try to bring the new council “up to speed with everything that’s happened over the past 15 or so years”.

“I’ve been speaking to them privately and filling them in on incorrect information they’ve received, but it’s just easier to get them all together.

“We’ll say to them ‘this is where we’re at, the last feasibility study gave us two options (at $30 million and $38.5 million respectively), option two is the preferred option by all parties, including the council, so let’s just bloody well do it’.”

He said representatives from the Surf Coast Swimming Club, some sporting groups and possibly one of the surf life saving clubs would also be at the meeting to demonstrate the interest and need for an aquatic centre.

“Apparently pretty much none of the schools in town did their compulsory swimming time in the pool this year because they just can’t get time in any of the Geelong pools.”

Earlier this month, Victorian Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson said her $20 million commitment (made while she was the federal MP for Corangamite) was to build the facility, not to the council, and the funding could be reallocated.

“After so many years of failing to deliver this essential facility, Surf Coast Shire risks losing this Commonwealth funding support unless it urgently develops an alternate plan,” Senator Henderson said.

Mr Fowler said the $30 million option for the aquatic centre was “not the model that we want because that’s not the model that makes money (to offset the centre’s running costs)”.

He said there were many ways of making up the $8.5 million shortfall, including sponsorship or support from organisations such as WorkCover or the Transport Accident Commission.

Surf Coast mayor Libby Stapleton said council recognised “the very generous state and federal funding offers on the table” and was “seeking to balance these against the known additional costs to ratepayers”.

“I look forward to discussing the options with our stakeholders and subsequently considering the matter with my councillor colleagues at a future council meeting.

“Given the council has just formed and we are about to enter a very busy summer, it’s too early to say at which meeting the council will be considering how best to move forward with this project.”

Corangamite Labor federal member Libby Coker said she was “determined to secure pools for the Surf Coast and the Bellarine”.

“If the Morrison Government fails to build indoor pools in these communities, I will fight to make sure they get built under an Albanese Government,” she said.