Shire approves development plan for aquatic centre

THE overarching plan to allow the Surf Coast Aquatic and Health Centre (SCAHC) to go ahead has been given the green light by the Surf Coast Shire council.

The SCAHC Development Plan is not a planning permit for the $46.8 million Torquay North facility – which is presently out to tender – but is needed to comply with the shire’s own planning scheme.

According to planning firm Urbis, the plan “establishes an overarching masterplan for the Surf Coast Aquatic and Health Centre… under which the more detailed site planning and potential subdivision of the land can take place”.

It defines the area that the SCAHC (including the buildings and car parking) is proposed to encompass, and also includes an archaeological field survey, a preliminary construction management plan, a flora and fauna assessment, and transport advice.

The latest scope of the SCAHC, confirmed by the shire in February of this year, includes a 25-metre indoor pool, a warm water indoor pool, a gym and multi-purpose program rooms, allied health and office suites, and meeting rooms for community organisations.

The project has more than $44 million in local, state and federal funds already attached to it and needs a further injection of about $2 million to be fully realised.

Councillors considered the Development Plan at their meeting last week and a majority of councillors resolved to approve it.

Cr Rose Hodge said the plan was the final stage, along with other already approved stages for the remaining land, in the Torquay North precinct.

“The Development Plan is considered in accord with the relevant provisions of the Surf Coast Shire planning scheme in the civic precinct.

“It talks about key considerations, a liveable community, urban landscape, access and mobility, management, utilities and site management.

“The report by Urbis has got all that information in it. It’s a fairly lengthy one, but it really shows in detail where most things are going.

“I am for this document, and it’s been a long time coming.

“If [SCAHC] does go ahead after the tenders come in, it will be an absolutely terrific community asset just outside our space here [at the council chambers], but we need to go through these processes.”

Cr Paul Barker was the lone vote against the resolution.

“History will not look kindly on this decision if it’s approved,” he said.

Cr Heather Wellington asked if the Development Plan was “sufficiently flexible” enough to be used if SCAHC was ultimately not fully funded and had to be reduced in scope.

In response, shire chief executive officer Robyn Seymour said the Development Plan would still apply, as it “showed the broader footprint, not the specifics”.