Shire confirms changes to aquatic centre layout

THE Surf Coast Shire has agreed with a proposal to change the scope of the Surf Coast Aquatic and Health Centre (SCAHC).

The latest revisions to the more than $42 million project to be built in Torquay North are in response to nearby Armstrong Creek getting its own aquatic centre in 2026.

SCAHC will now have its 25m pool indoors instead of outdoors, build only one indoor program pool instead of two, and pay as much as $3.57 million more itself so the project can proceed to tender.

Originally envisaged as a facility with a 50m indoor pool, SCAHC finally got the nod from the council in June 2022 with Option C, which would contain an outdoor 25m pool, two indoor program pools, gym, program spaces, allied health suites, café and supporting amenities, and a future option to enclose the 25m pool.

October’s announcement that the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games would result in a permanent community pool in Armstrong Creek forced a major rethink of the implications of the shire’s decision.

A pool in Armstrong Creek will split the catchment of SCAHC’s target market, officers found, with recent modelling indicating the number of users travelling to SCAHC from 10 minutes or less away would drop by 22 per cent, equivalent to more than 4,000 people.

“Lower demand will negatively impact visitation and revenue, and the subsequent slower growth means that learn to swim and hydrotherapy capacity will be reached over a longer time period,” the report stated.

As a result, officers recommended changing to Option F, which has a 25m indoor pool and only one indoor program pool but is otherwise the same as Option C.

Councillors resolved to adopt the new scope of SCAHC at their meeting tonight (Tuesday, February 28).

“Shifting our scope to one program pool, with the indoor 25-metre pool better reflects our community’s projected need and demand during the next decade,” shire mayor Liz Pattison said.

The budget shortfall for Option F is estimated to be up to $3.57 million, based on existing costings, and the council has been recommended to underwrite this amount “to confirm sufficient budget to proceed to tender, noting that the true cost will only be known when tenders are received”.

“It is not expected that any Council contribution would be required until 2025 when the project delivery is well progressed, which provides time to pursue further funds.”

The shire will continue to pursue external funding sources to reduce the amount the shire has to underwrite.

The report states the proposed $5 million Veterans and Families Hub promised by Corangamite Labor federal member Libby Coker at last year’s federal election – as an “opportunity”, which would mean the hub would be incorporated into SCAHC instead of at Torquay RSL or Geelong RSL, who are both pitching to host it.

The officers’ report rules out reducing the scope of SCAHC’s Option F by, for example, not constructing a gym and program spaces, as “this would significantly adversely impact the operating performance of the facility” by about $400,000 per year (averaged over 10 years).

Local, state and federal cash make up the $42.25 million confirmed funding for SCAHC but it is unclear whether the state and federal governments will support the shire changing SCAHC’s scope again, as officers state “funding partner approvals have not yet been obtained for Option C”.