Stadium repair nears completion

WINCHELSEA Leisure Time Centre (LTC) is due to reopen next month as repairs of the facility’s troublesome floor reaches its final stages.

State agency the Victorian School Building Authority is managing the build with part-funding support from Surf Coast Shire Council to fix the town’s only hard-floor sports facility.

The LTC at Winchelsea Primary School has been closed to the public since 2017 due to problems with underground moisture that had damaged its floor and concrete foundations.

Temporary repairs had allowed the school to use the centre until early last year when the floor became unsafe for any use.

In a statement provided to the Surf Coast Times last week, the Department of Education and Training indicated the rebuild was progressing and on track to finish within a month.

“The restoration of the Winchelsea Leisure Time Centre is scheduled for completion in four weeks,” a DET spokesperson said.

“The project is joint between the Department of Education and Surf Coast Shire Council – and will provide a huge benefit to the community.”

The department indicated construction on the flooring would be finished early in November before a week of inspections and handover.

Last year authorities had indicated the project would be ready for term three of the school year, but availability of equipment, supplies and wet weather held up progress.

Once reopened, the Winchelsea LTC will continue under a shared use agreement between the state government for school activities, and the council to invite community groups to use the facility.

As well as school sports and assemblies, the Winchelsea LTC had previously been used for community events such as karate, garden shows and Neighbourhood Watch days.

Concerns about future use of the LTC was subject of a petition to the shire last year from Winchelsea resident Tony Phelps, which attracted more than 600 supporters.