The shape of water: state and federal funds still there for smaller Surf Coast pool

MORE than $33 million of state and federal funding for the proposed Surf Coast Aquatic and Health Centre is secure, despite the Surf Coast Shire council drastically downsizing the scope of the project.

Originally slated to have a 50-metre indoor pool and other facilities at a cost of $39.25 million, a shire assessment found the design was “unfeasible in its current form” because of extreme cost increases in the construction market, and would now have a price tag of more than $50 million.

As a result, a majority of councillors resolved at their June 28 meeting to instead accept the officers’ recommendation to downsize the centre, to be built in Torquay North, to have a 25m seasonal outdoor pool and two indoor warm water pools for learn to swim, hydrotherapy and leisure activities.

This is seen to be the “most sustainable and financially responsible design option”, according to officers, but will still cost at least $44 million.

The project was the subject of considerable political campaigning over recent elections, with Labor and Liberal candidates at both the state and federal level making commitments towards it.

The political landscape has also shifted since the first pledges were made.

Then-Liberal Corangamite federal member Sarah Henderson committed $20 million for a centre with a 50-metre pool just before the 2019 federal election, but lost the seat to Labor’s Libby Coker, who pledged $15.3 million towards the project if she won the seat and Labor formed government.

The Coalition retained government in 2019 but lost the 2022 federal election.

Separate to this, the state Labor government and South Barwon Labor MP Darren Cheeseman (who won his seat at the 2018 Victorian election) have made two commitments to the centre – $10 million through the Local Sports Grants initiative, and a further $3.5 million through the Growing Suburbs Fund.

A spokesperson for Ms Libby Coker referred questions about the $20 million in federal funding to the Department of Infrastructure as it was a “contractual matter between the Commonwealth and the Shire”.

A Department of Infrastructure spokesperson referred questions to the Department of Health and Aged Care “as the project falls under one of their programs”, a spokesperson from which said “funding recipients were able to submit requests to the Department to vary the project” under the general terms of funding agreements.

Mr Cheeseman’s office referred questions about the Victorian government’s $10 million to the Victorian government.

“We will continue working with the council to ensure the delivery of a new aquatic recreation centre for the residents of Surf Coast, who will benefit from access to the services and programs such a facility can provide,” a Victorian government spokesperson said.

“We back community sport across Victoria and since 2014 we have invested more than $1.2 billion to develop or upgrade facilities.”

Speaking at the June 28 meeting, Cr Liz Pattison said “Torquay needs a swimming pool” and the shire was exploring “alternate funding arrangements” to make up the shortfall to $44 million.

“There are a number of avenues identified in the officers’ report, most notably the Commonwealth Games funding, which could be the golden ticket and result in funding of a 50-metre pool, though it would still be an outdoor pool.”