Deeper waters: shire weighs feasibility study into 50-metre pool

THE Surf Coast Shire council is dipping its toe back into the long-running debate about an aquatic centre for Torquay, with officers recommending a feasibility study for a $30 million facility.

However, the federal funding on offer will mean the shire will drop its previous plan for a 25-metre pool, as all options in the study will include “a 50-metre pool suitable for swimming in all seasons”.

Councillors resolved to accept the recommendation in the report at their meeting on Tuesday.

The motion would authorise chief executive officer Keith Baillie to carry out the study, expected to take about four months.

The study’s scope would also include:

• Options that include facilities beyond that which can be delivered for $30 million that will deliver lower net operational cost, and
• Reference to previous community consultation, notably 2015’s Testing the Water engagement findings, but not include new community consultation.

There have been calls to build a pool in Torquay since the mid-1970s.

According to the Surf Coast Shire’s Testing the Water consultation, which led to the council resolving in 2015 to stop all work on a pool, the community attitude towards an aquatic and health centre at the time was that “it would be a good thing for our community” but “most people do not believe it is of sufficient benefit to them and do not wish to pay for it now or in the future”.

There has been considerable political wrangling recently over the aquatic centre at both state and federal level.

The state Labor government committed $10 million to the pool in the lead-up to the 2018 state election, while former Corangamite Liberal federal member Sarah Henderson promised $20 million specifically for a 50-metre pool.

Ms Henderson lost her seat to Labor’s Libby Coker (who pledged $15.3 million for a 25-metre pool if Labor won) but returned as a Victorian Senator in a re-elected Liberal government.

The report states there is “a risk that not accepting the funding offer from two levels of government means that such funding may not be available in the future”.

“The combined commitment of $30 million to construct an aquatic and health centre is significant and an opportunity that Council must seriously consider.

“Council is focused on its long-term financial challenge and the diminishing discretionary resources at its disposal

“This circumstance also poses a reputational risk to Council. If funding is not accepted, some sections of the community may view this as missing an important opportunity. This needs to be weighed against the reputation and financial risk from an outcome that exacerbates Council’s financial challenge.”