By Laura Michell
Whittlesea YMCA and other private entities will be asked to consider helping to cover the cost of an aquatic and indoor sports centre planned for Mernda.
Whittlesea council is considering using a public private partnership model to fund the Mernda Aquatic and Indoor Sports Centre (MAISC), with councillors voting last month to approach Whittlesea YMCA about a possible partnership.
The council will also hold discussions with community groups such as Whittlesea Community Connections and DPV Health about including community and health and wellness services at the centre under a joint partnership agreement.
The decision to seek external funding for the project follows a notice of motion to the December 17 council meeting, in which mayor Emilia Lisa Sterjova and Cr Ricky Kirkham urged the council to seeking alternative ways of funding the project.
“Council’s restricted budget position may prevent the delivery of a facility that caters for the community’s needs if alternative options are not explored,” the notice of motion said.
“It is crucial that council is proactive and innovative in exploring partnerships to reduce costs and deliver quality community outcomes.”
The council will also seek community feedback about the centre, specifically in relation to the inclusion of a 50-metre swimming pool, large-scale water play areas, and indoor netball and basketball courts in stage one of the project.
The inclusion of a 50-metre pool in the aquatic centre has been a contentious issue for the council. Residents began campaigning for a 50-metre lap pool in February after the council decided to develop business cases for an aquatic centre with and without a 25-metre lap pool.
At the time, the council said it could not afford to build a 50-metre pool.
The council later agreed to cost a 50-metre pool, before deferring making a decision about the final details of the pool until February 2020.
“The MAISC is council’s largest-ever capital investment. As such, we must deliver value for money and ensure that the community ultimately shapes this important project,” the
notice of motion said.
