Helena Abdou
A former Whittlesea councillor is concerned the city’s rapidly growing suburbs, such as Epping North and Donnybrook, will be robbed of future sporting infrastructure because of council’s plans for a multimillion dollar pool.
Council administrators approved the $113 million Regional Sports and Aquatic Facility (previously Mernda Sports Hub) in December 2021.
The facility will include four pools, one of which is a 50-metre multi-purpose pool, six indoor sports courts and eight outdoor netball courts, a gym and more.
The project has been the subject of numerous to reports to council over the years, with the previous councillors debating whether the aquatic centre should feature a 25-metre or 50-metre pool, with some councillors saying council could not afford a larger pool.
Lawrie Cox, who was a councillor on the previous council, said he was concerned about the cost of the project.
He said the “community shouldn’t be loaded up with a whole lot of debt for this project.”
“In terms of where sporting development goes within the City of Whittlesea, during my time on council, the demand for court space for basketball, netball, tennis, far outstrips any swimming pool claim,” Mr Cox said.
“I’m not saying I don’t want a swimming pool, what concerns me is the cost of the swimming pool.
“A white elephant is a project that fails a business case, wastes ratepayers’ money and fails to deliver on its proposed outcome. The Mernda project meets all those criteria.”
Council’s chair administrator, Lydia Wilson, said council would do what was necessary to ensure the project wouldn’t blowout the budget.
“We are advocating strongly to state and federal governments for funding support to minimise the impact of the costs of this project,” she said.
Ms Wilson said there were a number of planned sporting infrastructure projects in the works.
“Some of our upcoming projects include a new synthetic soccer pitch at Harvest Home Recreation Reserve, a skate park in Epping North, and outdoor netball courts and tennis court resurfacing at Epping Recreation Reserve.”
Construction of the pool is expected to begin in 2025.
