Tara Murray
A 50-metre pool could be included in the new Mernda Aquatic and Indoor Sports Centre, with Whittlesea council deciding to investigate two new options for the centre’s design.
After much conjecture in the community about the centre and previous plans, the council decided to understake a feasibility and comparative analysis of two new option.
The first one, known as option eight, has a 25-metre pool, and the second one, known as option nine, will include a 50-metre pool.
Both options include a warm water pool, water play section, learn to swim pool, spa, steam room and sauna, gymnasium, program rooms, creche, health suites. A number of sporting courts will also be built as part of the project.
The council’s financial forecasting said the capital cost would be $51 million for the 25-metre pool option and $55.7 million for the 50-metre pool option.
The overall cost fo the centre, including sports courts, is expected to be $75.6 for the 25-metre pool option and $80.3 million for the 50-metre option.
A report to last week’s council meeting said recent community consultation found the two previous council-endorsed options from 2019 did not appropriately address the community sentiment for lap swimming, nor would they provide a balanced community health and wellbeing outcome.
As reported by Star Weekly, plans for the centre were presented to the former council a number of times in 2019, with councillors initially opting to develop business cases for a centre with and without a 25-metre pool.
The decision resulted in community backlash, with residents calling for a 50-metre pool to be included in the centre.
At the time, the council said it couldn’t afford a 50-metre pool.
Speaking at last week’s council meeting, chief executive Craig Lloyd said the councilwant to get an overall view of the two options before moving forward.
“The main reason for recommending both of these options to be progressed at the same time is to really give the council and the community a really good understanding of the models,” he said.
“What that means in terms of operational usage, operational costs, and the demand and usage by the community of these facilities.
“Obviously a bigger pool takes up more space and impacts on other facilities on the site. In this final feasibility study, we bring it all together and really understand what the costs are, so the council can make a fully informed decision.”
Administrator Bruce Billson said the project hasn’t progressed at a great speed with the number of resolutions in the past.
Council said the project will need support from government and/or private partners.
Mr Billson called on both the state and federal governments to help fund the project.
