Building works on an outdoor 50-metre pool at
North Bellarine Aquatic Centre are nearing completion with a major project
milestone reached. The City is pleased to announce the pool is currently being
filled with water in preparation for final steps before it will be ready to
open to the public later this year.
Last Friday, Mayor Trent Sullivan and Member
for Corangamite Libby Coker toured the stage one facility, as the pool reached 60 percent capacity of water. Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant also joined the
tour.
The newly constructed outdoor 50-metre, eight-lane
heated pool has received substantial funding, with $10 million provided by the Australian
Government and an additional $5.5 million from The Council. The
state-of-the-art facility features accessible and changing places change
facilities, an entry pavilion, a kiosk, as well as significant civil and
landscaping works. It has been thoughtfully designed to cater to the needs of
the entire community, providing a space for swimming carnivals, learn-to-swim
programs, various aquatic activities, public meetings, and multi-purpose
events.
The North Bellarine Aquatic Centre project has expanded
into the northern end of the sports precinct with its own access road off Peninsula
Drive.
The Pavilion building, a prominent component of the
aquatic centre, is nearing completion with the installation of external
cladding, screens, and final minor works underway. The changerooms have already
been completed internally, with minor external works remaining on the building
roof. The pool plant room and landscaping are ongoing and will be the final
items to be finished.
Work on the stage one project began in May 2022.
The City has
received $20 million each in funding commitments from the Victorian and Australian
Governments to deliver stage two, and the facility will be delivered within
this $40 million budget.
Stage two of the
North Bellarine Aquatic Centre will feature indoor facilities to complement the
50-metre heated outdoor pool.
Libby Coker - Member for Corangamite
With stage one
now almost complete, the pool is now full, and it’s time to
build stage two.
Key elements of stage two that are under consideration include lap swimming, warm water exercise, learn to swim and hydrotherapy.
Mayor Trent Sullivan
The filling of the outdoor 50-metre pool at North Bellarine Aquatic Centre marks a significant milestone, bringing us one step closer to providing our community with a world-class swimming facility.
This new aquatic centre means residents of the surrounding Bellarine community will no longer have to travel to Geelong to access a 50-metre pool. We're bringing the joy of swimming right to their doorstep.
The collaboration between Council and the Australian Government has enabled us to realise the vision of the North Bellarine Aquatic Centre, a space designed to foster health, wellness, and inclusivity for all.