By Holly McGuinness
Brimbank council will lobby the state government for an outdoor swimming pool at the Brimbank Aquatic and Wellness Centre (BAWC)
Council said it was necessary to secure government funding for the $10 million after it funded the majority of the construction costs for the aquatic and wellness centre.
Council contributed $60 million to the project, with the government providing $2 million.
The centre, which is still under construction, will include four indoor pools but is lacking a 25-metre outdoor pool, which was a feature of the previous St Albans Leisure Centre.
A report to council’s Tuesday, July 19 meeting said that given the level of funding required, the most appropriate option was for council to seek funding prior to the November state election.
“An important consideration is that any commitment from state government must be made for the full amount of the overall cost, as council has invested significantly into the development of the BAWC and there is currently no related allocation in council’s 10-year capital works program,” the report said.
“In the long-term, council could consider advocacy approaches ahead of future federal budgets for consideration.”
Councillor Virginia Tachos welcomed council’s decision to seek state government funding for the outdoor pool.
“I applaud the council for continuing strong advocacy for the outside pool for St Albans, but also that it seeks broader funding for sunshine as well as sports facilities across Brimbank,” she said.
“We should be continuing to advocate strongly at all levels to partner with the council, to ensure that our facilities are not being solely funded by ratepayers.
“At some stage we need to partner with state and federal, and we can see that when projects are delivered in partnerships. We get a better quality of that project as well”
Cr Bruce Lancashire said land had already been set aside for the pool.
” … Everything is ready for that sort of development to go ahead if we get the funding, so that and other ideas that council may have in terms of getting shovel ready projects before possible grant opportunities is something that we certainly are doing and I would encourage to continue to do,” he said.
