City Hall will sell historic Geelong Gaol and the site of Norlane’s water slides to make way for new health facilities, council administrators have announced.
Barwon Health would buy the gaol for additions to nearby University Hospital Geelong while the State Government would purchase the Waterworld land for a “state-of-the-art” medical facility to service northern Geelong.
The gaol deal would allow tenant Rotary to continue leasing part of the building as a tourist attraction for a minimum of 10 more years.
City Hall had four offers for the gaol but Barwon Health’s was “the best for the community and the site”, council administrators chair Dr Kathy Alexander said.
“Barwon Health is the dominant land user in this part of the city and Geelong’s largest employer.
“It has the resources and expertise to invest in the property and maximise its use,” Dr Alexander said.
“The health industry is one of the strongest growing sectors of the economy and will play a significant role in Geelong’s future both in terms of providing health services to our residents and as our largest employment sector.
“Barwon Health is currently the main tenant at the gaol, with the majority of the other tenants providing human services.”
Dr Alexander acknowledged the gaol’s historical significance but said its ongoing costs and risks outweighed any public benefit from City ownership.
Rotary proposed developing the gaol for offices, a cafe, parking and a child care centre at a cost of $34m.
The other two submissions wanted the City to retain the gaol for use as a museum or events facility.
But Dr Alexander said the costs of converting the site were too high and would fail to “provide a sustainable long-term solution”.
The Waterworld deal would mean the loss of recreational facilities but allow development of a new health centre on the state’s preferred site, Dr Alexander said.
The centre would grow over the next 10 to 15 years to include various health and community services in a facility called Northern Arc.
“The City has undertaken extensive stakeholder and community consultation on the master plan for this site,” Dr Alexander said.
“The City recognises that the Waterworld slides are iconic in Geelong.
“After consultation with stakeholders and assessment of the condition of the slide, toddlers pool and outdoor area, it was agreed that the use of this land to provide a health care facility in the northern suburbs of Geelong is a priority for both Barwon Health and the City of Greater Geelong.”
The rest of Waterworld would remain operational during the Northern Arc development.
