By Luke Voogt
The “long-awaited” Northern Aquatic and Community Hub is “on the cusp of reality” after Geelong council pledged to almost double its funding for the “life-changing” project.
Council will allocate another $21.84 million, on top of $23 million already allocated in its draft four-year budget, following an urgent business motion during Tuesday night’s meeting.
“This is a decision that has the capacity to change lives and outcomes for the people of Geelong’s northern suburbs,” Geelong mayor Stephanie Asher said.
“We are at a make-or-break point for the project, and it’s time to get on with walking our talk.”
The decision brings council’s commitment to the $61.6 million project to $44.84 million.
The extra funding is contingent on council’s application to allocate $8.26 million from the federal government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Fund to the project.
If successful, the amount, along with $8.5 million from state government’s 2021-22 budget, would ensure the project is fully-funded and ready for tender.
Council hopes the extra $21.84 million will help secure another $10 million in its application to federal government’s Building Better Regions Fund, which requires projects to fully-funded and ready for construction.
If successful, council’s total commitment would reduce to $34.84 million.
Windermere Ward councillor Anthony Aitken described the “landmark investment” as a “bold and courageous step to deliver the most significant community project” council “has ever invested in”.
“Council has been advocating and lobbying for the Northern Aquatic and Community Hub for the past five years because we believe in this project and what it will do for the people of the north,” Cr Aitken said.
“We must be the controller of this project and take opportunities in order to ensure the funding we’ve secured isn’t put in jeopardy, and to pave the way for future funding from the state and federal governments.”
According to council, the hub will create $111 million in life-changing preventative health benefits during its first decade in operation.
The plans include a 400-person community hall, multiple pools, a waterslide, spa and sauna, a gym, early childhood care and rehabilitation services and maternal child health consultation suites.
Norlane resident and campaigner for the project Sandra Anderson congratulated council on the announcement.
“I actually got a tear in my eye and thought, ‘well done’,” she said.
“I think it shows how passionate the councillors are about this. It’s been going on for so long and it’s such an important project.”
The hub was vitally important given the north’s expanding population, Ms Anderson said.
“They’re going to need something like this.”
