$31 million Geelong Leisurelink Opens

Geelong’s eagerly awaited $31 million Leisurelink Aquatic & Recreation Centre has opened this week.

City of Greater Geelong Mayor Councillor John Mitchell officially opened the state-of-the-art centre, which features a 50-metre pool, learn to swim pool, warm water exercise pool, toddlers’ pool, spa, sauna, gym, group exercise rooms, café, crèche and health club facilities.

The new centre, located on the corner of Princes Highway and Pioneer Road in the suburb of Waurn Ponds, will replace the Belmont Leisurelink, which has reached the end of its working life.

At the opening, Mayor Mitchell stated “this is the biggest project ever undertaken by the City. It’s been a long time in the making and I’m really excited that it’s now open for the whole community to use and enjoy.”

“The new Leisurelink will be arguably the best leisure centre in regional Victoria. It will cater for our current and future residents, including the new Armstrong Creek community.”

“This is a true regional facility that will be able to cope with our growth into the future.

“Most excited of all are Leisurelink’s 5,000-plus members. The new centre is a drastic improvement on the old one – the gym and the pools are twice as big. It looks sensational.”

The City of Greater Geelong has provided $28 million for the new Leisurelink and the State Government has contributed $2 million plus the 50-metre Astral legacy pool – in which events at the 2007 World Swimming Championships were swum.

State Member for South Barwon Michael Crutchfield said the centre would be welcomed with open arms by residents in the region, adding “like most residents in the region I will certainly be taking advantage and utilising this magnificent facility.

“Water sports and swimming in particular, are incredibly popular in Geelong. They’re a great way to get active, keep fit and have fun. Facilities like these bring more swim, water play, therapy, and fitness options to all ages and abilities, regardless of their fitness level.”

Leisurelink’s waterpark (including state-of-the-art waterslides) will open next month with a free family fun day.

Features of the new Leisurelink facility include:

• Eight-lane 50-metre competition standard swimming pool with ramp access and boom enabling it to be divided into two 25-metre pools. 
• State-of-the-art gym and aerobics complex with greater floor space and a wider range of equipment. 
• Learn to swim pool. 
• Warm water pool for exercise with ramp access. 
• Toddlers’ pool 
• Spa/Sauna. 
• Multi purpose rooms. 
• Separate pool and gym change facilities. 

When complete the waterpark (pictured below) will offer: 

• Cannon Bowl Waterslide: A 12.5-metre high slide featuring a large bowl (diameter of 12m) which swirls swimmers around before dropping them out of a hole into a pool. 
• The Black Hole Waterslide: A 12.5-metre high twisting tube ride in total darkness until swimmers reach the final splashdown. 
• Water Adventure Park featuring water cannons, an overhead tipping bucket and a spinning water wheel. 
• Kids’ splash pad: rubber flooring play space with water shooting from fountains and jets at random. 

30th June 2009 - GEELONG COMMITS TO AQUATICS AND RECREATION

8th May 2009 - LEGACY POOL SET FOR GEELONG LEISURELINK INSTALLATION