City of Yarra Commits to ensure healthy, connected community

Finishing a $7.8 million upgrade of the Collingwood Leisure Centre, preparing for construction of the North Fitzroy Library and restoring a Richmond community facility are among the highlights of Yarra Council's proposed 2011/2012 Budget.

The proposed budget also provides for at least $1 million to be contributed into an existing reserve for the creation of an indoor sports stadium.

Yarra Mayor Alison Clarke said Council was continuing to invest in long-term infrastructure projects which would support the health and wellbeing of its growing community.

Mayor Clarke explained "there are 10,000 more residents living in Yarra today than there were a decade ago.

"That 15% increase in our residential population has put pressure on our existing services.

"You can't just plonk people in a community and not provide the services they need - such as libraries and leisure centres - to live healthy and fulfilled lives.

"Whether it is creating a larger, purpose-built library in North Fitzroy or expanding the Collingwood Leisure Centre so it can accommodate an extra 40,000 visits per year, these major projects will give everybody access to better services."

Mayor Clarke said the proposed budget included a $31.4 million capital works budget, with highlights being:

• $4.18 million to complete the upgrade of the Collingwood Leisure Centre (The Council is working towards reopening the expanded aquatic area in late 2011.)
• $1.85 million to restore the Collingwood Town Hall and precinct. The heritage-listed town hall needs to be upgraded to provide modern office facilities for Council staff, and to improve community access to meeting places (including providing a lift so people with disabilities can get around inside the building).
• $800,000 to prepare for the impending construction of the North Fitzroy Community Hub. Construction of the hub (which is to include a library, maternal and child health centre, multicultural meeting place and community space) is expected to begin in mid-2012.
• $1.73 million to improve Yarra's on-and-off-road bicycle network
• $680,000 to create a new park by closing off a section of roadway in Oxford Street, Collingwood
• $300,000 towards the restoration of the community facility at 49 Tudor Street, Richmond. Council has taken on board resident feedback received after it proposed selling this facility, and will instead upgrade the centre to make it suitable for community use. An additional $500,000 is proposed in the 2012/2013 capital works budget to finish the upgrade.

Mayor Clarke added "we're adding to the amount set aside for the indoor sports stadium, and hope other levels of government get on board as well, so we can build it sooner rather than later."

She added that the Council was calling for community feedback on the proposed budget by Monday 9th May.

NOTE: The redevelopment of the Collingwood Leisure Centre is a $6.3 million project to provide a larger lap pool (increased from five to seven lanes), expanded toddlers' and Learn to Swim pools, upgraded spa and sauna facilities and a new pool hall.

The roof of the centre, which is more than 30 years old, is also being replaced as part of the redevelopment.

Collingwood Leisure Centre's gym and group fitness areas have remained open to the public during the redevelopment while the Council has been running additional aquatic services at its Richmond and Fitzroy leisure centres, and has temporarily expanded the crèche services at Fitzroy.

1st April 2010 - SAFETY FEARS HIT COLLINGWOOD POOL ROOF