Council to tender Surf Coast Aquatic and Health Centre

With designs now finalised for the $46-million Surf Coast Aquatic and Health Centre, Surf Coast Shire Council, located in the Barwon South West region of Victoria, will tender the facility among a shortlist of construction companies in January.

Construction is scheduled to start mid-2024 and finish during 2026, bringing the community a multi-use, fully accessible, environmentally designed health and wellbeing asset.

The $46-million centre will be integrated with Wurdi Baierr Stadium in Torquay North and include:

• Indoor 25-metre pool

• Indoor warm water program / Learn to Swim pool

• First floor gym with adjoining multiuse community program spaces for group fitness classes

• Allied health suites close to the program pool, enabling patrons to access health professionals and health, fitness, rehabilitation facilities in close proximity

• Café, gathering spaces, community meeting room and office spaces

• Changing Places facility for people with disability and high support needs

• New car parking area

Councillor Rose Hodge enthused “With start of construction now on the horizon we look forward with pride and excitement to seeing the Surf Coast Aquatic and Health Centre providing Learn to Swim, leisure, fitness, rehabilitation and social options for people from across our community for decades to come.

“Integrating with Wurdi Baierr Stadium, it will become an invaluable hub for wellbeing, water safety, recreation and social connections.

“And importantly the centre will demonstrate a strong focus on environmentally sustainable design, including all-electric operation supported by an extensive rooftop solar system.”

The pool halls will have limited, low-profile glazing, low ceiling heights and no skylights to maximise energy efficiency, 100% rainwater retention and re-use within the centre and no viewing into the pool halls from other internal spaces to reduce heat loss.

Connections with the Surf Coast Highway will provide car park access and exit, and connections with existing bike and walking paths will encourage active transport.

Council acknowledges the support of funding partners to the overall project scope including the Australian Government with $20 million via the Female Facilities and Water Safety Stream Program, Sport and Recreation Victoria with $10 million via the Local Sports Grants initiative, and Regional Development Victoria with $3 million via the Regional Infrastructure Fund.

The Victorian Government’s Growing Suburbs Fund has contributed $3.5 million for the inclusion of allied health suites, multi-use community program spaces, community meeting room and office spaces, and it has also provided $180,000 through its Changing Places Program for the Changing Places facility.

Council will contribute $5.75 million, underwriting the remaining funding shortfall subject to receiving any further external funding.