Six of Phillip Island’s peak sport clubs have rallied behind a new community-designed plan detailing a wish list for the proposed Cowes recreation hub.
The plan, which has been a year in the making, was unveiled at this week's Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Fund annual general meeting, where secretary Peter McMahon said he hoped it would kickstart Bass Coast Shire’s new councillors – following the October elections – to fast-track the project.
“The residents of the island are sick of waiting,” Peter said.
“This has been a long process, 24 years.”
The 2020/2021 shire budget has allocated $2.8m to create an aquatic centre business case and planning. The shire is in final negotiations with the owners of the carnival land, on the corner of Phillip Island and Ventnor roads, to purchase the site through compulsory acquisition.
The land is set to be a 32-hectare sports hub, including the long-anticipated aquatic centre.
Peter told the AGM he had been working with five other sporting groups to finetune the wish list for the recreation plan, which he hoped would inform the shire’s master plan for the carnival land.
“I hope all the time and about 12 months’ work that has gone into creating our plan is covered by the shire when they finally get to producing their own,” Peter said.
“This is what is required, but we don’t have any say other than what we have endeavoured to produce here.”
The wish list includes a 50m competition pool with eight lanes, which would cost about $35m-$40 million, compared to a 25m pool ($34 million).
The community pool would include tiered seating for spectators, a toddlers’ pool and splash pad, a learn to swim pool, dry and steam saunas, wellness centre and gym with group fitness rooms.
Peter said the plan estimates the annual running costs for a 50m pool would be about $140,000 per year.
“But a bigger facility offers more opportunities to return a higher annual income, including an all-season tourist economy,” he said, adding the pool would be used by the seven schools in the district.
Five other sporting groups have contributed to the plan, including Phillip Island Football and Netball Club’s Chris Ross, who said they had more than 460 footy members and 160 netball members who were all desperate for expanded facilities.
Phillip Island Basketball Club’s Branca McFarlane said they required three hi ball courts, the same as Wonthaggi.
Phillip Island and District Cricket Club’s Ron Young said the plans “look fantastic”, and would cater to his 80 senior and 140 junior members. Ron said his club “desperately need a turf wicket centre”, as well as change rooms and rooms with an unobstructed view to both playing fields.
Phillip Island Breakers soccer club secretary Andrea Blair said a recreational master plan would need to include two full size pitches and a small synthetic pitch.
Consultant
Peter told the AGM the shire had recently employed a consultant, Otium Planning, to develop the business case for both Wonthaggi and Cowes’ aquatic centres, but it was critical Phillip Island got a pool first.
He said in 1996 the same consultant wrote the first feasibility study for the Phillip Island Aquatic centre, paid for by State Government.
“That report never saw the light of day, only an executive summary was shown. The recommendation was to build a centre on the island way back then, yet nothing happened,” Peter said.
“The same consultant has written many of the feasibility studies council has insisted over the years to be carried out, but the funny thing is they all state the same outcome.”
Peter said the shire should fast-track the Cowes aquatic centre, given the community has been waiting so long and given the island contributes about 47 per cent of the shire’s total rate revenue each year.
“Yes our plan can’t be achieved overnight but we must make a start ASAP.”