By Goya Dmytryshchak
A $65 million aquatic strategy for Hobsons Bay, including a new pool in Altona Meadows and replacing Laverton pool with an outdoor water park, was last week adopted by the council.
However, the exact location of the “Western Aquatic Centre” in Bruce Comben Reserve is yet to be determined following strong opposition to the proposed demolition of Cooraminta Children’s Centre to make way for the pool.
A petition with 565 signatures was tabled at last week’s council meeting asking that the children’s centre not be demolished in favour of the pool.
Cr Colleen Gates told the meeting a stakeholder reference group, which will include a representative from Cooraminta, would be established to help guide the aquatic centre’s development.
“We’ve taken reference to demolition of children’s centres out of the strategy, we’ve taken concept plans out of the strategy, because we recognise that that needs to be developed in consultation with the people who are most invested in that part of the precinct,” Cr Gates said.
Community feedback on the aquatic plan had requested a 50 metre pool instead of the planned 25-metre pool.
However, a council officer’s report stated that a 50 metre pool needed a catchment of more than 100,000 people to be financially viable and this could not be achieved in Hobsons Bay.
Also planned under the strategy is an expansion of Bayfit Leisure Centre at Altona North, while Laverton Swim and Fitness Centre will be replaced with a
water park and youth facility at the adjacent playground in McCormack Park.
“I’ve spent a bit of time researching water parks across Melbourne and across Australia and have a pretty good idea of what type of level water park we want to see for the Laverton community, but also for Hobsons Bay in general, so we end up with a destination so that someone who lives down near the beach might go, ‘Actually, I’ve had enough of the sand today, I’m going to head to Laverton’,” Cr Gates said.
Cr Peter Hemphill said “substantial” government funding would be needed.
“We can’t expect ratepayers to pay for it as it would be almost equivalent to our whole infrastructure spend in a single year,” he said.
