Comben Reserve master plan released

The draft master plan for Bruce Comben Reserve in Altona Meadows paves the way for a new $40 million Western Aquatic Centre.

Goya Dmytryshchak

A draft master plan has been released for Bruce Comben Reserve in Altona Meadows, to plan for a new $40 million Western Aquatic Centre and uses by sporting clubs and the community.

The centre would include an eight-lane, 25-metre pool and smaller pools, wellness centre, gym, cafe and new childcare centre.

As reported by Star Weekly, there was strong opposition to the proposed demolition of Cooraminta Children’s Centre to make way for the pool.

Hobons Bay Cr Tony Briffa told last week’s council meeting there was also concern the master plan gave significant amounts of passive open space over to sporting clubs for their use.

“That impacts significantly on people that use this area for walking dogs and other uses; it significantly impacts a lot of residents,” Cr Briffa said.

The reserve has three tenant clubs catering for about 1000 participants: Altona Roosters Rugby League Club, Seabrook Cricket Club and Westside Touch Association.

More than 57,000 residents live within five kilometres of the reserve and this number is expected to grow to more than 70,000 by 2036.