Pooling our resources for an active Merri-bek (Media release)
From Merri-bek Mayor John Kavanagh:
Earlier this month, your Councillors adopted Merri-bek’s first Aquatic and Leisure Strategy.
The great news is that this strategy commits to maintaining and improving all six of our pools, which will see a $179 million investment in these facilities across the next 20 years.
The strategy is the result of months of consultation and considers Merri-bek’s future population.
Your feedback on the draft strategy told us you wanted greater investment in all pools and more certainty regarding the future of our two outdoor pools in Coburg and Pascoe Vale.
We know that we can’t be all things to all people, but this strategy has struck a fair balance in terms of what we heard from our community.
Your Council is currently spending $27.3 million on redeveloping the Oak Park Aquatics Centre, which is located within the electorate of Pascoe Vale.
It is extremely disappointing that Council received no financial support for this project from the State Government. It has had to be funded entirely from your rates.
This is in contrast with other metropolitan municipalities in Melbourne, including in neighbouring Moonee Valley, where the State Government recently announced $3 million in funding towards the East Keilor Leisure Centre redevelopment.
Moreland stands out for its commitment to pools and leisure facilities – we have the Coburg Leisure Centre, Brunswick Baths, Oak Park and Fawkner Leisure Centres, which each provide a range of aquatic and dry facilities; and two seasonal outdoor pools at Pascoe Vale and Coburg.
In addition to the new Oak Park Aquatics Centre, we will be the redeveloping the Coburg Leisure Centre, to cater to the fast-growing population in the south of Merri-bek.
We’ll also be making extensive improvements at Fawkner Leisure Centre.
Providing public pools is expensive but important work, and I’m proud we have a strategy that guarantees the future of our pools.
Find out more and read the strategy.
22 June 2018