By Alesha Capone
Wyndham council is preparing to build a third major aquatic facility in the municipality to help cater to the area’s expanding population.
The council’s two existing aquatic facilities, Werribee Outdoor Pool and AquaPulse in Hoppers Crossing, serve a population of more than 270,000 residents.
Wyndham’s director of city life, Allison Kenwood, said last week that the council “has begun early planning for a third aquatic facility to accommodate rapid growth in the municipality”.
“Prior to COVID-19, the city’s major indoor aquatic facility AquaPulse, in Hoppers Crossing, attracted close to one million visitors each year,” Ms Kenwood said.
“It also had one of the largest learn to swim programs in Victoria and was also a popular destination for squad, lap and leisure swimming.”
Ms Kenwood said the council was monitoring the level of re-engagement at AquaPulse post-COVID, as well as residential growth.
“These issues will help determine where a future site (for a third aquatic facility) may be located and will assist us in developing a future business case and concept plan,” Ms Kenwood said.
She said the council would conduct community consultation on any future draft concept plans for a third aquatic facility.
In a post on Facebook last week, Cr Mia Shaw wrote that she hoped plans for the new aquatic facility would be “shovel ready” by the end of 2023.
“I hope to be able to give you an update in the next couple of months because I don’t want this to be another 10 years away,” she posted.
Cr Shaw wrote that in her personal opinion, the new aquatic facility should be built in either Wyndham Vale or Tarneit, to cater for “the huge growth out that way”.
However, Point Cook residents have been campaigning for the council to build a major aquatic facility in their suburb for at least a decade.
In June 2018, resident Christine Macpherson made a submission to Wyndham council’s annual budget, on behalf of the Point Cook Action Group, requesting a swimming pool or indoor recreational facility be constructed in the area.
In her submission, Ms Macpherson noted that according to the council’s 2011 Aquatic Strategy, Point Cook residents have shown an “ongoing interest” in a swimming facility being developed in their local area.
Ms Macpherson’s submission said that the council should “urgently address the needs of our significant Point Cook population by building a local pool/indoor recreation complex” and that “future plans to build a pool in Tarneit will not address the needs of Point Cook residents”.
