Your feedback is welcomed! Mount Alexander Indoor Aquatic ......Indoor Aquatic and Leisure Centre Proposal Swimming pools are important recreation facilities in Australian communities.

Meeting future needs

Mount Alexander

Indoor Aquatic

and Leisure Centre

Proposal

Swimming pools are important recreation facilities in Australian communities. Like many Councils, Mount Alexander Shire Council has been grappling with issues around the maintenance and development of aquatic facilities for a number of years.

Several studies have been done and more recently a Task Group of community representatives was established to identify key issues around the Shire’s aquatic facilities.

The Task Group recommended that Council develop an indoor heated pool and gymnasium for the residents of our Shire.

A feasibility study has been completed and the Council now has a proposal for a new indoor aquatic and leisure centre. Information on the proposal is outlined in this brochure and your feedback is welcomed.

Further Information and FeedbackVisit www.mountalexander.vic.gov.au to access the following documents:BrochureCommunity Feedback FormFeasibility Study Executive SummaryFeasibility Study

Hard copies of these documents are available at Shire Service Centres and key locations across the Shire.Your feedback on this proposal can be provided to Council by completing the Community Feedback Form.

Postal AddressIndoor Aquatic and Leisure Centre Mount Alexander Shire CouncilPO Box 185

Castlemaine Vic 3450

Shire Service CentresCastlemaine Town Hall25 Lyttleton StreetCastlemaine Vic 3450

Castlemaine Enterprise CentreHalford StreetCastlemaine Vic 3450

Tel: 5471 1700Fax: 5471 [email protected]

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The population of the Mount Alexander Shire is expected to increase over the next 10 to 20 years.

We will have more older people, a decline in the proportion of younger people and a stable family-aged population.

A new indoor aquatic centre will better meet the needs of a wider range of people year round. Family groups are the largest users of these types of facilities and older people are much more likely to participate in aquatic activities and programs in indoor heated pools.

Young people are attracted to these facilities to socialise and for the variety of recreational opportunities available. The centre will also meet the needs of the large number of Shire residents with disabilities.

Your feedback is welcomed!Community information sessions will be held in the following locations and will include pictures, maps and other information about the proposed centre. Council officers will be on hand to answer your questions and record your comments. Everyone is welcome to attend these sessions.

HarcourtLeisure Centre Wednesday 17th March 5pm–7pm

Newstead Rural Transaction Centre Thursday 18th March 12 noon–2.30pm

MaldonMain Street Shops Thursday 18th March 4pm–6.30pm

CastlemaineMarket Building Friday 19th March 3pm–8pm

Wesley Hill Market Saturday 20th March 9am–11am

Chewton Community Centre Monday 22nd March 12 noon–2pm

TaradaleCommunity Hall Monday 22nd March 4pm–6.30pm

Community Information Sessions

Council has been urged by

the community to explore the

development of a new indoor

aquatic and leisure centre.

This proposal shows how the

needs of the community could

be met in a new indoor aquatic

and leisure centre, where it should

be located and how much it would

cost to build and operate.

Should the development proceed,

more people will have access

to better health and recreation

services and more often. Older

people, children, young people,

families and people with disabilities

could all benefit from access to a

safe, welcoming and year round

facility.

Council’s five outdoor pools

have been important gathering

places in communities for many

years. They all require expensive

upgrades and maintenance and

are open for less than 100 days per

year. A new year round facility will

potentially attract over 130,000

visits per year, five times the

number of visits to outdoor

pools now.

The proposed facility will cater for

changing needs in the community

and build on the attractiveness of

Mount Alexander Shire as a place

to live.

A proposed aquatic and leisure centreThe proposal is for an aquatic and leisure centre located in Castlemaine at Western Reserve for all Shire residents to enjoy. Pools at Maldon and Newstead would be retained. Seasonal pools at Chewton, Harcourt and Castlemaine would be replaced by a year round, purpose-built centre.

Location

Western Reserve, on the corner of Forest and Wheeler Streets in Castlemaine would be the location for the centre. This site was assessed as the most suitable because of its high profile central location, access to services and favourable building conditions.

The proposal will include the relocation of existing reserve users to other suitable venues.

The development of an aquatic and leisure facility at Western Reserve will complement other recreation facilities in the precinct including walking paths, skate park, dirt jumps and tennis courts. The site is also adjacent to Castlemaine’s central business area and has good access to bus, train, taxi services, bike and walking paths.

Costs

Cost to build?The centre will cost in the order of $14 million to build.

Can we afford it?Council’s commitment to long term financial planning means that it is well placed to consider a project of this size. The proposal would be funded through a mix of savings held in reserves, borrowings, asset sales, allocations from the annual capital works program and grants from other levels of Government.

What would it cost to use?The proposal is to build a community aquatic and leisure centre that is accessible and affordable for people who live in the Shire. The cost to use the centre will be comparable to other similar centres in the region.

What will it cost to maintain existing pools? If the current pools are to remain, the cost to fix and maintain them over the next 5-10 years will be in the order of $6-8 million.

What would happen to other pools?

Pools in Maldon and Newstead would be retained. The seasonal pools at Chewton, Harcourt and Castlemaine would be replaced by the new facility in Castlemaine.

Council would consult with communities about the future use of the pool sites and ways of retaining good access to recreation opportunities.

Features of the proposed new centre (Option 2 of Feasibility Study)

25 metre indoor heated pool with 8 lanes learn to swim pool warm water exercise pool(not in Option 1)

gymnasium group fitness roomcafécrechechange rooms and office areacar parkinglandscaping