Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Fund Inc. - Latest News - Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Fund Inc

2021-2022 AGM

11/5/2022

As the year comes to an end, it is time for an update from the Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Fund Inc committee, regarding our long-awaited swimming centre and notably about our interactions with BCSC.

After working with council on a two-pool strategy earlier this year to try to gain funding promises from the Federal and State elections, the only party that has given a funding commitment is the Victorian LNP in the State election campaign. They have promised $42million to build the Phillip Island Centre. The ALP has yet to match this promise. However, we are pleased to say that PIACF has been able to achieve what the council couldn’t in securing such a promise. Please keep this in mind when voting later this year.

Working with council has been difficult at times and who know what the future will hold. The pandemic has triggered many to evaluate where they live and we have seen a significant growth in our population in the last 2 years. One thing for sure, as the population of the Island and San Remo continues to grow, so does the need for our Aquatic Centre. The latest Census data shows we can operate and run a profitable Aquatic Centre. We have produced, and shared, a report that shows how simple changes to current design concepts by council can make an Aquatic Centre economically and environmentally sustainable.

We will be holding our AGM for 2021-22 year via an online Zoom meeting on Tuesday 29th of November 7.00pm 2022.

Anyone interested should contact Peter McMahon on pmc99110@bigpond.net.au to register your interest and obtain the zoom sign on. We are looking for a new and enthusiastic committee to tackle existing and new issues as they arise. So, if you are up for a challenge, we would love you to join us in the fight to achieve our 30-year battle. Please join us at our AGM. Should this not be possible you can always contact our Secretary Peter McMahon at pmc99110@bigpond.net.au. Or alternatively you can download a membership and nomination form from the membership page on this site.

We have not been able to conduct any major fund-raising efforts over the past few years due to COVID and we have relied on our annual membership fee of $10 per person or $30 per family to keep going. If you can continue your support, please go to:
Bendigo Bank
BSB 633000
Acct No 158796037 using your name as the reference.

Peter McMahon
Secretary/Treasurer
Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Fund Inc

Tourists before residents? Is that fair?

7/10/2022

Phillip Island is the economic power house of Bass Coast Shire and a jewel in the Victorian Tourism crown, attracting 1.7 – 2million visitors each year. Recently three significant grants have been made by the Labor State government to privately owned tourist attractions on Phillip Island. ($5.2 million for the Hot Springs at Newhaven, $1.2 million to the planned Rhyll Brewery and Distillery, and $492,000 to the Chocolate Factory) plus the a further $5 million funding for the Penguin Parade. Good Luck to them for receiving these grants but …. the community is asking why tourist needs come before those of the people that live here when the community has been demanding an Aquatic centre for 28+ years?

Until recently, surveys indicated that after improved medical services for Islanders an Aquatic Centre was the most important. Now that medical needs are better serviced, an Aquatic Centre has become Islanders’ primary concern. Repeated feasibility studies, commissioned by the Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Fund Inc (PIACF) have ALL concluded that an Aquatic Centre on Phillip Island can be justified and would bring significant benefits to the community.

Recent Census data indicates a rapid growth in population, both young families and older residents who will need greater sporting/health provision! The aged need warm water rehabilitation to maintain their independence and mobility and children need to learn to swim. We are surrounded by water but cannot train our children to swim due to a lack of infrastructure. Aquatics provide many physical and mental and social benefits. We need government investment in the health and well-being of our local community, not just tourism.

PIACF recently commissioned two reports. The first, an Aspirational Master Plan for an enlarged recreation precinct on Phillip Island, was compiled in consultation with Island sporting groups to cater for current and future requirements. Part of this development is a sustainable Aquatic/Fitness Centre. The second, outlines how such sustainability can be achieved, using technology and ‘outside the box thinking’ to reduce operational expenses, make a profit and bring sporting tourists to the Island for off-peak multi-night stays boosting the local off-peak economy. These are attached for your review and have been shared with BCSC.

BCSC is advocating for two Aquatic Centres in the Shire. A new facility for Phillip Island and an upgrade to the existing Wonthaggi pool which, although ageing, has been assessed by engineers as structurally sound for 10 years at the last report. Information suggests that an appropriately designed and built Phillip Island Aquatic Centre, able to host competitions and carnivals, could not only be economically viable but produce a surplus, which could help fund a second Shire facility in the future. Such capacity has not been evidenced in the life of the Wonthaggi pool. We would argue that any funding for Aquatics in Bass Coast Shire should be directed to Phillip Island first!

An Aquatic Centre, particularly an environmentally sustainable one (ideally using Passivhaus principles), is not cheap to build and out of the reach of BCSC, but this investment reduces operational costs dramatically, making good environmental and economic sense. Government financial support is required to build facilities to support the population of Phillip Island for the next 30+ years. That investment will be paid back in increased health and well-being, and increased visitation to the area. It is also notable that Phillip Island has a history of growing sporting champions particularly surfers and swimmers. Improved training facilities could further boost such achievements.
Our community does not understand why they have had to fight so hard and for so long for their Aquatic Centre to be built. Funding this facility will make a lasting contribution to Phillip Island and win the hearts and minds of our community, which is especially important in an election year in the marginal seat of Bass.

We urge you to fund this facility as part of your election campaign.
‘On behalf of the more than 3,000 members of Island Voice, a key stakeholder community organisation on Phillip Island, I heartily support PIACF’s request for funding for an Aquatic/Fitness facility on Phillip Island. Such a facility is the single most important missing piece of our community infrastructure. It would support all age groups to achieve improved health and well-being. It is, by far, the certainly most common request that we hear from residents and would be greatly valued by the Island community.

Dr. Linda Marston (PhD)
Hon. Secretary, Phillip Island Progress Association – Island Voice

negawatt_projects_final_report.pdf
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piacf-aspirational-presentations_to_council.pdf
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The Environmental Issues of a New Pool

4/12/2022

Given that BCSC has declared a climate emergency, the PIACF proposal to BCSC includes innovative ideas about construction and using renewables to power a high efficiency and cost-effective building.
Pool operating costs are a killer for council budgets, and indeed many existing pools are horrendous energy guzzlers due to their design. PIACF wanted to offer BCSC a proposal that would address the climate emergency and commissioned Negawatts, who specialise in efficient pool design, to create this report. We believe that our Council should be investigating every way to create highly efficient aquatic centres to deal with this emergency.

Whilst Phillip Island has ‘needed’ a pool for 30 years, we now have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build something that by using good engineering and design, will save construction and operating costs whilst being environmentally sustainable. After all this will be an asset that will be with us for many years, so it is important that climate sustainability plays an important role in the design decisions.

And those benefits will accumulate every year and every dollar saved is better for us ratepayers!

Here is a summary of the energy-efficiency component of the idea we outlined in the proposal that we asked Council to consider.

The report (can be downloaded from here) contains much more detail, but the key design elements that determine how efficient an Aquatic facility is to operate are:

Reducing glazing,
lowering the heights of buildings and
insulating at every opportunity.

Following these principles results in very low energy-use buildings, where heat can be easily recovered and reused elsewhere in the system and the cooling part of the cycle can be used to cool equipment, or other spaces as required. This results in smaller energy systems being required and allows solar systems to be utilised to almost 100% efficiency.

Using these principles, the Fit2Swim swimming centre in Maroubra in Sydney uses less energy proportionately than any other swim centre in Australia, at this time.

Advances in technology mean that councils can accurately estimate the energy consumption of these centres before they are built. Providing energy targets in the design specification means that councils can monitor the progress of projects more closely during construction.

The efficiency of an aquatic centre (indoor centre) is measured by determining the energy usage intensity (EUI-kWh/sqm/year). This compares the floor space of the centre with the annual energy consumption. Measurements show that some Australian aquatic centres are using more than 18 times the energy per square metre than the Fit2Swim facility, which contributes significantly to the high running costs of most pools. The following graph below offers some comparisons to show this.

Including clear energy goals, using EUI at the design specification phase means that more efficient aquatic centres are guaranteed with the additional advantage that they are cheaper to build and operate! Why would BCSC consider doing anything less?

Less to build and less to operate – surely that’s a win-win situation!

There is a great deal of interest from many existing pool operators to retro-fit the type of technology recommended in the Negawatts proposal not only to reduce their operational costs but also to be environmentally friendly.

PIACF believes that our new aquatic facility should aim to be between 100-200 EUI and that this should be specified in the design brief given to the architects/consultants engaged for the project.

Statement from Triathlon Victoria.

4/8/2022

We have shared statements from local sporting groups showing their need for new/increased facilities. By contrast, today we highlight how the addition of a criterium track, which can be used by bikes and runners, can value add to the aquatic development and grow a new tourist market, sporting tourism, which will have spin-offs into the local economy. Creating a training camp facility will enable parts/or all of the facility to be hired out to various groups for meets and events. This will not only help defray the costs of the facility for Council, boost the local economy and enable an 8-lane 50m pool to be built.

Whilst such events will not be held continuously, our proposal ensures that the community always has access to the facilities, by contractually retaining at least 50% of capacity at all times for the use of the local community and clubs. This far exceeds the access currently available at Wonthaggi for our swim club, water exercise classes and learn to swim.

Today we bring you statement from Triathlon Victoria.

“Triathlon Victoria is consistently seeking high- quality and integrated swim, bike, run facilities that allow for
• Training - regular weekly, full day and camp options
• Small scale events – indoor triathlon using pool, spin room and adjacent outdoor or sports hall space
• Club ‘houses’ where Triathlon Victoria can support the establishment of traditional NFP clubs or commercial squads (similar to personal training groups)

The details shared with us on the Phillip Island Aquatic, demonstrate facilities that lend themselves to multisport, and if the centre is established with the connection of swim, bike and run, there would be substantial demand from triathlon users for activities as detailed above.”

Grant Cosgriff
Executive Director, Triathlon Victoria

To support the Phillip Island Aquatic Fund and get BCSC to consider our new report, please take the time to email the following:

BCSC CEO ali.wastie@basscoast.vic.gov.au

All of the BCS Councillors allcouncillors@basscoast.vic.gov.au

State MP Jordan Crugnale Jordan.crugnale@parliament.vic.gov.au

Federal MP Russell Broadbent Russell.Broadbent.MP@aph.gov.au

Voices for Monash Candidate, Deb Leonard contact@debleonard4monash.com.au

ALP Candidate Jessica O’Donnell Jessica.odonnell@vic.alp.org.au

A non-sporting perspective

3/30/2022

Here is a typical response from a community member living on Phillip Island looking to obtain health benefits from exercising in water. It identifies how the current situation impacts their experience and their concerns about safety, the pool usage constraints that limit when such exercise can occur, the large number of people wanting to exercise in a limited lane space, the lack of a consistent warm water pool, financial and time costs of travelling to the Wonthaggi pool and the overall effect on health and well-being when it comes to the current Aquatics situation in Bass Coast Shire. We are sure that many of us feel the same issues apply to us!

‘Safety is an issue. I often feel like I'm caught in a race whilst travelling to Wonthaggi pool at 7.15am, it can be busy with tradies and workers commuting. Travelling at that time in the morning watching the sunrise should be a pleasant experience, but it's quite the reverse, you become tense and get stressed. Sitting in the car for 45 minutes each way does not do my body any favours.

You look forward to a warm pool to exercise, soothe and heal the body and mind but so often the temperature varies. Even with "warm Wednesday'' (kids & special needs) it is not a consistent temperature.

I do have concerns that pool management blocks off a lane during the aqua aerobics classes (approximately 40 attending) to cater for sometimes one lap swimmer at 8.15am twice a week.

Afterwards the body and mind are feeling fantastic. I'm happy and energised and ready to have a great day. I then spend the next 45 minutes sitting in the car arriving home approximately 3 hours after I left and a little stiff from sitting again.

If you have an injury, sometimes you can't drive at all, or spending 1hr 30mins a day driving to get relief for your injury is not ideal. I should not have to spend 1hr 30mins a day (or 4hrs 30mins three times per week) driving or travelling approx. 300kms a week or 207hrs and 13,800kms a year to exercise in a pool (based on 46 weeks).

This brings me to the cost of "wear and tear" on my vehicle and the expense of petrol.

Whilst it's nice to meet new people from around Bass Coast, I really believe it's important to socialise and interact with members of my local community. It would help me make new friends, network or just plain exercise more easily in a pool closer to home.’

Phillip Island has an ageing population who need more joint replacements, and suffer from conditions that greatly benefit from warm water exercise that eases muscles and reduces the weight impact of exercise on joints.

The PIACF proposal identifies that a dedicated warm water pool is required that can be accessed when needed. By contrast, the feasibility proposal accepted by BCSC has identified there should be a shared learn-to-swim (LTS) and hydrotherapy pool with a moveable floor. We have grave concerns regarding the reported mechanical reliability of such floors and how the difference in water temperature required by the two activities will be managed. Warming the water on a daily basis to ensure that it is warm enough for hydrotherapy and then cooling it for LTS activity seems extraordinarily inefficient, particularly if the Shire is aiming to address the self-declared climate emergency!

LET’S NOT FORGET OUR LIFE-SAVERS

Although life-savers train in the open sea, there are tremendous benefits for them to be able to access still-water training. The ability to cross-train in other facilities provided at an Aquatics facility/training centre would enable a wide range of training to occur. And let us not forget the health benefits that a warm water hydrotherapy pool could provide for injured life-savers to recover strength and functionality.

This is a letter we received from a life member of the Woolamai Beach Surf Life Saving Club. It identifies the importance of upgrading facilities to retain the enormous talent that we have amongst our young people and keeping the trained life-savers that protect us and visitors safe on our beaches every year. Without them, so many more would perish and we are all grateful for the service that they provide our community.

‘The Woolamai Beach SLSC as you know has long been patrolling the beaches of Phillip Island since the mid 1950’s. The WBSLSC provides not only an essential patrol and rescue service to the Island. We conduct thousands of hours or training and education for our members, schools, public, nippers, athletes, special interest groups, masters groups (gerries), special events and much more, such as walkers, road racers, mountain bikers, ocean paddlers, swimmers, racing mals, running, sprint etc.

The proposal of the Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Fund with additional facilities, would be eagerly supported by the WBSLSC and the many programs and services we conduct would be greatly enhanced.

Whilst the surf environment provides an excellent training ground for emergency training and operation, a controlled environment with accommodation and training facilities would elevate the range of programs on offer to the highest level.

• Our members and those we serve have a choice of where they spend their recreation, sporting, leisure and volunteer time.
• Phillip Island has natural attractions to support continued attendance by all groups involved.
• However, without the continued growth of infrastructure and modern facilities, like the proposed Aquatic Centre, it will be increasingly difficult to retain interest in returning to Phillip Island.

As the Woolamai Beach SLSC evolves and grows with many events and services (Bass Coast series, patrols, nippers, lifeguards, jet ski patrols etc), so too must the training and education facilities to not only retain existing users but attract those in the coming years for the future of Phillip Island and the Bass Coast.

Whilst the Penguin Parade and excellent service of the PINP continue to dominate national and international attention, it is the total package of the island that keeps people returning and living here.

• The existing generation of athletes and their families are drawn to NSW and QLD due to the amazing facilities they have access to.

• This idea is what we can do at Phillip Island to attract people throughout the year. Not just the summer months or dusk at Summerland beach.

We welcome any further request for input into this vital facility for all residents and visitors now and future.’

Of all the people that responded to the recent BCSC community consultation it is difficult to identify which of the proposed Wonthaggi or Phillip Island Aquatic centre received the most support, however feedback within the Phillip Island and San Remo Community there is a tremendous level of support for Phillip Island’s Aquatic Centre, but then there has been for nearly 30 years!

To download the PIACF’s alternative proposal, see report below:

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Phillip Island Swim Club Statement

3/27/2022

The front page of the PI Advertiser from 23/3/22 quoted a report accepted by BCSC, identifying that certain local sports clubs on Phillip Island (e.g. Basketball and Soccer) are currently well-catered for and will not need extra facilities in the next 5 years. The implication could be that there is little need to develop much in the way of sporting facilities in the short term. This is definitely not true!

We have already shared a statement from the PI Football and Netball club regarding how difficult it is to provide adequate training time for all 700 of their members.

We must emphasise that we are pleased that some groups are lucky enough to be well catered for currently and for the next 5 years…. but this is not the situation for all clubs! And that especially applies to an aquatics facility, which has been ‘needed’ for 30 years.

Today we share some feedback on the situation from the swim club president and coach. As you can see the club is at capacity and has to turn swimmers away due to limited access to lanes at the Wonthaggi pool.

“Phillip Island Swim Club is a community-based club with approximately 75 members. We currently train three times a week at a centre 40 minutes away.

During these sessions we are allocated two to three lanes as we are sharing the pool with other aquatic activities taking place. With Phillip Island’s recent growth in population, our club has had a significant increase in enquiries to join the club.

Unfortunately, due to the limited lane space we are having to turn these swimmers away as we simply cannot access any more sessions or lanes. With an aquatic centre on Phillip Island our club could potentially double in size and keep those that live surrounded by water safer in the water.”
**Lucy Gallyot, President Phillip Island Swim Club

“I have been a coach with Phillip Island Swim Club for over 15 years. Phillip Island swim club is a vital part of the Phillip Island community; however, its growth has been continually hampered by two long-term barriers. These barriers are the constant issue of travel times for families and children. It is at least 40 plus minutes travel time to and from Wonthaggi for training each week or even twice a week for some families.

The other barrier is lane space. Phillip Island swim club is not only restricted to the nights that it can train, but also the number of lanes available in the pool. If we had our own facility on Phillip Island, more training mornings and nights would be available and therefore open up more opportunities for growth and development. I believe that if the Wonthaggi facility is built first these barriers will continue to remain in place.”
**Diddy Cuthbertson, Swim Coach Phillip Island Swim Club

To support the Phillip Island Aquatic Fund and get BCSC to consider our new report, please take the time to email the following:

BCSC CEO ali.wastie@basscoast.vic.gov.au

All of the Councillors allcouncillors@basscoast.vic.gov.au

State MP Jordan Crugnale Jordan.crugnale@parliament.vic.gov.au

Federal MP Russell Broadbent Russell.Broadbent.MP@aph.gov.au

Voices for Monash Candidate Deb Leonard contact@debleonard4monash.com.au

ALP Candidate Jessica O’Donnell Jessica.odonnell@vic.alp.org.au

Are Phillip Island sports clubs well catered for right now?

3/24/2022

Here is a different perspective on some of the comments made in a report accepted by BCSC and quoted in this week’s Phillip Island Advertiser (p.1 and 11) regarding the adequate provision of sporting facilities on Phillip Island. Certain local sports clubs (e.g. Basketball and Soccer) do not need extra facilities in the next 5 years, as they are currently well-catered for. In contrast, we have had statements from a number of other sports groups that indicate that they do have a need for improved facilities as soon as possible. We will be posting these over the next few days.

We are pleased to hear that some groups are well catered for currently and for the next few years as that will enable BCSC to schedule the development of facilities in the new recreational area according to need. Starting with Aquatics which has been ‘needed’ for 30 years.

Here is the first of these statements from the Phillip Island Football Netball Club.

“Our club is absolutely bursting at the seams with players/ members and volunteers and have very quickly outgrown our existing facilities. We have over 700 playing members throughout our football/ netball/ Auskick and Net Set Go.

A breakdown of the numbers approximately 150 footballers, 100 netballers all play on Saturday. On every Sunday we have 2 sides in our under 10, 12, 14. We then have our girls play also which equates to 180. Our numbers are so high we send 3 teams of netball to Cranbourne to play each week (50 girls). We are starting up an over 35s this year and already have approx. 35 players signed up. Then with Auskick we have approx 200 young boys and girls, and lots of young NSG.

The club desperately needs another playing oval, with lights, so we can schedule training nights for them all. We seriously struggle to give all our players a decent amount of time to train with the one oval; our senior footballers generally start pre-season in December and find it extremely hard as the cricket club have control of THE oval. Our junior footballers start their pre-season in late January and suffer the same access to the oval. Our season runs from early April to mid-September.

I couldn’t think of a better training facility than an aquatic centre. In a sporting hub, our players would be able to take advantage of doing swimming and weights sessions instead of slugging it out on wet and muddy ovals in the extremely cold winters we are famous for.”

Chris Ross, President,
Phillip Island Football Netball Club

Negawatt Projects Final Report

3/16/2022

Please see below the report produced by Negawatt Projects regarding a solution for an Aquatic and Recreation Centre for Phillip Island. This has been presented to council and is truly aspirational. Please share far and wide and offer support for what would be an incredible addition to Phillip Island.

negawatt_projects_final_report.pdf
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AGM 20/21

2/4/2022

WE NEED YOUR HELP

The Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Fund Inc must hold an AGM for 2020-21, this has been delayed because of COVID19. We have until the end of February to report to Government.
We have our best chance yet to have the centre started with the joint funding Advocacy Strategy that Council is putting together at present.

We are currently investigating other opportunities to help with funding ideas, more will be explained at our AGM.

We have had a document produced, outlining a different approach for us to obtain an Aquatic Centre. We plan to outline the present the document at our AGM for all to see and ask questions.
If you want to know what you can do to help, please sign up as a member with $10.00 yearly donation.

For us to continue we need members and committee members. If you feel you are up to the challenge, please contact me ASAP.

Our AGM will be conducted via Zoom, on Tuesday the 22nd of February at 7.00pm. All participants will need to register to be given the meeting details.

Again, please contact if you would like to join our dedicated team to fulfill our communities long fort battle to build an Aquatic Centre on the Island.

My contact details are:
Peter McMahon
0418 533 256
pmc99110@bigpond.net.au

Updated community drop in session times

6/17/2021

After a challenging few weeks, the final dates for the community drop-in sessions on the Bass Coast and Phillip Island aquatic and leisure centre feasibility studies and concept plans have been determined.

There are four drop-in sessions planned – two at the Phillip Island Leisure Centre and two at the Bass Coast Aquatic and Leisure Centre, as follows.

Wonthaggi - Bass Coast Aquatic and Leisure Centre, 41 Wentworth Road

Saturday, 19 June: 9.00am to 1.00pm
Wednesday, 30 June: 9.00am to 1.00pm

Cowes - Phillip Island Leisure Centre, 10-12 Church Street

Wednesday, 23 June 9.00am to 1.00pm
Saturday, 26 June 9.00am to 1.00pm

You can also have your say by filling out a survey at www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/aquatics or provide a written submission to aquatics@basscoast.vic.gov.au.

Due to the ongoing postponements and alterations to the sessions, we have extended the consultation period from Sunday 27th June to Sunday 4th July.

Kind regards,

Jarvis Weston
senior project manager
Bass Coast Shire Council