The crippling effects of COVID restrictions on our tourist-based economy, are evident by the empty shops in town, increased homelessness, and greater reliance of the PICAL Foodbank.
It is obvious that the process of building a modern, state of the art Aquatic Centre will directly stimulate the economy during the construction phase, and with new employment opportunities both in operational and in health and well-being roles. 

What is less obvious, is that the presence of a new Aquatic facility will provide a platform to rebuild existing businesses, and grow new ones, based on multi-day visitation for swim carnivals and training camps using the extensive range of accommodation, dining and other attractions that Phillip Island has to offer. One thing that COVID has made us aware of, is that we must diversify our tourist offerings and focus on the domestic market rather than international tourists. Having a modern aquatic facility can give us such a focus and provide that positive shot in the arm, that is much needed after the huge adverse impact COVID restrictions have had across most of our local businesses.

We are all feeling social isolation at this time, the lack of physically being with our friends and families pulls at us all. We know that providing social interaction and varied exercise is important for mental and physical health and well-being for all of our community. Whilst it is very important for the young need to be able to enjoy play and sport with their friends, we should not underestimate the importance of the opportunity for our senior citizens to engage in safe group activities, especially after feeling so vulnerable during the pandemic. An Aquatic Centre will provide the means to do this.

With the development of the new Junior High School and expansion at the Star of the Sea, there is likely to be an increase in younger families being drawn to the area, especially now it has been clearly established that people can work remotely. This will mean an increase in the numbers of children on Phillip Island and surrounds. We need to cater for this so that we can provide basic water safety classes for children as mandated by the State government. Currently, there is simply not the capacity to do so on Bass Coast Shire. For children who live on an Island, not being able to swim can be life threatening. Having a pool on Phillip Island will address this and result in more confident children, who may even become our future life-savers.

Perhaps the most important aspect of building a swimming pool on Phillip Island will be creating a positive mindset for the future. After all, Islanders will be seeing a dream fulfilled that has been identified as the most desired improvement on Phillip Island by the residents for nearly a quarter of a century.

Why not become a member and hear more of our ideas at our upcoming Virtual AGM on the 6th October.

Bass Coast Shire Council has agreed that there will soon be two aquatic centres in the Shire – one to replace the ageing Bass Coast Aquatic and Leisure Centre at Wonthaggi, and a new one on Phillip Island.

Council has hired a consultant to estimate the operating costs of the two centres for the next decade. It is anticipated tenders will be invited for architects to draw up detailed design plans early in 2021. The goal is to have plans “shovel-ready”, prior to the next state and federal election cycle. Infrastructure funding is seen as important to a post-COVID economic recovery.

The Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Fund Inc. has been working with Council to identify the aquatic elements the community will need, to create a facility that we have been working toward for a quarter of a century.

We have had talks with Phillip Island sporting and recreation clubs, swim clubs, schools and community members, as well as operators in the tourism and accommodation spheres (school camps included), to identify potential patronage of the facility.

Given that Council has declared we are in a climate emergency, it is vital that the new Council looks beyond architects who may promote an off-the-shelf design. It is imperative that sustainable and renewable energy sources are utilised, which will have the long-term benefit of reducing operating costs. Our research into renewable energy has taken into account the energy required to heat the pool water, and generally operate the aquatic facility, but to also provide energy to run the future sporting and recreational facilities that will be co-located with the centre.

The group Totally Renewable Phillip Island, has a goal to create Phillip Island into a carbon-neutral island in the near future. Our research shows that extensive installation of PV solar panels, perhaps coupled with geo-thermal and heat exchange technologies, may be the solution to the high energy needs of such a facility. It may eventuate that there is an opportunity to harness energy from a future Phillip Island waste transfer station, thus keeping the operating cost of that facility to a minimum for ratepayers.

Our aspirational design for the centre includes a lap pool that is 8 lanes wide to cater for swimming carnivals, as well as club, school and recreational swimmers, a learn-to-swim pool, a warm water exercise pool suitable for the hydrotherapy needs of our ageing community and a toddlers play pool. The warm water exercise pool will be constant depth and temperature 7-days-a-week. This has the capacity to significantly enhance the health and well-being resources of Phillip Island.

Apart from being co-located with other sporting and recreational facilities in the long term, the aquatic centre surrounds will ideally link with the Shire’s recreational shared pathways network. An off-leash dog exercise facility is an easy inclusion.

The site in chosen is at the gateway to Cowes. Ample car-parking spaces will enable people to drive to the precinct, then use active transport – walking and cycling, or buses to move to the shopping precinct, instead of relying on private cars. Again, this is in line with the Totally Renewable Phillip Island and climate emergency principles.

This is an exciting opportunity to embrace world-best-practice in aquatic design and renewable energy use to provide a facility that meets the current and future needs of our community.
 
Why not become a member and hear more of our ideas at our upcoming Virtual AGM on the 6th October.

As Islanders know, the Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Fund (PIACF) has been advocating for an Aquatic Centre for Phillip Island for a quarter of a century.

Going into this LGA election, we believe that the BCSC has secured the land for this project, a major milestone in this project and must be celebrated. We have also heard that a firm has been employed to develop two sets of plans for two Aquatic Centres, one to be built in Wonthaggi and one on Phillip Island.

The Bass Coast Shire population is scheduled to grow across the Shire, with both the Phillip Island and Wonthaggi population forecast to double in the 15 years from 2015-2030. In an ideal world, BCSC would build two equivalent ‘50m sister pools’ in the Shire, helping heal any ‘Us/Them’ divide that exists in the Shire. Whether this is possible, we don’t know but it would be a wonderful outcome for the community and a great example of equity for all residents and ratepayers. Even the building of two equivalent 25m pools, designed to be extended to 50m if finances allow, is desirable. Economic modelling leads PIACF to believe that a 50m Aquatic Centre will pay its way on Phillip Island, plus provide a huge boost for tourism in the Shire and its economy.

Phillip Island has a huge amount of accommodation available, meaning that a Phillip Island pool can be marketed for multi-day training camps and carnivals. The draw-card of holding such events in a tourist destination appears to be very strong with the committee already approached about these, even though we have no pool! There is also a seasonal demand from tourists and school camps (estimated at 40 – 50,000 people p.a.) that could be tapped into on the Island. These factors lead PIACF to strongly advocate for a 50m pool for Phillip Island.

When building two Aquatic centres, PIACF believes that the order in which they are built is very important. If Wonthaggi is built first, all those who currently use the centre will not be able to swim/exercise/learn to swim for some 18-24 months. By contrast, if a new centre is built on Phillip Island first, then current users can still swim/exercise/learn to swim, by traveling to the Island as Phillip Island residents currently do.

Will the candidates running for this year’s LGA election continue with the historic behaviour or will they change the course of history and make the decision to build two 50m pools centre and build the first Aquatic Centre on Phillip Island?    

Growing tourism is critical for Bass Coast Shire to blossom post-COVID; a Phillip Island pool will move us in the right direction!

Why not become a member and hear more of our ideals at our upcoming Virtual AGM on the 6th October, just go to our web site www.piac.org.au