Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Fund Inc.
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Clarifying some concerns currently being circulated within the community

6/11/2014

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Where is the equity in Council’s approach to the provision of Aquatic Centres in Bass Coast Shire?
No doubt Phillip Island ratepayers will be aware of Bass Coast Shire Council’s recent resolution to proceed with the upgrade of the Wonthaggi Aquatic Centre at an estimated total cost of $14.5 million (in a two stage process).  No doubt ratepayers will also be aware that, at the same Council Meeting, the Council also resolved that an Aquatic Centre was also justified for Phillip Island, at an estimated total cost of $10.7 million (in an, as yet to be determined, multi staged process).

For the Phillip Island Aquatic Centre, Council resolved that the Phillip Island community would be required to raise 50% of the funds to pay for the costs of each of the stages, and all funds raised had to be in cash.  That is, no in-kind donations e.g. no discounted earthworks, nor voluntary labour, could be counted in the 50%.

For the upgrade of the Wonthaggi Aquatic Centre, no such 50% funding requirement was placed on the Wonthaggi (and surrounding) area.  On face value, that seems to be an inequitable treatment of the Phillip Island community. That different approach seemed to be based on the Council’s presumption that no contributions to funding were required for the redevelopment because Wonthaggi residents had built the existing Aquatic Centre solely from community funds.

But, the Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Fund Incorporated has recently exhaustively researched documents and newspaper reports relating to the building of the existing Wonthaggi Aquatic Centre and found that Council’s presumption is seriously flawed. 

The existing Wonthaggi Aquatic Centre was started to be built in 1978 at a total cost of $475,000 (which translates to $2.4 million in 2014 dollars).  That cost in 1978 was funded by a mix of voluntary labour, State government funds and fundraising by the then Borough of Wonthaggi, Shire of Phillip Island and Woolamai, Shire of Bass and parts of the City of Cranbourne, Shires of Korumburra and Woorayl.    That is, the State government, voluntary labour and all Boroughs in the current Shire made contributions to funding the Aquatic Centre; the Borough of Wonthaggi did not do it alone.
Phillip Island currently contributes 48% of all rate revenue in the Shire.  And since Council amalgamations in 1994 has contributed more than its population share to funding the operating deficit of the existing Aquatic Centre (currently running at a massive $391,000 per year).  And, through its rates, Phillip Island will also significantly contribute to the costs of the redevelopment.

If Council desired to treat the Phillip Island community equally with the Wonthaggi (and surrounding) area, it would require the Wonthaggi area to also raise 50% of the staged costs of the redevelopment of the existing Wonthaggi Aquatic Centre – that is an amount of $7.2 million.  Being very generous, that amount could be discounted by the $2.4 million present day cost of the existing Aquatic Centre, i.e. a net $4.8 million would be required to be raised locally - by a similar fund to that which Council has insisted that the Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Fund set up.  That treatment would be very generous to Wonthaggi residents, given that they did not raise all the original $475,000 alone.   
We are at a loss to understand how the logic of the above argument is not obvious even to Bass Coast Shire Councillors. 

The current proposal by the Shire would see Phillip Island ratepayers and residents funding – through the $5.3 million Phillip Island Aquatic Centre funding target set by the Shire and through its rates - $13.5 million of the $25.3 million total cost of the two Aquatic Centres (that is 53.3%).  The balance of funding is proposed to be provided by anticipated State government funds of $3.0 million (11.9%) and Wonthaggi and the rest of the Shire funding only $8.8 million (34.8%) through rates only.  Councillors need to explain to all ratepayers of Bass Coast Shire how that is fair. 

We also wish to say, at this stage we believe we can work with Council to bring about a better outcome than that that has been proposed. Currently neither Centre, has a detailed and comprehensive set of plans or costing and feel, it appropriate once they are designed, all ratepayers should have the opportunity to accept and acknowledge their approval.

The fund has many questions that we wish to raise with Council and look forward to having the opportunity to clarify them during the next twelve months.

Peter McMahon
Secretary P.I.A.C.F. Inc.
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Council has passed the Motion committing to provide an aquatic centre on Phillip Island

5/24/2014

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The Aquatic Centre Fund Committee is very pleased that the Council has passed the Motion committing to provide an aquatic centre on Phillip Island. However, we are concerned about some of the conditions attached to the commitment. The requirement to raise 50% of the project cost through fundraising, government grants, community grants and private donations is a big ask, but the community support is huge and growing. We also have an active committee, and we feel we are up to the task.

We often hear the question, “Where is the money we raised all those years ago?” There is a financial statement on this webpage, that details income and expenditure since the Committee was formed. The money for the bricks is in the bank! Feasibility studies and engineering consultants have over time accounted for much of the expenditure, and we currently hold a balance of around $70,000

Our Committee has had no discussion with the Stand Alone people. Our focus is to achieve our goal of an aquatic centre on Phillip Island, by working with Bass Coast Shire Council. Similarly, we will work at raising funds from federal and state governments, whichever major party is in power. Privately, our committee members and fund members are free to support Stand Alone if they wish. Having said that, we acknowledge that the Stand Alone group lists the lack of an aquatic centre as one of their concerns.

The following is the motion approved by Council


Alternative Motion

Item E.7 Aquatic Facilities Feasibility Study

Recommendation:-

1.       Notes that the Feasibility Study for the viability of two aquatic centres in Bass Coast has been completed.

2.       Commit to providing an aquatic centre on Phillip Island subject to the following;

·         Undertaking further work to determine the suitable location for the Phillip Island Centre.

·         Undertaking further work to determine the most appropriate first stage of construction of the Phillip Island Aquatic Centre by June 2015.

·         Continues to meet with the Phillip Island Working Group on a quarterly basis.

·         Council funding required to determine the most appropriate first stage, and design for construction of the first stage, is considered as part of the 2015/2016 budget.

·         Funding is obtained to the value of at least 50% of the cost of the first stage of construction through community fundraising and/or government grants. Community fundraising must take the form of cash funds.

·         Further stages of development of the Phillip Island Aquatic Centre will require the community to achieve a fund raising target of equivalent to 50% of the cost of the project. Community fundraising must take the form of cash funds.

3.       Notes that a report will be presented to the June Council meeting regarding the development of the Crown Allotment 79 master plan.

4.       Commit to the redevelopment of the Bass Coast Aquatic and Leisure Centre subject to the following;

·         The first stage of work will include providing a new 10 lane 25 meter pool and upgrading of the toilets, change rooms, providing a cafe, crèche and improved parking.

·         Further stages of development of the centre are to be determined as part of the design process currently being undertaken for the centre.

5.       Refers the funding for improved aquatic facilities in Bass Coast for consideration as part of the development of a long term financial plan during the 2014/2015 financial year.

6.       Begins to advocate to the state and federal governments for the funding required to develop two aquatic facilities in the municipality.

7.       Notes that Council’s current Strategic Resource Plan does not provide any allocation of funding for improved aquatic facilities in Bass Coast.

Carried by six to one (Neil)

Council ordinary meeting 21st May 2014

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Power to the people!!

2/3/2014

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Supporters of a pool for Phillip Island, we need you to do three things for us please :)

1 - If you haven't already filled out the petition slip that was in the Phillip Island advertiser last year or completed the online version, please do - it only takes a second https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PhillipIslandPool

2 - The post below this one has a letter written by us that we would like sent to Bass Coast Shire Council. All you need to do is add your details at the bottom and click send. You can do this as well as the petition above. (This option now closed)

3 - Please share our Facebook page link on your Facebook page so we can increase awareness of our cause and keep the community up to date. https://www.facebook.com/PhillipIslandAquaticCentre
You can simply cut and paste this link.

Thank you!

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Request to send letter of support for an Aquatic Centre on Phillip Island by Feb 20, 2013 - letter below, just add details and send

2/1/2014

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Thank you for everyone's submissions - the opportunity has now closed.
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To All Ratepayers in Bass Coast Shire

1/22/2014

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You may or maybe not be aware that Council decided to conduct another feasibility study to ascertain whether they should build TWO Aquatic Centres in the Shire.

This is to be conducted by a consultant and should clarify the possibility of rebuilding the existing Bass Coast Centre in Wonthaggi and also a new centre on Phillip Island.

The feasibility study is to gauge your support for an additional charge on your rates.

The Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Fund would like you to consider two issues before giving your response.

Firstly, as Phillip Island is the biggest contributor to Rates and Tourism to Council and the State and Federal governments, why can’t we have an Aquatic Centre on the Island?

We have been trying for 22 years to provide a centre to teach children to swim, and we also want to provide the elderly and physically disabled the potential health benefits of Hydrotherapy facilities.

Secondly, during our 22 years of voluntary committees coupled with many feasibility studies, Council has not been prepared to consider how a joint funding or partnership arrangement could achieve our goal.

Any additional charge on rates will not fund these centres in full; the charge will go into a combined fund consisting of State and Federal funding along with any additional money that can be sourced.

Councillor Rankine asked last year how committed Phillip Island people were to the centre so “The Advertiser” ran a survey in July 2013.

The results are 99.9% of replies in the positive, to build a centre NOW, not as Council wants in 10 – 20 years.

All we are looking for is a committed Council to agree to build a Phillip Island Aquatic centre in the short term.

Once we have this commitment we can start fulfilling our goals of assisting the many children, elderly and physically disabled to achieve better HEALTH outcomes, not just in Wonthaggi but for the entire BASS COAST REGION.

Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Fund Inc.

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Council Decision re Aquatic Facilities for Bass Coast

6/20/2013

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Last night the Bass Coast Shire Council voted to support the six recommendations listed below. Voting for the motion were Crs. Le Serve, Drew, Rankine and Crugnale. Voting against were Crs Wright, Phillips and Brown.

Cr. Wright had moved an amendment, being the last three recommendations. He argued that if a pool was built first on Phillip Island, then $3M could be saved by closing the Wonthaggi Centre while it was being rebuilt. He tried four times to convince Councillors that this money could be saved. The amendment was lost.

The sixth recommendation makes a pool on the Cowes Recreation Land a long way into the future.


Recommendation

That Council:

1. Rename the Wonthaggi Aquatic and Leisure Centre the Bass Coast Aquatic and Leisure Centre.

2. Proceed with the detailed design for the aquatic facilities located at the Bass Coast Aquatic and Leisure Centre paying particular attention to how the facility would be staged and funded over a number of years.

3. Adopt the Swimming Australia recommendation that the design of the Bass Coast Aquatic facilities include a 10 lane 25metres pool.

4. Investigate short term options to improve access to existing facilities and the potential for improved facilities on Phillip Island in the medium term including investigating;

-the potential to incorporate hydrotherapy at the proposed Integrated Primary Health Care Centre or at the Cowes Leisure Centre

-options to utilise the Cowes Primary school pool

-improving public transport to provide access to the Bass Coast Aquatic Centre

-the potential to access existing private facilities on Phillip Island

5. Establish a working group to assist with the investigations identified above comprising of;

Councillors

Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Fund Committee

Phillip Island Swim Club

Health Service Providers

YMCA

Education Department

Council Officers (providing administrative support)

6. Consider the development of an additional aquatic facility in Bass Coast in the longer term (15-20 years) at the recently purchased Cowes Recreation land (formerly Crown Allotment 79)

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