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.

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

The decision of Council on June 19 to go ahead with the immediate redevelopment of the Wonthaggi Aquatic and Leisure Centre, now known as the Bass Coast Aquatic and Leisure Centre, is greatly disappointing to the Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Fund Inc. (PIAC) Committee

The sixth recommendation that formed part of the motion calls for Council to consider an aquatic facility on Phillip Island in the longer term, with 15-20 years suggested as the timeframe.

This effectively means that the ground work done so far, in researching world’s best practice in pool design and energy efficiency, feasibility studies and establishing relationships, will largely be wasted. The time commitment by Colin Grey and other past and present committee members has been enormous.

PIAC President, Don Turner said, “It’s like a life sentence. Families that have been travelling from Phillip Island to Wonthaggi all these years will have to wait nearly another generation before we get our own pool.”

“The Phillip Island community deserves better than to be regarded as second class. Surrounding local government areas have been able to support multiple aquatic facilities, to the benefit of their communities. The health and lifestyle benefits of having a local facility are enormous. However, it seems that it is seen as a liability rather than a community asset.”

“Living on an island, it is vital that we all can swim confidently and competently, to be able to fully enjoy the water sports on our back doorstep. But apart from Cowes Primary School, the schools struggle to operate effective aquatic programs, due to access,” Don said.

To his credit, Cr. Phil Wright tried four times to convince Councillors that the estimated $3 million that will be required for temporary change rooms etc, to keep the Wonthaggi complex functional while the redevelopment takes place, could be saved if a Phillip Island complex was built first. Then the Wonthaggi complex could be closed for the early redevelopment.

The PIAC committee has attempted to re-invigorate the community, but has not had any good news to share with members, as possible funding sources have dried up over the past six or seven years.