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
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
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