THE Pines Forest Aquatic Centre has had its busiest January in recent history.
The popular Pines pool was visited by 10,699 people last month, up 57 per cent from the same time last year. It is the centre’s largest January attendance since Peninsula Leisure started managing it.
Frankston Council, which owns Peninsula Leisure, has earmarked a major expansion of the Pines pool as one of its key advocacy priorities heading into the state and federal elections this year. It is hoping to get funding for a $31 million redevelopment of the centre.
Frankston mayor Nathan Conroy said that the rising attendance showed the “significant demand to develop an improved facility with new and improved outdoor swimming, health, fitness and recreation experiences for local families and the broader south east Melbourne region.”
“The Pines Forest Aquatic Centre is an incredibly popular facility and gets an average of about 30,000 visitors a year. This is a particularly impressive figure given it’s an outdoor pool open from November until March. It’s quite the icon and has serviced the Frankston City and broader regional community well for over 40 years,” he said. “In the lead up to this year’s federal and state elections, council is advocating on behalf of the community for federal and state government funding to transform the existing Pines Forest Aquatic Centre located at Monterey Reserve in Frankston North through an estimated $31 million redevelopment.”
A master plan approved for the centre reveals potential future upgrades. They include a new eight lane 50 metre lap pool with a dividable pop-up swim wall and access ramp, a toddler pool, a play area with waterslides, a “learn to swim” pool, outdoor exercise equipment, a spectator terrace and shade area for school swimming carnivals, and an upgraded playground, barbeques and amenities.
Council has committed $10.3 million to the upgrade. It hopes to receive state and federal support to begin construction sometime in 2024/25.
Peninsula Leisure Chair, Julie Busch, said the proposed development “will enhance this ever-popular facility, and we are excited for the local Frankston municipality to enjoy this gem of a pool.”
