THE new aquatic centre in Mordialloc has got the green light to go ahead. Kingston Council has confirmed that the planning permit application for the new aquatic centre has been approved. After it appoints a construction contractor, building will begin.
The pool is expected to be operational in 2026. The land at 1-7 Wells Road, across from Jack Grut Reserve, cost council $14.6 million. The project is expected to cost nearly $80 million, with the federal government putting in $20 million and the rest covered by Kingston ratepayers.
Kingston mayor Jenna Davey-Burns said that council expects the new centre to have around 400,000 visitors annually. “This is a huge project for our Kingston community and it’s great that we can keep ticking off these key steps. Next is finalising the design and locking in our builder,” she said.
“This new centre is another way we are supporting the health and wellbeing of our community and it will be an asset for people of all ages and interests. From learning to swim, building strength in the gym, and elite level swim training, to warm water exercise and rehabilitation – it will have it all. I can’t wait for our concept to soon become a thriving hub of conversation, connection, laughter, fun, learning, and a heap of splashing.”
The finished project is expected to feature a 50-metre lap pool, learn to swim pool, warm water exercise pool, leisure pool, gym, spa, sauna, and cafe.
The new aquatic centre will replace the Don Tatnell Leisure Centre in Parkdale. The Parkdale pool permanently closed due to structural issues in 2020 (“Pool demolition scheduled for next year” The News 20/12/22).
The new pool was initially costed at between $40 million and $50 million in a 2021 report. A detailed business case completed in 2023 projected the actual cost of the new aquatic centre at around $79.2 million, with most of council’s contribution to be funded using borrowings (“Big borrowings will fund pool project” The News 10/5/23).
Kingston councillor Tim Cochrane said the pool spending will be “a major investment in the future health and wellbeing of our community.” “Major projects of this scale and value to our community are really uplifting to be involved in and it’s been great to have so many people providing input and along for the ride. The feedback we have received throughout from the community has been instrumental in the informing what will be in this centre and the design,” he said.
For more information visit kingston.vic.gov.au/new-centre
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 27th March 2024