Super splash

By Russell Bennett
MOUNT Evelyn has failed in its bid for a swimming pool – but a $25 million super pool may be just a stone’s throw away.
The Yarra Ranges Regional Aquatic and Leisure Centre will be built at Lilydale’s Swinburne University campus following unanimous support from councillors at last week’s Yarra Ranges Council meeting.
But Billanook Ward councillor Tim Heenan acknowledged the new centre was likely to force the closure of two other shire swimming centres, Lilydale Outdoor Pool and Kilsyth Centenary Pool.
“Shutting down pools is very contentious in the ranges, but we just don’t have many that are feasible,” he said.
Cr Heenan said there had been a long held view by local traders groups that Mount Evelyn needed a pool.
“But I don’t hold the view we should have one in each suburb,” he said.
“It just wouldn’t be feasible.”
Cr Heenan was excited about the prospect of having a regional swimming centre within five kilometres of Mount Evelyn and added: “Decisions we make as councillors should always be based on the best positions for a regional facility.”
A council report commented that “over the past five years the existing Kilsyth and Lilydale aquatic facilities have reported increasing operational losses and declining usage, which will continue as the facilities age and no longer meet community need.”
Yarra Ranges Council estimated over the next 10 years Lilydale Outdoor Pool would cost more than $950,000 to maintain while Kilsyth Centenary Pool would cost more than $7.7 million.
The new aquatic centre will contain a 25m, eight lane competition pool, as well as leisure and splash pools.
Weights rooms, a gym area, a rock climbing wall, café and childcare facilities will also be included.
The council will provide more than $16.5 million for the centre from its capital expenditure program.
The remaining money will come from Swinburne University, the state and federal governments and a mix of community and commercial fundraising.
Yarra Ranges mayor Len Cox said the council was “very hopeful” the State Government would chip in more than the $2.5 million it has already committed.
“James Merlino (Monbulk MP) has been very helpful, but we’d certainly be hoping for even more help, given it would be a centre for the entire region,” Cr Cox said.
Yarra Ranges Council estimated the project would take three years to complete.