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JANUARY 19, 2021 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
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$52m sports plan By Benjamin Millar Moorabool council has unveiled ambitious plans to transform sports and leisure activity in the area with the new Moorabool Aquatic and Recreation Centre. To be built on a vacant 3.8 hectare site in Taverner Street at an estimated $52 million cost, the centre will be anchored by a $31 million indoor aquatic centre, a $14 million four-court indoor sports stadium and a $7 million regional bowls facility with three new bowling greens. The centre is expected to create more than 200 direct and indirect jobs during construction and generate more than $100 million in economic activity during the life of the project. Council has earmarked $20 million of its own funds for the project, with plans to seek the shortfall from state and federal governments and other sources.
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needed to meet growing demand in the region
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- Project prospectus Planning documents for the centre were publicly advertised online on December 24. The Bacchus Marsh Aquatic Centre Community Consortium Inc, a community group established to advocate and raise funds for the facility, is aiming to contribute $1 million. A project prospectus states that the council is seeking to partner with the state and federal governments to make the “game-changing“ sports and recreation precinct a reality. “With Moorabool Shire’s population forecast to double in the next 20 years, an indoor stadium is needed to meet growing demand in the region for competitive sports venues,” the prospectus states. The document states that the Bacchus Marsh Leisure Centre – currently the only indoor facility in Moorabool – is already at capacity with no further options to grow indoor sports. It also notes that unlike similar-sized towns in Victoria, Bacchus Marsh does not have an indoor aquatic facility. “The existing outdoor pool was built in the 1930s,” it states. “This project will upgrade the pool to a year-round multi-purpose recreation centre, featuring aquatic, health, fitness and leisure facilities to meet community and visitor needs.” The merger between the Bacchus Marsh Bowling Club and Avenue Bowling Club is seen to provide
Architectural designs for the new Moorabool Aquatic and Recreation Centre. (Supplied) an opportunity for the clubs to come together in a modern purpose-built facility. A planning report on the proposal indicates it would be completed in a series of key stages. Stage one includes the basketball stadium, change rooms, a function room, administration spaces, and a group fitness and function room.
Stage two features the pool hall and change rooms and plant rooms, a foyer with reception and café, administration spaces, and a gym with additional group fitness rooms and change rooms. Stage three involves the development of a stand-alone lawn bowls facility, incorporating a club room and dining room, a kitchen, a bar, an admin
space and a meeting room, a bowls shop, a tea-room and kitchenette, change rooms, and outdoor courts. A timeline for construction of the centre will be determined by future budget allocations and availability of state and federal funding. ■ Big
plans for Taverner Street: Page 6
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