Locals continue to push for Phillip Island Aquatics and Leisure Centre after Bass Coast council green lights $8m streetscape project

For more than two decades, residents have pushed for a Phillip Island aquatics centre, but its development still remains a grey area in council.

Locals have pushed for more than two decades for a Phillip Island aquatic centre, but its plans still remain a grey area in council. Picture: Bass Coast Shire Council

Phillip Island locals have been left disappointed after their council secured funding for an $8m town streetscape but plans for an aquatic centre are still being left in the dark.

It comes after Bass Coast Shire Council announced, in its masterplan, the Cowes Foreshore Precinct would be transformed into a “pedestrian-friendly” and “vibrant destination” with dining spaces extended onto the streets.

The project, which has been in the works since 2015, will connect the township with the foreshore and aims to boost the local economy.

“By linking Thompson Ave to the Esplanade, Cowes will soon offer an inviting seaside experience enriched by hospitality, retail and community spaces — all connected to our iconic foreshore,” a council spokesperson said.

However locals questioned the development of the multi-million dollar Phillip Island Aquatics and Leisure Centre which has been pushed back for more than two decades.

Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Fund secretary Peter McMahon told the Herald Sun every time the project had been taken to council it went “nowhere”.

“It’s the number one issue for every resident on the Island,” he said.

Phillip Island Aquatic and Leisure Centre concept plan, March 2022. Image: Bass Coast Shire Council.

“The council had the aquatic centre as one of the things they were going to Canberra for to try and get funding — and they changed it the last minute and went up there for the Cowes streetscape.

“They’ve been trying for 30 years to get a pool on Phillip Island.”

Mr McMahon recommended to council several years ago they should enter into a private public partnership in order to obtain more funding for the project.

“If the council don’t want to do things, they won’t — and they will go out of their way to come up with other plans — hence the streetscape,” he said.

“It is a massive, massive project — to do the whole lot, the pool, the football grounds and the change rooms, you’re more than likely looking at about $80m.

“It’s a hefty price tag, but they can start it.”

Mr McMahon added there were a lot of drownings on Phillip Island because people only had the beach to “cool off” at.

Cr Ron Bauer said it was important to have an aquatics centre on the island as there was a large community.

“It’s more than just the locals — it’s in the summer months where the population swells dramatically to nearly 100,000 — not everybody wants to go to the beaches,” Mr Bauer said.

“You can’t teach the local children to swim in the sea, we need a hydrotherapy pool and a 50m competition pool because with the way the professional sport is now, in the winter, people will come to Phillip Island which is one of our great tourist destination spots.

“It’s an all-year-round usable facility — we just hope the state and federal candidates have got their ears open and listen to what we on the island are begging for.”

Mr Bauer said in council candidate meetings the question, “where’s our pool?” was consistently asked.

The centre was set to be on the corner of Ventnor Rd and Phillip Island Rd and feature a large gym, a play tower, water slides, water-play equipment, group fitness rooms and a cafe.

A social media user took to council’s Facebook page their frustrations.

“It’s time you started listening to the residents — we want a recreational centre with a pool and oval and a dog park,” Deborah Wilson wrote.

A Life Saving Victoria (LSV) spokesperson said the organisation supported the establishment of public swimming pools as they were among the “safest environments” for people of all ages to learn to swim and enjoy water activities safely.

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“While we cannot comment specifically on the need for a pool in Phillip Island, we do know that the Bass Coast area — which includes Phillip Island — has historically recorded a high number of drownings compared to other regions in Victoria,” the spokesperson said.

“Over the past decade, there have been 32 fatal drowning incidents in the Bass Coast, where beach environments are a common setting for such incidents.”

Many of these cases involved individuals aged 25 and over who were swimming, paddling or wading, they said.

“Given the area’s record, LSV emphasises the importance of water safety and skills development in all communities across Victoria,” the spokesperson said.

Bass Coast Shire Council has been contacted for comment.