Geelong council asks state govt to scrap Armstrong Creek swim centre in favour of indoor courts

The state government has fired back at Geelong council after it called for funding pegged for an Armstrong Creek pool to be diverted to a basketball facility.

Basketball has surged in popularity in Geelong but courts are in short supply. Picture: Mark Wilson

The state government has lashed out at Geelong’s mayor a day after he called on the Premier to divert funding earmarked for an Armstrong Creek pool to a basketball facility.

Mayor Trent Sullivan wrote to Premier Jacinta Allan on Thursday saying funding pegged for a pool at Armstrong Creek, previously promised for the now cancelled Commonwealth Games, would be better spent on an indoor sports complex.

Mr Sullivan said the aquatics centre promised for Games, should not be a priority.

“Council must make decisions that are in the interests of all community members and taking on an additional swimming pool that is not needed is financially irresponsible,” Mr Sullivan wrote.

“It puts an unnecessary financial burden on current and future ratepayers.

“We request the state government work with community and council to deliver on the long-term aspiration for a regional indoor sports and events centre, similar to what is currently available in other regional cities such as Bendigo and Ballarat.’’

While Ms Allan didn’t respond to comment at the time, on Friday a government spokeswoman accused council of trying to “prosecute the matter through the media”.

“It was disappointing that, rather than speaking directly to government and working with us, the Geelong mayor has chosen to first prosecute this matter through the media,” the spokeswoman said.

“We have now received the letter and will continue the work we’ve been doing with communities across the state to deliver the new sporting facilities to regional towns, including thorough consultation with councils on their priorities – but we won’t run those consultations through the media.”

Mayor Trent Sullivan has penned a letter to the Allan government. Picture supplied.

Since the Games, planned to be held across regional cities including Geelong, were abruptly cancelled in July the state governmenthas remained tight-lipped on timelines for promised infrastructure and has released few details about planned projects.

Mr Sullivan listed five swimming pools within 20km of the Armstrong Creek centre, including three within 15km, as a key reason for the request.

The call for a basketball facility has been welcomed by community groups across the region, with Geelong United Basketballpresident Mark Neeld saying he was “very pleased” Mr Sullivan had written to the Premier.

Geelong Netball Club president Darren Helman said the he hoped netball wouldn’t “take a back seat to basketball” in the proposed facility.

“It’s important for our sport that we have a facility that we can use to host Suncorp Super Netball games and (Victorian Netball League) games and showcase the peak of our sport,” he said.

Committee for Geelong chief executive Michael Johnston urged the government to “take a breather, really reflect on what thecommunity needs and prioritise that”.

“(It’s about) making sure that the best decision is being made,” he said.

Mr Johnston said there was a “crippling shortage” of courts across the region which was stifling the growth of basketballand netball, particularly for women.
In June last year a group of state MPs has sent a scathing letter to the City of Greater Geelong (CoGG), and released it tothe Geelong Advertiser, revealing a “growing concern and lack of confidence” in the city’s ability to deliver key state-fundedprojects.

Originally published as Geelong council asks state govt to scrap Armstrong Creek swim centre in favour of indoor courts