WTF: Seeking a spa, the doors, need for leads

Bellarine residents are in disbelief that the $40m second stage of the North Bellarine Aquatic Centre won’t include a spa or sauna.

WTF

They’re the little – and sometimes not so little – things that can really irk us … and they’re back! A new slot, on a new page with the same old problems that have us all saying, woah, that’s frustrating!

SEEKING A SPA

There’ll be none of this at the North Bellarine Aquatic Centre. Or at least, not anytime soon.

First they were there, then they weren’t, and now many are wondering why.

WTF has been contacted by several upset Bellarine residents who are in disbelief that the $40m second stage of the North Bellarine Aquatic Centre won’t include a spa or sauna.

Especially so since the initial plans featured both, plus a steam room.

“A spa, sauna and steam room would particularly support the health and wellbeing of senior residents and people with disabilities,” the plans rightly reasoned at the time.

“This service is not available at the indoor centre in Ocean Grove.”

Now we’re told that despite a total of $55m being spent across stages one and two by all three levels of government, the facilities haven’t made the cut.

But apparently it’s not all doom and gloom.

“The (stage two) facility will be built with future provision infrastructure to make future work viable should money be available in the future,” the project’s website explains.

A render of how the North Bellarine Aquatic Centre will look following the completion of stage two works. Image: Supplied.

But one resident is having none of it, wondering why a sauna will form part of a $20m upgrade of the TAC building on Brougham St but not as part of a dedicated aquatic centre.

“To use the mayor’s recent comments regarding Darren Cheeseman, someone is surely taking the piss, but hopefully not in the pool,” they said.

Council executive Anthony Basford said a “community advisory panel”, consisting of 12 members, led the stage two design.

“As the project has a firm budget of $40.3m, the panel only included priority features into the design and costing (quantity surveying) process,” he said.

“The final designs reflect a pragmatic but effective facility design that is projected to meet the needs of the existing and future population of the north Bellarine.”

THE (AUTOMATIC) DOORS

The new automatic doors at Norlane Aquatic and Recreation Centre. Picture: Supplied.

While we’re casting a close eye over the region’s council-managed aquatic centres, let’s turn our attention to the $66m Norlane ARC.

Opened amid much fanfare less than 18 months ago, City Hall was forced to act after it became obvious the doors that provided entry to the warm water pool area were, in mayor Stretch Kontelj’s words, “cumbersome” and “not user-friendly for those with accessibility needs”.

Users often required assistance from staff, carers, or fellow patrons to simply access the space.

Then Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan at the opening of the Norlane ARC. Picture: Supplied.

But now in a move that surely underlines Geelong’s credentials as a smart city, we can report the original doors have been replaced with … wait for it … automatic doors.

“It’s brilliant now – I walk through them like I own the place,” regular user Verna relayed.

(For the record, Norlane ARC does have a spa, sauna and steam room.)

DOG LEAD HAS LEGS

One eagle-eyed WTF spy spotted this sign while on holiday in South Australia.

A waterfront walker who’s barking mad over out of control dogs wants City Hall to follow the lead of an interstate council to help rein in bad behaviour by pooches and their owners.

Under the heading - “It’s okay they’re friendly!”, signs spelling out safe dog etiquette caught the woman’s eye while holidaying near Adelaide’s Henley Beach, where she was pleased to observe dogs strictly kept on leads.

“As friendly as your dog is, it’s not about them,” the signs said.

“Everyone has the right to enjoy this shared space and feel safe. Call your dog away from other people, their things and other dogs. If your dog doesn’t come back when called, please place them on lead (it’s the law).”

Our spy said it was high time Geelong council clamped down on rule-breakers in on-leash areas before someone was seriously hurt by an unruly or aggressive dog.

She called for clear signs, extra council patrols and decent fines, not just insipid warnings, for people who flouted the rules.

“Just because owners think their dog is adorable, doesn’t mean it can’t intimidate non-dog lovers, especially kids,” she said.

“There’s nothing more scary for a child than a giant dog twice their size hurtling towards them and sending them flying.”

MAY THE FINES BE WITH YOU

Victorian Electoral Commissioner Sven Bluemmel. Picture: Supplied.

City Hall’s coffers are set to be boosted by people who failed to support any councillor at last year’s election.

The 2025/26 budget reveals council’s bean counters are expecting a 19.3 per cent jump in “infringement and costs” revenue to $5.6m, thanks in part to the fines from some of the 38,000 local residents who did not exercise the democratic right (obligation).

Victorian Electoral Commissioner Sven Bluemmel said penalty reminder notices had started to hit letterboxes this week, which carries a fee of $29.20 in addition to the original $99 fine.

“If you receive a penalty reminder notice in the mail, you have three options: pay the fine, request an internal review, or elect to go to court,” he said.

“Please get in touch with us if you have any questions or require further clarification because once we hand it over to Fines Victoria for enforcement action, we are unable to further assist.”

You’ve been warned.

Originally published as WTF: Seeking a spa, the doors, need for leads