Kingborough Council to explore possibility of aquatic centre, but funding could be a problem
The Kingborough Council will look into whether it can build an aquatic centre, but the mayor warns the government hasn’t been too quick to open its purse for other projects. Why another councillor isn’t giving up hope.
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The Kingborough Council will investigate the possibility of building an aquatic centre, but the mayor warns the community shouldn’t get its hopes up because of possible funding constraints.
The council will make public its sport and recreation strategy, which outlines 23 recommendations about tracks, new infrastructure and upgrades.
Topping the list is the creation of a committee to investigate the feasibility of an aquatic centre.
At Monday’s council meeting, mayor Paula Wriedt said the reality of such a build wouldn’t come cheap.
“I don’t want to be the Debbie downer, but I do want to give us a bit of a reality check here,” she said.
“It’s great to have aspirations but we’ve got a report that is … nearly two years old that told us it’s going to cost $45m to build an aquatic centre.
“Let’s add on a sum of money for the increase in prices since then, we’re probably now looking at about $60m minimum.”
She said her scepticism came after attempts to secure funding for another big sporting project.
“We have been trying to secure funding for the Kingborough Sports Centre, for the redevelopment because we are literally bursting at the seams there,” Ms Wriedt said.
“We have been putting the case to people at different political levels for years … we cannot get a cent for it.”
But councillor Kaspar Deane said it was premature to rule out the idea.
“People want a Kingborough aquatic centre. There’s clearly overwhelming support from Kingborough residents, it comes up time and time again,” he said.
“We’re not going to get a direct return on an aquatic facility, [the Hobart Aquatic Centre] doesn’t either.
“If we applied that kind of philosophy we wouldn’t have public libraries and public schools, we don’t get a direct return from them either.”
Mr Deane said he was excited to see the options.
“I’m very supportive of exploring every avenue to try and get an aquatic centre down in Kingborough,” he said.
“[The council] needs to look at the design, it needs to look at the cost, maybe it isn’t a $40m proposal.”
“This gives us the chance to look at it a bit more deeply.”
The strategy also suggested pursuing a new skatepark and looking into the creation of a seapool.
“I’m glad there is on the cards a high quality skatepark,” Mr Deane said.
“Hobart has a really great one, as does Clarence, they’ve shown they are hugely popular.
“The seapool is a really unique opportunity, no where else has a sea pool like that that I’m aware of, and given the uptick in cold water swimming, I think the demand is there.”
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