What started as a dream followed by decades of campaigning finally became a reality for the Batemans Bay community today with the official opening of the Bay Pavilions arts and aquatic centre.
While community members will have to wait another five weeks until it opens to the public, special guests including politicians, user group representatives, community campaigners, former councillors, and Council staff, got a sneak peek at an opening event celebrating the end of construction.
Centre managers Aligned Leisure will now complete the fit-out and staff training before the centre’s grand opening on Saturday 4 June.
Aboriginal dance group Muladha Gamara kicked off the proceedings, welcoming everyone to Country and cleansing the site through a traditional smoking ceremony. After the speeches, Australian Government Senator Jim Molan, NSW Arts Minister Ben Franklin and Eurobodalla Mayor Mathew Hatcher cut the ceremonial ribbon, assisted by former Eurobodalla Mayor Liz Innes, Bega MP Dr Michael Holland, Gilmore MP Fiona Phillips, and former Bega MP Andrew Constance.
Tributes to those instrumental in the project were too many to mention, however particular praise was paid to community advocates Jeannie Brewer and Carolyn Harding, as well as Mr Constance, Ms Innes, former Gilmore MP Ann Sudmalis, NBRS Architecture, ADCO Constructions, and Council’s planning director Lindsay Usher.
Ms Harding, who campaigned for 20 years for an aquatic centre for Batemans Bay, said it was more than she ever could have imagined.
“(Back then) we were expecting an extension of our old pool. We’ve got something bigger and better than any other aquatic centre I’ve ever been to,” she said.
“I’m so excited, and so pleased to see what was a dream come to fruition.”
Guests toured the facility, a highlight of which was a piano performance in the Yuin Theatre and a talk on its state-of-the-art features from the theatre consultant who assisted with the design Richard Stewart.
Eurobodalla Mayor Mathew Hatcher and Ms Innes then took the opportunity to ‘christen’ the indoor waterslides – the Mayor fully clothed, the former letting out a loud “woo-hoo” on her descent.
Cr Hatcher said it was great to see the centre finished after so many years of hard work.
“Each and every person here today has contributed to creating this spectacular facility,” he said, adding that despite Covid and wet weather, the project had come in on time and on budget.
A community day is expected to be held mid-June – keep an eye on the Bay Pavilions website
