Cowes to get Cultural Centre upgrade

Bass Coast Shire Council has resolved to commit $19 million to rebuild the Cowes Cultural and Community Centre.

At last Wednesday’s Council Meeting, Councillors endorsed the demolition and new build option for the Centre. The funding will be allocated in the draft 2020/21 and 2021/22 budgets, with $15 million from new borrowings and $4 million from Council reserves. Council will continue to explore partnerships with other tiers of Government to seek grant funding to deliver the Project.

This Project aligns with the Cowes Activity Centre Plan (2015) and Council’s strategic intent to create a legacy project in the centre of Cowes.

Following the adoption of the Plan, extensive engagement on the redevelopment of the Centre was completed in 2016; a concept and design process followed (2018-19), involving stakeholder engagement along the way. The project is at a stage where it is ready to be built. This places it ahead of other community projects, which still require planning, design and engagement, such as an aquatics centre for Phillip Island.

“An aquatics centre for Phillip Island remains a top advocacy priority for Council and we will continue to request funding support from State and Federal Governments,” Bass Coast Shire Mayor, Cr Brett Tessari said.

“We are also in the process of confirming and securing the site for a future aquatics centre and we have funding proposed in the 2020/21 Budget for the design of this aquatics centre.

“We need to first secure the land and complete a master plan for the site before funding the construction.”

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