After an overwhelmingly positive response from the community, the concept plan for Kingston’s new Aquatic and Leisure Centre has been given the green light.
Approximately 2000 people took part in the fifth and most recent round of community consultation. 96.2% of participants gave the draft plan their tick of approval, which clearly shows the biggest infrastructure project in our Council’s history is on the right track.
Mayor Hadi Saab said that bringing the community on the journey through meaningful and thorough engagement has been a real focus and was playing a key role in the development phase of the project.
“We have been absolutely thrilled by the buy in from the community, with all of the feedback informing the design and what is included in the centre moving forward,” Cr Saab said.
“In the latest round of consultation, we asked people to picture themselves moving through the new centre, reflecting on how they will get there, and the areas that they will use, and to also consider the external areas surrounding the centre, including early landscape plans. What came back has given us real clarity on what people want to see and will be reflected in the detailed design.
“This project represents a major investment in the long-term health, wellbeing, and aquatic education of our community and it’s exciting to have reached another milestone. It’s vital we keep the momentum going.”
Our architect CO.OP Studio will now take all the learnings and suggestions from the community through into the development of the detailed design.
Works to demolish the existing buildings at 1-7 Wells Road and the old, decommissioned water tank near Wells Road will begin in early September. They are expected to be completed by early November.
Major construction of the new centre is expected to start in mid-2024 and take around 18 months to complete.
Delivering this important investment in the health and wellbeing of Kingston is expected to cost $79.2 million. Council secured a $20 million election commitment from the Australian Government and will be seeking further funding from the Victorian Government.
To keep up to date with all things new Aquatic and Leisure Centre head to kingston.vic.gov.au/new-centre.
