A new toddler pool to be built at the Sunbury Aquatic and Leisure Centre, budgeted to cost ratepayers $2.6m, and later revised to $3.1m, will need an extra $700,000 – taking the project to $3.8m.
Hume City councillors were told on Monday 22 July that higher prices have caused a funding shortfall to the Ligar St sports centre project. They voted to give it more cash.
While it isn’t certain where extra money will come from, council officers suggest funds set aside for a leachate management upgrade at the Riddell Rd Landfill be used. The site was closed by council in January. Councillors were told $1.8m of the landfill upgrade funds won’t be needed until 2026/27.
“The leachate pond is a very important piece of infrastructure for the Sunbury region,” said Cllr Jodi Jackson.
“We have known about this [need for additional toddler pool funding] for several weeks. It is something we should have squared away before we adopted the budget.”
Council set its 2024/25 budget on Monday 24 June.
“Sunbury really should have better aquatic facilities,” said Cllr Jackson. “We know that we have thousands of children on our waiting lists for learn-to-swim programmes.
“We should be prioritising swimming facilities for the Sunbury community. It is critical that children can learn how to swim.
“I am very passionate about what is not happening in Sunbury, and what we should have been planning for as swimming wait lists are bursting at the seams.”
Cllr Trevor Dance reminded councillors they voted against opening the leisure centre’s outdoor pool this winter – as requested by leisure centre users – because Cllr Jarrod Bell said work on the toddler pool was about to start. So far, no work has begun on site. Work is due to start by August.
During Monday’s council meeting Cllr Bell said the Sunbury Aquatic and Leisure Centre was added to the council’s leisure services master plan last year. In June 2023 he said the sports centre is often running at capacity, and that it needs to be “well-positioned to meet the needs of Sunbury’s growing community”.
Public consultation on the toddler pool was undertaken by council in September 2023. Feedback was received from 486 residents.
