Mayor of Brimbank, Cr Lucinda Congreve
said the finalisation of the masterplan was a major milestone for the Health and Wellbeing Hub project.
"This is the biggest infrastructure project Council has ever embarked on – and one of the most exciting.
"The St Albans Leisure Centre has served the community well for the last 60 years.
"It's been a constant fixture on Taylors Road, and we know it's much loved by many loyal members and the wider community.
"What the site masterplan has confirmed, is that in order for us to build the Health and Wellbeing Hub – which will include a state of the art aquatic and leisure centre – the entire footprint of the current St Albans Leisure Centre will be needed.
"This means we're planning to close the doors to the old and tired St Albans Leisure Centre in April next year to make way for construction.
"We're going to build a fantastic new leisure and aquatic facility that the community will love; but we're taking it a step further by integrating social and health support services under the same roof, which will be delivered by co-located tenant partners.
"We acknowledge the news that the leisure centre will have to close will be disappointing for some, but we also know the long-term benefits will be well worth the temporary inconvenience.
"While we're building, we'll have an awesome Pop-up Gym in place next to the Keilor Downs Community Centre – just behind the current leisure centre.
"We'll also be relocating group fitness classes into the community centre during this time," the Mayor said.
Anyone wanting to swim while St Albans Leisure Centre is closed will be encouraged to make use of Sunshine Leisure Centre.
"We've been making a heap of improvements at Sunshine Leisure Centre lately to increase capacity and meet demands, including year-round swimming in the outdoor pool.
"In a matter of months we'll also be introducing 24/7 access to the gym," the Mayor said.
Schematic designs for the Health and Wellbeing Hub will now be progressed following endorsement of the masterplan.
Construction of the new Health and Wellbeing Hub is expected to take about two years to complete.
The Health and Wellbeing Hub, including space to accommodate tenant partners, is now expected to cost in excess of $60 million, subject to the finalisation of the design. Council will continue to advocate for State and Federal government investment into the project.
