Northern Grampians Shire Council leaders are urging all past, present and potential future Stawell Sports and Aquatic Centre (SSAC) users to provide input into a funding advocacy plan for a potential multi-million-dollar redevelopment.
Council has launched community and stakeholder surveys to help build a strong case for funding by quantifying the benefits of investment and understanding how a redeveloped SSAC could improve health, wellbeing and liveability in our region.
The aquatic centre is an ageing facility and at some point will require a major upgrade.
In 2022, council partnered with the State Government and Sport and Recreation Victoria to commission a feasibility study into the aquatic centre's condition, user needs and long-term viability. The study reviewed the facility's performance, demand projections, competition, design options, management models, and 10-year operational and maintenance costs.
In 2024, using the study's finding and community feedback, council and the State Government progressed to producing concept designs and cost estimates.
Given the scale of investment required, the development was divided into two potential projects:
- Project one: Aquatic Redevelopment – estimated cost $28.5 million.
- Project two: Dry End Redevelopment – estimated cost $14 million.
Mayor Karen Hyslop said funding the development was well beyond the means of council.
"For the redevelopment to come to fruition, the vast majority of funding would have to come from the Commonwealth and state governments," she said.
"We are now in the process of developing an advocacy plan for project one, which will direct council to the most effective way to secure this external funding."
Cr Hyslop said council was now in the process of developing a funding and advocacy strategy for project one.
"We are calling on the community to provide their experiences of and insights about the centre, which will directly inform our advocacy strategy," she said.
"The strategy is designed to help council secure the funding required to deliver phase one of the redevelopment.
"If you are a current member, a past member, a casual visitor or even if you are thinking about using the centre, we want to hear from you.
"We encourage you to share your experiences and facility needs with us to help shape the future of our region's premier indoor sporting facility."
Council staff have emailed centre stakeholders, including school and sporting groups, with a separate survey featuring questions targeted towards group use.
