The Surf Coast Shire Council will apply for state government funding grants to help deliver four key projects, which will deliver wide-ranging community benefits.
The Council will apply for grants from:
The Growing Suburbs Fund 2022-2023
- $5 million for the Surf Coast Cultural Centre
- $330,000 for Barwon River Loop Walk stage two
The Local Sports Infrastructure Fund 2022
- $1 million for Spring Creek Pavilion female friendly upgrade
- $2.5 million for the Surf Coast Aquatic and Health Centre additional warm water pool
The Living Libraries Infrastructure Program
- $1 million for the Surf Coast Cultural Centre Stage One
The Surf Coast Cultural Centre is one of the Council's top-tier strategic advocacy project and includes an expanded library, a new Visitor Information Centre and a bigger and better Australian National Surfing Museum at the existing site at Beach Road, Torquay. These elements comprise stage one of the project and have an estimated total cost of $36.8 million.
Stage two of the Barwon River Loop Walk, costed at $660,000, would see the completion of the two-kilometre walk linking the town's four quadrants and features along the Barwon River. Project elements include a pedestrian bridge, observation platforms and educational and wayfinding signage including interpretive information about the Wadawurrung and Eastern Maar Traditional Owners.
The Surf Coast Aquatic and Health Centre, to be located in Torquay, is planned to include a 25-metre seasonal outdoor pool, two indoor warm water pools (for learn to swim, leisure activities and hydrotherapy), gym, multi-purpose program rooms, allied health suites and community meeting spaces.
"These key projects will deliver significant benefits for communities within our shire, and these state government funding grants would play an important role in bringing them to fruition," Surf Coast Shire Cr Gary Allen said.
"The Surf Coast Cultural Centre will deliver a bigger, better surfing museum that's purpose-built to display its internationally significant collection and to create a tourism drawcard at the start of the Great Ocean Road."
"A larger, modernised library is needed to cater to the needs of those who use the current Torquay library branch now and meet forecast demand."
"Modern libraries provide spaces for community collaboration and connection and significantly more floor space is needed to achieve this goal," he said
