Victoria’s City of Whittlesea Council has approved a new major leisure, aquatic and sports court facility which it says will service the whole of the municipality.
The state-of-the-art centre, to be located on Plenty Road, north of Bridge Inn Road, is expected to include four pools, including a 50-metre multipurpose pool, a warm water exercise pool, a learn-to-swim pool and a children’s leisure pool.
The leisure precinct is slated to feature a regional netball complex with six indoor sports courts and eight outdoor netball courts, reflecting the current and future needs of the City’s booming population with opportunities for grassroots to elite pathway programs, Council said in a statement today.
A gym and group fitness area, spa and sauna, and health and wellbeing consulting suites will also form part of the modern centre.
City of Whittlesea Chair Administrator, Lydia Wilson said the aquatic, leisure and sports court facility in Mernda will be Council’s single-biggest investment into social and health infrastructure to date and will support healthy and active lifestyles across the whole of the municipality.
“The Mernda facility is set to be a truly exceptional and stand-out addition to the City of Whittlesea’s sports and leisure network,” Ms Wilson said.
“We’re thrilled to be able to foster positive physical and mental wellbeing by providing a first-class sports and leisure hub where residents can exercise, get healthy, connect and have fun, close to home.”
Council’s decision to include a 50-metre pool in the plans for the Mernda facility comes after extensive consultation with residents to identify the community’s health and recreation needs.
“We’re so appreciative of the local community for participating in earlier consultation and sharing their ideas for this highly-anticipated leisure precinct.”
“We heard that residents want 50-metre lap swimming, warm water exercise programs, water play and learn-to-swim areas in the proposed facility, as well as indoor and outdoor sports courts. We’re delighted to bring that vision to life in the future Mernda facility,” Ms Wilson said.
She said Council will now prepare a business case to help guide the development of the centre, and advocate to all levels of government to pursue external funding for this vital infrastructure project.
Construction is anticipated to start by 2025.
