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| Frankston Regional Sport, Aquatic, Health and Wellness Centre |
This section of Alistair's website let's you know all about the plans for a large regional sport, aquatic, health and wellness centre for Frankston.
This page outlines the reasons for this push, explains what progress has been made in recent years, and what steps are necessary to see a Centre in Frankston finally built.
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| 1. Introduction |  |
When running for office in 2002, Alistair identified the need to reinvigorate plans for a Frankston Aquatic Centre. This project had been talked about for twenty years or more, and had hit a stumbling block in 1999.
Victoria is a national leader in aquatic facilities, however Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula are in need of a major, regional aquatic centre for so many reasons.
Since Alistair's election in November 2002, he has been advocating and lobbying for a large regional sports and aquatic centre in Frankston. People have been talking about building a facility like this on Frankston for years.
Alistair has been organising regular meetings over recent years, with representatives from many different organisations such as swimming groups, health groups, project planners and architects, and the Frankston Council.
He distributed a survey to every household in 2003 – to seek the views of Frankston residents on a location for this centre. Alistair also engaged a Melbourne University researcher to prepare a report on the need for an aquatic centre.
This public facility would feature an Olympic sized swimming pool with spectator facilities, multi-use aquatic areas, a health and fitness area, health services, relaxation areas, amenities and car parking.
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| 2. Melbourne University Research Report | |
In 2003, Alistair engaged a Melbourne University researcher, Mr Jared Heath, to investigate the feasibility and desirability of a regional Aquatic Centre for Frankston.
Jared's report revisited the Feasibility Study commissioned by the Frankston City Council in 1999.
It presented the opinions of key stakeholders and the findings of Alistair's community survey, and referred to comparative aquatic facilities in other municipalities.
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The report analysed why a regional Aquatic Centre is needed, where it might be located and how it might be funded.
The report found that there is a need for, and potentially significant benefits from, an Aquatic Centre in Frankston. It found strong stakeholder and community support for it. The report also noted that strong co-operation between the Council, the State Government, stakeholders and the community is critical.
"... there is a need for, and potentially significant benefits from, an Aquatic Centre in Frankston ..." - Jared Heath
The report recommended that an Aquatic Centre be a capital development priority for the Frankston community.
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| 3. Why does Frankston need a regional aquatic centre? | |
Frankston deserves a large regional sports and aquatic centre. People living in Frankston make less use of public swimming facilities than people living in other parts of Melbourne.
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The main reason for this – identified by the Frankston City Council Aquatic Centre Feasibility Study in 1999 – is a lack of suitable facilities. A key constraint to aquatic participation in the area is the lack of a suitable facility that provides for a broad range of interests.
The long-term aquatic facility strategic direction in Frankston should support the development of a major regional aquatic centre to service the large potential catchment area. Such a development should be at a high-profile site with main road access and suitable land area for proposed and future extensions located close to other complementary activities.
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 | | | Frankston deserves a proper regional aquatic centre! | |
The regional catchment population in Frankston is expected to continue to increase over the next 10 to 20 years. Similar population growth is expected in surrounding municipal areas that may use a regional aquatic centre in Frankston.
Visitors to Jubilee Park are often struck by the inadequacy of its facilities. What was once a great swimming pool has over time become tired and unable to cope with modern demands.
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| 4. Benefits for Sport | |
Frankston needs professional training facilities.
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There is no indoor, public 50 metre pool between Portsea and Keysborough, and Jubilee Park and the Pines Pools are inadequate. Swimmers are travelling large distances to train.
Local swimming clubs report that they are losing members to other clubs with better facilities, including at least 5 who have competed at National Championships. A Centre would be critical in providing training and competing space for local competitive swimmers.
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Frankston needs to stem the tide of potential champions moving out of our community because of the lack of training space.
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| 5. Leisure and Recreation benefits | |
Jubilee Park does not have a dedicated leisure pool and is operating at its capacity, and the Pines pool only operates for about half the year.
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There is a trend towards individual, non-competitive and unstructured recreation.
Individuals have busy lifestyles in which recreation choices are made everyday, and aquatic activities rank highly.
Some 54.7% of individuals engage in sport, with swimming attracting the second most particpants (18.8%). Frankston Council has observed that the activity most people would like to be doing but are not particpating in is swimming.
The main barrier is the absence of a suitable facility.
People want flexibility in allocating time to recreation. A Centre will need to respond to this by being diverse in its facilities and flexible in its opening hours, with an emphasis on multipurpose use and associated services (such as childcare).
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| 6. Health Benefits | |
According to Frankston Council’s Health and Well-being Plan 2002-07, it is important to appreciate the complexity of health, which includes the “physical, mental and social”.
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| Facilities that improve people's health | |
A hydrotherapy pool, spa and sauna, gymnasium, and leased areas for a sports medicine clinic would assist in addressing health issues, including obesity, cardiovascular diseases, asthma, and arthritis.
Specific services for people aged over 60 and for people with disabilities, such as aerobics, aromatherapy, massage therapy and naturopathy are important inclusions.
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Two main groups of people use hydrotheraphy:
- those requiring personalised therapy for a specific illness or condition
- those who simply find a benefit from supervised hydrotherapy for general wellbeing
These patrons require warmer water, a variable depth pool, a lifting device for access by those with mobility difficulties, and a level of privacy.
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Pain, stiffness and inflammation are hallmarks of arthritis, which is not a single disease but a range of 150 or more separate conditions. Two common forms are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Warm water exercise is known for its pain-relieving qualities.
Find out more from Arthritis Victoria.
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| 7. Education benefits | |
Aquatic centres provide a huge range of educational benefits. Here are a few.
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| Health and Well-being Studies | |
The proximity of Chisholm Institute and Monash University to the proposed aqauctic centre site at Samuel Sherlock Reserve opens enormous potential for additional tertiary studies.
Courses which could be introduced into our area include sports medicine, health science, life guarding, and other health and well-being subjects.
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| Facilities for students and children | |
17 per cent of Victoria children nominate swimming as their preferred sport, followed by soccer at 13%.
Most schools in the area have swimming classes as part of their programs, but are hampered by the lack of suitable facilities.
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| School Swimming Carnivals | |
An aquatic centre would be a major attraction for schools’ swimming carnivals.
The Pines pool is the only 50 metre pool on the Peninsula, and attracts schools on a regular basis from as far away as Rye. Schools will be better catered for with a new venue, one that includes specator seating. A Centre would also be ideal for hosting major aquatic competitions and festivals.
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| 8. Family and Community benefits | |
Swimming is for everyone – for all of the community and for the life of the community. There are limited opportunities for families in the outer suburbs to entertain children cheaply and healthily.
Social interaction is particularly important for youth. Some 27% of Frankston’s population are under 17 years of age, and hence there exists a demand for recreational activities. The Frankston Council’s Youth Resource Centre has recognised that a Centre that caters for youth and families is required.
A Centre that facilitates social interaction amongst young people also contributes to resolving health issues, and youth inactivity is a major challenge facing Frankston with some resorting to substance abuse and anti-social behaviour. Aquatic activities are attractive and affordable for youth, and would address this problem.
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| 9. Economic benefits | |
Victoria is a national leader in aquatic facilities, however Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula are in need of a major, regional aquatic centre.
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Frankston is well placed geographically to attract patrons from the Cities of Kingston and Casey and the northern part of the Shire of Mornington Peninsula, and from further afield.
Leased areas and other non-aquatic activities adjoined to the facility would generate significant income. Similar Centres in other places have become profitable after the first three years, generating additional income for the municipality.
At present, significant funds are escaping Frankston as residents seek well-developed and operated aquatic facilities. It is anomalous that a Principal Activity Centre such as Frankston does not have a major aquatic facility.
It would facilitate tourism, either attracting short-term visits (such as family day trips) or contributing toward attracting longer visits, assisting in making a destination in its own right rather than a stop to somewhere else.
Researcher, Jared Heath, noted that an architectually designed building could act as a signature building for Frankston and act as a drawcard for new and regular visitors alike. The flow-on benefit to local traders could be enormous.
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Other towns and cities who have built aquatic centres have noticed a big increase in tourism to their areas - providing extra dollars for the local economy.
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| 10. Snapshot Of Where We Are At… | |
The what, where and when of a Frankston Sports and Aquatic Centre.
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The Frankston Sports and Aquatic Centre will feature – at least – an Olympic sized swimming pool with spectator facilities, multi-use aquatic areas, a health and fitness area, relaxation areas, amenities and car parking.
More features are likely to be added in response to community feedback.
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Alistair has been working with key groups and people to identify a location for this facility.
The location of an aquatic facility is critical to its success. Here are some of the basic requirements:
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 | sufficient land (estimated to be 16,650 metres squared) | |
site services (namely utilities) | |
site topography and geology | |
site access and traffic impacts | |
visibility and suitability of site | |
location to current population | |
shared development opportunities |
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After a lot of consideration and consultation, the public facility was proposed to be built at Monash University’s Peninsula Campus.
However, agreement with Monash University could not be reached on land issues, but Monash remains keen to remain heavily involved.
After assessing 17 different sites, the Samual Sherlock Reserve best met all the key selection criteria and will compliment Chisholm TAFE's own redevelopment plans, the Frankston Skate Park, and plans for a wetland-type environment feature.
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The Victorian Government has made an unprecedented funding offer to allow the aquatic centre to be built NOW.
Next steps will be to convince Frankston City Council to finally commit to this project, and then commence the design and consultation stages.
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| 11. What sort of facilities would be provided? | |
This project will bring great benefits to the community, by encouraging more people to pursue healthy and active lifestyles in Frankston – a project backed by the local community for a long time.
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The Frankston Sports and Aquatic Centre would be a 'Centre of Excellence', providing a wide range of facilities, resources and professional expertise.
It will offer a holistic approach to health and wellbeing.
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| an aquatic and leisure centre for therapy, training and recreation for all ages | |
facilities for a range of exercise activities of all ages | |
facilities for the delivery of a range of health and wellbeing services | |
facilities for research programs to monitor and inform health promotion activities conducted within the Centre and the wider community, and which may be applicable to other parts of Australia | |
a strong educational focus for undergraduate, postgraduate, professional continuing education and community education | |
facilities for relevant community groups including relevant clubs or associations to meet formally or informally to conduct their group activities | |
facilities for retail activities related to health and wellbeing | |
facilities to support relaxed social interaction amongst clientelle | |
adequate car parking to facilitate access |
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| The major components of the water based activities will be: | |
| hydro therapy pool, possibly with an adjustable floor | |
recreation/relaxation pool for older persons | |
a spa pool | |
50 metre 'lap' pool for recreation, training and water sport, possibly with an adjustable level floor | |
a smaller pool for 'learn to swim' classes, possibly with an adjustable level floor | |
a toddler pool | |
a 'flume' or water slide pool for recreation | |
possibly some form of diving pool facility |
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Each of these pools will need to be located throughout the Centre in such a way as to provide for privacy and acoustic moderation, and the water temperature adjustable for different levels of activity.
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| 12. Community Consultation | |
Community consultation is critical component to planning for the new centre.
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In 2003, Alistair sent a survey to every household in Frankston. Over 80% of respondents indicated that they were in favour of a new local aquatic centre.
Respondents also overwhelmingly demanded health and gymnasium facilities, so these features will be incorporated into the centre’s plans.
There was strong support for a facility which is located centrally and which is equipped with health services and a fitness area.
A repeating theme to the surveys was for the provision of health services including a gymnasium, hydrotherapy pool, water exercises, dry exercises, physiotherapy and massage, therapeutic facilities, and sports medicine.
A significant group also nominated other indoor sporting facilities, such as a squash court, and most people prefer indoor facilities to outdoor.
The cost of entry is important to many people, as is elderly and disabled access.
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| Stakeholder Meetings and Community Forum | |
Alistair has convened regular meetings with individuals and community groups keen to see an Aquatic Centre come to fruition. For several years, he invited the Sports Minister along to learn of progress.
A major community forum was held which contributed greatly to assessing community sentiment and refining ideas for the Centre.
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| 13. Frankston to get World Championship Pool! | |
The Frankston community will be able to take to the blocks with a 50 metre pool from the 2007 FINA World Championships being provided by the State Government for the Frankston Regional Aquatics Development.
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Following Alistair's urgings, the panels from one of the 50 metre pools, along with plant and equipment, are available for Frankston, at an estimated value of more than $2 million.
In 2007, this pool hosted the biggest aquatics event Australia has ever seen when international stars headed to Melbourne for the FINA World Championships. With the new technology, this proved to be one of the world’s fastest pools and saw world records tumble.
As part of the legacy of hosting this event, the Frankston community will have the opportunity to take to the pool in which our swimming stars competed against the world’s best.
The pool will offer local access to a world class aquatic facility for a generation, and perhaps give rise to future stars of the water.
The Championships, held at the Rod Laver Arena, are of a modular design which allows for them to be relocated as permanent facilities throughout the Victorian community.
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The Frankston pool is the first step in our FINA World Championship legacy project.
This pool will be great for Frankston. Frankston needs a regional aquatic centre and this initial contribution was a significant first step toward achieving this goal.
Alistair has been working hard with Frankston City Council, which readily accepted the pool, to determine exactly how this new pool can be incorporated into the design of the overall project to maximise its value.
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| 14. Frankston Pool to make a splash with $2.5 million | |
A new state-of-the-art swimming facility became another step closer to reality, when the State Government provided $2.5 million from the Better Pools fund.
Alistair welcomed a $2.5 million grant which will go towards the new Frankston Regional Aquatic Health and Wellness Centre, helping Frankston City Council provide more opportunities to get physically active.
This is terrific news for Frankston, and comes on top of the State Government’s contribution of one of the 50 metre pools used for the FINA world swimming championships valued at more than $2 million.
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| 15. Where are we in 2010? | |
The State Government has made an extraordinary and unprecedented funding offer to Frankston City Council to get this facility built now.
But Frankston Council won't accept the money!
In fact, currently the State Government is the only level of Government with actual funding on the table.
Up until now, Frankston and Greensborough have been the only parts of metropolitan Melbourne without a public, indoor Olympic size pool. Banyule Council are now investing $33 million into a $45 million aquatic centre for Greensborough.
In 2007, Frankston Council committed $20 million for Frankston’s centre. In 2009, they reduced their commitment to $16 million. Now they want to reduce their commitment even further.
The community is deeply concerned and extremely frustrated that the only thing Council is doing to advance the project is to engage political lobbyists using $86,000 of ratepayer’s money.
This is a complete and utter waste of ratepayer’s money. Alistair's door has been and always will be open to Councillors and Council Officers, and he will continue meeting with them to convince them of the importance of this long-awaited project.
It would be unfortunate to see this project stall yet again because Council is more interested in building new luxury accommodation for themselves. The community knows what its priority is – and that’s an aquatic centre, not a civic centre.
Council needs to realise that the community is resolute that the Frankston pool be built now.
Council needs to stop playing political games. Because if they don’t, our children will have grandchildren of their own before our pool is built.
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| 16. Join the "Build our Frankston Pool NOW!" campaign | |
Frankston City Council needs to stop dithering and posturing, and commit to the pool now rather than build new luxury offices for themselves.
To convince Frankston City Council to build the pool now, contact the Mayor and ward Councillors and tell them that talk is cheap - the pool should be built now.
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Christine Richards (Mayor)
E-mail: crrichards@frankston.vic.gov.au
Phone: (03) 9783 6068
Fax: (03) 9783 6087
Brian Cunial (Deputy Mayor)
E-mail: crcunial@frankston.vic.gov.au
Phone: (03) 9708 8935
Fax: (03) 9775 4924
Mobile: 0400 236 977
Alistair Wardle
E-mail: crwardle@frankston.vic.gov.au
Phone: (03) 9770 1381
Fax: (03) 9781 4527
Mobile: 0400 236 103
Glenn Aitken
Phone: (03) 9786 3274
Cr Aitken does not have e-mail so if contacting him by mail please send to:
PO Box 490, Frankston 3199
Brad Hill
E-mail: crhill@frankston.vic.gov.au
Phone: (03) 9781 0410
Fax: (03) 9781 0714
Mobile: 0400 236 782
Kris Bolam
E-mail: crbolam@frankston.vic.gov.au
Phone: (03) 8790 0002
Fax: (03) 8790 0006
Mobile: 0438 001 065
Colin Hampton
E-mail: crhampton@frankston.vic.gov.au
Phone/Fax: (03) 9770 1213
Mobile: 0400 236 109
Sandra Mayer
E-mail: crmayer@frankston.vic.gov.au
Phone: (03) 9786 8931
Fax: (03) 9786 9273
Mobile: 0400 236 107
David Asker
E-mail: crasker@frankston.vic.gov.au
Phone: (03) 9785 6204
Fax: (03) 9789 3091
Mobile: 0438 001 067
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| 17. Join the Facebook group! | |
Join the "Build the Frankston Pool NOW!" Facebook group - and let Council know you want the pool now.
Here's the link... http://www.facebook.com/aharknessmp#!/group.php?gid=134407939931815&ref=ts
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| 18. Sign the petition and collect signatures | |
The only way Frankston Council and their political lobbyists will listen to the community is if the community tells them to build the pool now.
Print this petition, get firends, familty and neighbours to sign it, and send it back to PO Box 1171, FRANKSTON 3199.
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| Need more information? | |
This is a big project for Frankston - it will require time and money. You might want more information about it, or would like to offer to lend a hand.
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Don’t hesitate to contact Alistair with any questions or feedback regarding the planned Frankston Sports and Aquatic Centre.
Alistair Harkness MP
State Member for Frankston
Electorate Office: 140 Young Street Frankston 3199
Phone: 9783 9822
Fax: 9783 5930
Email: alistair.harkness@parliament.vic.gov.au
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