Backing for health hub

Council wants plan as part of City Deal

A $61.6 million health hub in Norlane should be part of a new multi-government funding deal, the Geelong council believes.

Mayor Bruce Harwood yesterday said the Northern Arts, Recreation and Community (ARC) project — which would be built next to a new Barwon Health facility in the city’s north — needed further funding support.

“We would like to see Northern ARC considered as part of a City Deal opportunity, which would provide a valuable health and wellbeing precinct for our northern suburbs,” he said.

The council last month awarded a design tender for the project, which seeks to transform the Waterworld site into a preventive health precinct. It would provide hydro- therapy and leisure pools, a spa, sauna, gym, group exercise, cafe, consulting suites, occasional child care and community spaces.

The council has committed $20.6 million but wants further help to realise the hub.

“State and federal governments must provide financial support for this project, as they have delivered very little to assist the City in our north for health and wellbeing in years gone by,” Cr Harwood said.

The council’s call for the Northern ARC to be included in the City Deal came as a delegation went to Canberra to lobby for a $152 million Shipwreck Coast plan.

The group, including G21 CEO Elaine Carbines and Surf Coast Shire CEO Keith Baillie, wants the region’s City Deal to include support for new facilities around the Twelve Apostles and Bay of Islands.

They met with ministers, shadow ministers and department officials in Canberra yesterday to push their case.

The State Government has already committed $14.8 million towards a series of master plan works, including improvements at the Twelve Apostles Visitor Centre.

The delegation was yesterday promoting a $152 million stage of the Shipwreck Coast master plan, which includes 37 new infrastructure projects to be delivered over five years.

Cr Harwood said there were potential spin-offs for the Geelong region in the Shipwreck Coast suite of works.

“There are certainly positive synergies between the Geelong Convention Centre and the Shipwreck Coast master plan,” he said. “We need to think more broadly and positively as a region about the possibilities that exist and how they could benefit multiple communities.”