The aquatic area at the redeveloped Mill Park Leisure has opened, completing the $25 million centre’s staggered opening after lockdown delays.
The centre now features four new and upgraded pools including a 25-metre lap pool, a warm water program pool, a children’s play pool and a dedicated learn-to-swim pool.
The centre’s gym opened in late April, and includes cardio and weight training areas, medical and inclusive equipment and a full-sized 12-foot rock-climbing wall.
The centre has been designed with a focus on accessibility with the installation of a pool pod, providing independent lift access into the pool, state-of-the-art hoists, two accessible toilets and change rooms and ramps into the lap pool and warm water pool.
It also focussing on sustainability with solar panels and rainwater tanks.
City of Whittlesea chair administrator Lydia Wilson said council was excited to be reopening the facility after the easing of the State Government’s latest COVID-19 restrictions.
“We were due to open the aquatic facility at the end of May, however, a new COVID outbreak stalled that plan for a few weeks,” she said.
Ms Wilson said the centre brought council closer to achieving its community vision to transform the city’s health and fitness spaces to be fully accessible and inclusive for all residents.
“The transformation of Mill Park Leisure into an accessible health and wellness hub strengthens council’s commitment to providing high quality and inviting facilities for the whole community to enjoy,” she said.
There are currently more than 1600 enrolments in Mill Park Leisure’s learn-to-swim program.
South Morang resident Rebecca Saitta said she was glad to have a new pool close to home to take her children Mason, 8, and Milana, 6, to swimming lessons.
“Once my kids learnt there were waterslides there, they said ‘I want to go there’, and the kids are able to use those facilities for free after their swimming lessons. They’re pretty excited,” she said.
The City of Whittlesea has invested $20 million into the Mill Park Leisure redevelopment and has received $2 million in funding from the State Government’s Growing Suburbs Fund and $3 million from the Community Sport Infrastructure Fund.
For more about Mill Park Leisure and the learn-to-swim program, visit millparkleisure.com.au.
