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Phillip Island Aquatic Centre

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25.01.2022 The 2017 AGM of the Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Fund Inc is to take place this Tuesday the 29th August at 7.30pm in the Heritage Centre, 89 Thompson Ave, Cowes, and the public is invited to come along. All positions will be declared vacant and a new team established. Anyone interested in being part of the committee should contact the Secretary Peter McMahon on 0418 533 256.

25.01.2022 From The Phillip Island Advertiser today. Bass Coast Shire Council has appointed Otium Consulting to complete a business case for the Phillip Island Aquatic and Leisure Centre. The work will include operational and concept plans, which Council say is necessary before considering detailed design and funding for the project....Continue reading

24.01.2022 Be sure to pop over to the advertisers page and vote no 4 on their advocacy survey!

24.01.2022 Everyone is welcome to come to our 2018 AGM, where we will be unveiling our committees attempt to produce an aspirational recreation plan for Phillip Island/Cowes. We will show a series of slides shared with eight shadow ministers, where we asked them for an electoral, one off promise of up to $15mil to help get either our plan, or a municipal recreation plan off the ground. We plan to ask both Federal Government and Victorian Labor for the same commitment - we will let you k...now the outcome. The only thing is, we dont know when we will see a municipal plan produced from Council. We know in this years budget of $2mil was for the purchase of land for recreational/community services purposes, but nothing seems to be happening - the time for words must end and action happen. Our Councils operating plan starts in July each year, so we should being seeing the planned actions start with this time frame in mind. We shouldnt expect that these issues are just thought bubbles which they have been discussed for months before announcing them. Let us all remind council and councillors that they work for the communities they represent, not just for them to continually meet for the sake of having meetings. We give our council/councillors the biggest portion of money through our rates. We rely on them to use it wisely. The council produced the budget, the councillors approved it, so why isnt it happening? Your not for profit community group, has been working for the last 2 decades, mostly without Council support. We thought we had it back in 2014 - 16. They produced a ten year plan in 2014 which showed two Aquatic Centres could and would be built in 2021 2022. They now say they dont know when they can be built. If you feel as committed and concerned like us, come along and join in the fight to make our Aquatic Centre a reality, give us your support and join us at our AGM which is to happen on Tuesday 28th August at 7.30pm in the Heritage Centre at the Cowes Library/Heritage building on Thompson Ave.

24.01.2022 The Phillip Island Aquatic Centre may have just become another step closer. In an Australian first, Goodwill Bills created a way for supporters of the project to contribute to it for free. Peter McMahon from the Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Fund announced in December of last year that if the community could raise $2M then the rest of the funding may be attained from other sources. Mr McMahon now reports We are delighted to support another fundraising option in 2016, with an...Continue reading

24.01.2022 Full article from The Advertiser - note the $52 million is not the cost of a new pool, it’s the whole centre which includes a gym and other sports facilities in addition to the aquatic facilities. Bring it on! We know the community is tired and won’t believe till they see it, but behind the scenes our committee has worked tirelessly to get to this point. Phillip Island’s long-awaited aquatic centre would include a 25m x eight lane pool, learn-to-swim area, 24-hour gym, and ...Continue reading

24.01.2022 Seeking some fabulous volunteers to donate a few hours to help fundraise for our cause. The V8s are on the 21st-23rd of April and they need parking attendants. Please send a PM through this page for more info #volunteerV8s #phillipislandV8s

22.01.2022 Calling for volunteers to help as parking attendants for the Superbikes this weekend. This will raise significant $$ to add to our funding target of 5 million. Of 21 shifts we have 3 left to fill. Friday 8am-1pm ... Sat 7.30am-1pm x 2 shifts Please email Peter McMahon on [email protected] Many thanks in advance!!

21.01.2022 The Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Fund Inc. is about to begin a series of public meetings outlining the checked history of our group, and where we are today. Our first public meeting is to be held in Grantville, in the Recreation Reserve building on the 28th November and everyone is welcome. Our movement started back in 1991, with many people from all walks of life that could see what was required for Phillip Island and surroundings. Our groups endeavors started officially i...n 1999, with the creation of our name and becoming an incorporated entity. Over this protracted time frame, the group had many starts and stops, influenced by a Council not willing to help the process. This has now changed, with a Council aquatic strategy in place, agreeing to two aquatic centres across the Shire, including one on Phillip Island. We will outline everything in detail to those present at our public meetings. Come along to the Grantville Recreation Reserve on Tuesday the 28th November at 7.00pm, to be brought up to speed regarding our progress to date. If you have any queries or ways to assist in fundraising or committee work please contact: The Secretary Tel: Peter McMahon 0418 533 256 or Post: P.O. Box 808 Cowes VIC 3922

21.01.2022 https://tinyurl.com/PIACF-2019-petition Phillip Islanders have been trying to build a public swimming pool for over two decades. The forthcoming Federal election provides us with an opportunity to achieve this dream but to get federal support, Bass Coast Shire Council must advocate strongly for it to the Federal candidates. Quite reasonably, Council has stated that it needs to plan for the requirements of all sporting bodies and we have been waiting to see what this would loo...k like for a long time. Having grown tired of waiting we have drawn up a concept plan to stimulate discussion and move the project ahead. Our aspirational plan (shown above) indicates how a pool and other major sporting facilities could fit together on one potential site in Cowes (please note these elements can be reconfigured to suit other sites). Please support us by demanding that Bass Coast Shire prioritise the development of the Phillip Island Aquatic and well-being centre in the next 5 years and advocate strongly on our behalf. Why does Phillip Island need this pool? We live on an island surrounded by water but there are inadequate pool resources locally for school children to be taught how to swim and basic water survival skills, even though the Victorian State government in 2016 mandated that all primary school children must be able to swim 50 meters. We have a growing aged population who need warm water rehabilitation and exercise to maintain health and physical functionality. Whilst classes exist at the Wonthaggi pool (40 minutes away), they are heavily over-subscribed and unable to service the great demand for them. A pool would provide year round opportunities for young people to enjoy healthy and fun activities in a positive and supervised space and provide an alternative to the beach reducing the risk of skin cancer, levels of which in the area are one of the highest in Victoria. We have many talented young swimmers living on Phillip Island who must travel extensively to train in a suitable pool. Provision of a pool would provide an opportunity to develop a greater range of aquatic activities including underwater hockey, water polo aquarobics, basic Scuba training and enhance early training for young life-savers. Notably our life-savers save many people from the treacherous waters around Phillip Island. It would also enhance the range of activities available to visitors throughout the year, particularly when the weather is inclement. Please sign this petition and send a strong message to Bass Coast Shire Council that waiting two decades is long enough. We need a pool now! https://tinyurl.com/PIACF-2019-petition

21.01.2022 From the Phillip Island & San Remo Advertiser Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Fund secretary Peter McMahon called on residents to lobby all Bass Coast Shire councillors to secure a pool for Phillip Island. NEWS Pool has taken decades to get to this moment in time...Continue reading

20.01.2022 As a fundraiser for our cause we need volunteers to help with parking at the Superbikes on the 22-24th of February. Please send a private message to this page or call Peter on 0418 533 256 Many thanks!As a fundraiser for our cause we need volunteers to help with parking at the Superbikes on the 22-24th of February. Please send a private message to this page or call Peter on 0418 533 256 Many thanks!

19.01.2022 Seems support for Aquatic facilities is high!

19.01.2022 Council and Phillip Island Nature Parks have made the decision to close all Bass Coast beaches to the public over the Easter break. This follows strong advice ...from Bass Coast Health that with additional people in the community over Easter, the local health network would be unable to respond to the impacts of a COVID-19 outbreak in our community. The closure will impact every beach in the Shire from 11.59pm Thursday, 9 April until 11.59pm Monday, 13 April. During these times, there will be no access for anyone, to any beach, under any circumstance. This includes exercising on the beach running, surfing, walking and swimming. See more

19.01.2022 Hi everyone, we have a fabulous fundraising opportunity coming up next month! We need volunteer parking marshals to help out at the track for the V8 Supercars. They will be held on the 20th to 22nd of April Anybody interested can contact Peter on 0418533256 or by email [email protected] ASAP... The shifts are either 7.30am 1pm or 1pm 5/6pm Thankyou

19.01.2022 It is a great feeling to hold our 2017 AGM on Tuesday the 29th of August, when we can finally discuss the concept components that will form the Phillip Island Aquatic Centre, which were established by the Aquatic Working Group and passed by Council on 20th June 2017. In time, we will all see something like the sketch below of an Aquatic Centre that is to be built. Our Group (PIACFI) will continue to work with Council and other interested parties, to plan exactly what is neede...d to establish a World Class Aquatic Centre for our Island and the Shire. Obviously the Aquatic Centre will need significant funding. At our 2015 AGM, a motion to increase the level of our annual subscriptions was passed, lifting the figure to $10 per adult per year, and for the first time, a family subscription of $30 for families of 3 or more. We have previously outlined that subscriptions will help greatly when added to our ASF fund, established to potentially give us $2 million from donated money. Anyone interested in finding out how they can participate in contributing to the ASF fund, should contact our Secretary Peter McMahon on 0418 533 256, or go to www.asf.org.au and then to Projects - Phillip Island Aquatic Centre. We will be electing a new Committee of 12, who will assist in the raising of money along with helping to design our Aquatic Centre. ASF donations and subscriptions, together with a significant remaining balance of previously raised funds, will allow us the best opportunity of the Phillip Island Aquatic Centre being built before any other centre within the Shire. We are now in an imminent position of starting the final design phase of the Aquatic Centre Project. But we need your help. If you can help by purchasing an annual subscription we will go one step closer from where we are today. For those who have donated bricks or annual subscriptions in the past, I can assure you that we have a database which records those contributions against the names of the contributors. Everyone should understand that our group doesnt intend to build or operate the Aquatic Centre; we are just the fundraising entity for the Phillip Island Aquatic Centre. Yes, it may have taken many years to get to this position, but it is now within our grasp. Our current Council for the first time fully supports our Aquatic Centre so lets all get on board and make it happen sooner rather than later.

18.01.2022 The PIACF Inc. Annual General Meeting is to be held on: - Tuesday 29th August 2017 at 7.30pm In The Heritage Centre 89 Thompson Ave Cowes. All welcome and feel free to nominate as Committee Members, or become an active participant in helping to drive the building of the Aquatic Centre for Phillip Island Residents and become a subscriber TODAY.

18.01.2022 Our Aspirational Recreation Plan (for the large parcel of private land that the Bass Coast Shire Council is currently planning to purchase on Phillip Island) has been produced to show the community of Phillip Island, the Council, the State Government and the State Opposition two things. The first being how much we currently lack in recreational infrastructure, given the published population figures in the 2016 Census, compared to the numbers within the remainder of the Shire.... Secondly, to give the Shire a base on which it could and should produce the necessary site drawings to bid for appropriate funding from all levels of government for the much-needed recreation facilities for Phillip Island. We need the Shire to produce a Phillip Island recreational Masterplan; our plan could be used by the Shire to develop such a plan. For the rest of the article including census figures please visit http://www.piac.org.au/homelat/aspirational-recreation-plan

16.01.2022 In 1994 a letter was written and sent out to all residents of the island calling for Hydrotherapy pool and a learn to swim pool. At the time it had the backing of Warley Hospital, Phillip Island Shire Council. A committee was formed which Anne Davies joined, as a physiotherapist she knew what was required for our ageing population. As time went on we saw Pamela Cameron, also a physiotherapist, become involved with our committee, and now we have Kristine Miles, also a physioth...erapist, also striving to help our ageing community. Then 1995-6 came with Jeff Kennett amalgamated council shires of which we were one. What Jeff did do, was have a feasibility studio carried out and paid for it, what was the verdict Build the Phillip Island Aquatic Centre now. However the commissioners of the new BCSC destroyed the feasibility study and we have been fighting for Council to revisit the issue for the last 25 years. And we still have NO definite plans from Council when we will see it. Between Phillip Island and San Remo 49% of the total general rate and garbage charges of the shire are realized, and what have we seen from the recreation expenditure over that time. Surveys run by both our committee and the Phillip Island and San Remo Advertiser have returned an over whelming result to build the Aquatic Centre next, but still it falls on deaf ears in Wonthaggi. Some will say Phillip Island has had its share of money spent on recreational structure, they fail to see that some if not all was agreed to be spent several years ago and it is only being spent now, I think this may be because of reserves being in the mix. The results of the 2016 Census, Phillip Island represents 32% of the shires residents all living on the island; some 31.5% were aged below 19 years of age cohorts and 31.5% above 65 again of the total shire. If these figures dont press the need I dont know what will, with each year that passes we continue to grow. These figures dont take into effect of the massive number of holiday homes on the Island, which represents 44% of total dwellings of the shire. We require much more recreation services as the Island has been left for most of the 25 years since amalgamation without any improvements. Our current group of Councillors was canvassed before their election to gauge their support for an Aquatic Centre on the Island, can we say they have lived up to that commitment, they have one year left of their time, will or can they achieve that goal of an Aquatic Centre, time is running out. to read more go to http://www.piac.org.au//why-does-phillip-island-need-an-aq http://www.piac.org.au//why-does-phillip-island-need-an-aq

15.01.2022 For more visit http://www.piac.org.au/homelatest-news/may-28th-2016

14.01.2022 Vale Phil Dixon 4/7/31 to 27/3/20 Phillip Island and the Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Committee have lost one of the most dedicated community volunteers with the passing of Phil Dixon. As one of the many community groups that Phil was a member, PIAC holds much gratitude for Phils tireless work going right back to 1990. As an ex-Phillip Island Shire Councillor, Phil came to the committee with a wealth of knowledge and contacts, particularly her work with the Liberal Party. ...It is a shame that her dedication and selflessness, was cut short just before our group and the communitys wishes might be about to come to fruition. Along her path after Council duties, Phil started a Neighbourhood Watch on Phillip Island. She started the pantry service at PICAL which later in her honour took her name, the Phil Dixon Pantry. Phil would collect unwanted produce from Coles Supermarket and distributed it to many different groups/charities, always endeavouring to help someone out. Phil worked for PICAL, Phillip Island Nature Park and Westernport Water for many years. She was also a member of the Phillip Island Progress Association. She was a tireless worker. Phil was always up to attending our committee meetings, even as her eyesight was waning, she would get one of her family or another member of our committee to pick her up and bring her to our meetings. Phil had a never give in attitude and once she had committed to a cause she did the best she could to fulfill her obligation. Phil, we will miss you, along with your strong commitment, as I am sure your family does. To your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren our sincere condolences from all those connected to the Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Fund.

14.01.2022 The Annual General Meeting of Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Fund Inc. will be held on 6th October 2020 at 6pm via Zoom. The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be: 1) an update on the progress of the group... 2) conducting elections for committee 3) latest version of our Aspirational Recreation Plan Conducting an AGM via Zoom is a new situation. It will require attendees to pre-register with their name and email. Please email [email protected] with your expression of interest to attend the AGM and you will be sent to link to the meeting.

13.01.2022 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Tuesday 27th August 2019 7.30pm... The Heritage Centre 89 Thompson Ave Cowes All welcome and feel free to nominate as committee members or become an active participant in helping to drive the building of the Aquatic Centre fur Phillip Island residents by becoming a member.

12.01.2022 Hello members and supporters of the PIAC fund - we are after anyone who could help us out with parking duties at the track on Sunday morning. These are volunteer positions to help raise funds for our cause. We need at least two people to help between 7.30am and 1pm. These positions in recent months have raised thousands of $ towards our much needed pool. If you know of anyone could you get them to contact Peter on 0418533256

11.01.2022 This is the winner of the PIACF Market Raffle for this year. Her name is Missy Mullen, ticket no 0033. She was over the moon with the prize - a limited edition picture of the remains of the SS Speck in 2004 at Kitty Miller Bay. To all those that bought tickets over the six markets thank you! We will run another raffle soon and we will let you know when.

11.01.2022 According to the census of 2011. Phillip Island has 44% of its population in the 50 85 + age group. It is an alarming fact that I in 5 Australians suffer from arthritis according to Arthritis Australia (AA). That body is Australias peak arthritis body. It provides support and information about arthritis, promotes awareness of the challenges faced by people with arthritis, funds research and keeps health professionals informed. If you have arthritis or at risk of develo...Continue reading

11.01.2022 BREAKING NEWS!! Bass Coast councillors have voted unanimously to rescind the the requirement imposed by the former council, for a 50% community contribution to be raised for a Phillip Island Aquatic Centre to proceed. Councillor and Mayor, Pamela Rothfield lead the motion, which was supported by all councillors.

10.01.2022 Have you signed yet! https://tinyurl.com/PIACF-2019-petition

09.01.2022 We all know the importance of exercise in our daily lives. For people with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, swimming may well be the perfect exercise, as it can keep them more active and healthy. Swimming does not jar the joints like, basketball, jogging, football, soccer or tennis. Unlike golf or bowling, it keeps you moving for a length of time, rather than having to expend some energy and then rest. That is important for cardiovascular fitness in that it allows one to ...pump blood and oxygen more efficiently. Swimming also exercise both the upper body and the lower body muscles at the same time, something that many other sports do not and can burn from 350 to 420 calories per hour. It is especially good for those who have numbness or lack of feeling of the feet (due to diabetic neuropathy) as it will do no harm. As with other exercises, swimming makes you feel good by producing endorphins. Finally, swimming can help diabetics tone their body; they will lose calories and lose weight, help lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and in the process of becoming fit, help to control their weight. All these are very good reasons to try swimming when someone has diabetes. Being in the water is also calming mentally and physically which can help diabetics more easily cope with the stresses associated with their medical condition. The incidence of diabetes is increasing dramatically in Australian society, particularly as overweight and obesity become more prevalent. Swimming in a heated indoor pool, available for use in a variety of weather conditions from hot and/or humid, to cold and/or rainy and/or windy and all weathers in between is so convenient and practical, to ameliorate diabetes caused by those conditions. Convenience and practicality are major facilitators of keeping people exercising once they begin. As we age, many of us gain weight and can no longer engage in the vigorous sports that we may perhaps have enjoyed; but swimming can provide the vehicle to enable all ages to maintain optimum fitness to the maximum of their ability and health status. Improved health from swimming is an almost a fail-safe guarantee. This article was produced by members of our committee with research from long suffering Diabetics help from Diabetes Australia & general health providers. Authorised by: Peter McMahon Secretary PIACF Inc.

09.01.2022 The Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Fund Committee continues to be optimistic about the commencement of an aquatic facility on Phillip Island sooner rather than later before the next council elections in just over three years. No doubt readers will have seen the diagram of the proposed elements of the aquatic centre in a recent edition of The Advertiser. This showed a 25 metre lap pool (6 8 lanes), a learn to swim pool, a warm water exercise pool (also suitable for hydrothe...rapy) and a toddler play pool. Our committee is also thinking big when it comes to future-proofing the centre, to cater for increasing demand over time. We would like to see the leisure centre co-located with the aquatic centre, to keep costs down and allow families access to more facilities at the one time. Another option that could be considered is an ice-skating rink next door to the pool. The advantage of this is that using modern heat-pump technology, it is possible to take the heat from water to make ice for the skating rink, and transfer that heat into the pools. We also believe that the lap pool could be actually 27 metres, including a 2-metre pontoon at the end, with the possibility of extending this in the future to a 52-metre pool, with a 2-metre pontoon that can be at one end or in the middle, allowing flexible use. Our committee has been meeting with council and other interested parties the schools, swimming club, YMCA and health and medical organisations, through the Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Working Group, to resolve issues of location, design elements etc., and these meetings have been very fruitful so far with a high level of co-operation and common purpose. Obviously, financing the construction, running and maintenance of facilities such as those listed is a major hurdle. However, the community health and well-being benefits will far out-weigh the costs. Think of our ageing community, our school swimming programs, our pre-schoolers and their need to learn to swim to safely swim and surf our magnificent beaches. We encourage community members to again get enthusiastic about the project. Come along to our AGM on Tuesday August 29. Your presence you will show your support. Better still, put your hand up to join our committee. You can also donate through our tax-deductible fund with the Australian Sports Foundation. For more information, contact our Secretary Peter McMahon on 0418533256 or visit our web-site www.piac.org.au Don Turner President PIACF Inc.

07.01.2022 Volunteers needed for PIAC fundraising opportunity - for parking attendants at the Supercar event on Phillip Island on the 12th, 13th, & 14th of April. Please call Peter if interested 0418 533 256.

06.01.2022 We the PIAC Fund Inc. challenge everyone to help Build the Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Back in June 1994, the then Shire of Phillip Island worked with members of our group and the Warley Hospital, to investigate an Aquatic Centre for Phillip Island, mainly around a hydrotherapy pool. I have recently discovered correspondence to and from the two parties above. I even have an outline of design and costings of a similar facility. These facts were shared with the community and ...a bigger group was formed, expanded, and is now known as the Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Fund Inc. Many of the founding members have either left the Island, or lost faith of a centre ever being built. Those that remain, cant believe all these years later that nothing except concept plans have been started and approved by our current Shire. It was needed back then and is more important today, with the last Census in 2016 showing between Phillip Island & San Remo, 4232 people aged over 60 are permanent residents. Add to that, we have 12,164 private dwellings, which allows for the increase of people within our area at holiday times. Now we must add the need for all our children going to school, to be able to swim 50mt before entering higher education. There are 1905 children aged 0-14 years, and 878 children and youth aged 15-24 on the Island. Furthermore, 4627 adults aged 25-59, could also benefit from an Aquatic Centre through a variety of services. What can we do to make what was started officially in 1994 happen, and happen soon? Our forbearers started it, and we need to get behind the push of the last few years to make it happen. Words are not enough - we must use every opportunity to make it happen. What can you do to help? The 2017 AGM of the Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Fund Inc is to take place on Tuesday 29th August at 7.30pm in the Heritage Centre, 89 Thompson Ave, Cowes, and you are all invited to come along. All positions will be declared vacant and a new team will be established, anyone interested in being part of the committee should contact the Secretary Peter McMahon on 0418 533 256. The numbers used in this article come from the latest Census in 2016. Authorised by the Secretary Peter McMahon Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Fund Inc.

06.01.2022 Seeking some super awesome folk to donate a few hours to help fundraise for our cause. The Superbikes are on the 24-26th of Feb and they need parking attendants. Send a PM through this page for more info

05.01.2022 Q5. I own a holiday home on Phillip Island. I am not there a great proportion of the year. Why should I have to foot the bill of another Aquatic Centre in the Shire by paying increased rates? A5. The building of an Aquatic Centre on Phillip Island will no doubt add to the value of your property, through making it a more attractive rental proposition. If you dont rent it out, the Centre will be available to you, your friends, your family and particularly any grandchildren that visit your property. Maybe you will get to see your friends and family more often. The building of the Aquatic Centre will also increase the resale value of your property the value of your holiday home asset will be greater.

05.01.2022 The 2016 AGM for the PIAC Fund Inc. will be held on Tues 30th August at 7.30 pm at The Heritage Centre in Cowes. Committee positions are up for re-election and membership subscriptions are due for renewal. It's been a busy year with much progress towards a pool for Phillip Island. Come on along and hear all about it and find out what's happening next!

05.01.2022 Calling out for help from volunteers to assist us with parking attendants for the upcoming Superbikes. We are looking for volunteers for Fri 28th, Sat 29th of Feb and Sun 1st March. The hours will either be 8am to 1pm, or 1pm to 5pm each day. Please contact Peter at [email protected] or SMS 0418533256... Many thanks!

04.01.2022 Last week Peter McMahon (Secretary) and Don Turner (President) re-presented to the current council, a presentation given to council in 2015. This is in relation to the site of the future Phillip Island Aquatic Centre and a response to the surprising decision by the current council to not build the centre next to the new medical hub as was intended. More news to come following the council meeting this week and the power point presentation can be viewed by clicking on the following link to our website. http://www.piac.org.au/ho/presentation-to-council-june-2017

04.01.2022 The role of a pool in a post-COVID Phillip Island The crippling effects of COVID restrictions on our tourist-based economy, are evident by the empty shops in town, increased homelessness, and greater reliance of the PICAL Foodbank. It is obvious that the process of building a modern, state of the art Aquatic Centre will directly stimulate the economy during the construction phase, and with new employment opportunities both in operational and in health and well-being roles.... What is less obvious, is that the presence of a new Aquatic facility will provide a platform to rebuild existing businesses, and grow new ones, based on multi-day visitation for swim carnivals and training camps using the extensive range of accommodation, dining and other attractions that Phillip Island has to offer. One thing that COVID has made us aware of, is that we must diversify our tourist offerings and focus on the domestic market rather than international tourists. Having a modern aquatic facility can give us such a focus and provide that positive shot in the arm, that is much needed after the huge adverse impact COVID restrictions have had across most of our local businesses. We are all feeling social isolation at this time, the lack of physically being with our friends and families pulls at us all. We know that providing social interaction and varied exercise is important for mental and physical health and well-being for all of our community. Whilst it is very important for the young need to be able to enjoy play and sport with their friends, we should not underestimate the importance of the opportunity for our senior citizens to engage in safe group activities, especially after feeling so vulnerable during the pandemic. An Aquatic Centre will provide the means to do this. With the development of the new Junior High School and expansion at the Star of the Sea, there is likely to be an increase in younger families being drawn to the area, especially now it has been clearly established that people can work remotely. This will mean an increase in the numbers of children on Phillip Island and surrounds. We need to cater for this so that we can provide basic water safety classes for children as mandated by the State government. Currently, there is simply not the capacity to do so on Bass Coast Shire. For children who live on an Island, not being able to swim can be life threatening. Having a pool on Phillip Island will address this and result in more confident children, who may even become our future life-savers. Perhaps the most important aspect of building a swimming pool on Phillip Island will be creating a positive mindset for the future. After all, Islanders will be seeing a dream fulfilled that has been identified as the most desired improvement on Phillip Island by the residents for nearly a quarter of a century. Why not become a member and hear more of our ideas at our upcoming Virtual AGM on the 6th October, just go to our website www.piac.org.au

03.01.2022 During past fundraising efforts, donations towards pavers/bricks were paid by the community to be laid at the Phillip Island Aquatic Centre once built. From time to time questions are asked about this. As a committee we acknowledge that in total $14,100 was raised with the paver sales, which is currently held by our group. Should anyone wish to confirm their name is on the list they can contact us. We can't publish the list publicly for privacy reasons. Please email [email protected] Bass Coast Shire Council FYI

02.01.2022 https://tinyurl.com/PIACF-2019-petition

02.01.2022 From the Phillip Island & San Remo Advertiser . Phillip Island residents should start lobbying all Bass Coast Shire councillors to ensure Cowes gets a community pool. That’s the message from the Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Fund after councillors last week voted to accept a feasibility study for pools in both Cowes and Wonthaggi and release it for community consultation, at the Phillip Island Leisure Centre, June 9 and 12, 9am to 1pm....Continue reading

01.01.2022 The Annual General Meeting of Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Fund Inc. will be held on Tuesday 6th October 2020 at 6pm via Zoom. The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be: 1) an update on the progress of the group... 2) conducting elections for committee 3) latest version of our Aspirational Recreation Plan Conducting an AGM via Zoom is a new situation. It will require attendees to pre-register with their name and email. Please email [email protected] with your expression of interest to attend the AGM and you will be sent to link to the meeting.