ACTIVE: Tim Gentle, Carl Barkmeyer, Shelley Mulqueen, Heather Gartside, Cr Rod Fyffe, Jill Barker, Cr Elise Chapman, Andrew Cameron, Ben Maw, Geoff Bowyer and Cr Barry Lyons together will help to shape the Kangaroo Flat Aquatic and Leisure Centre. Picture: Jodie Donnellan
A GROUP of 14 people will help shape the future of the proposed multi-million-dollar Kangaroo Flat Aquatic and Leisure Centre.
A community reference group has been established and endorsed by the City of Greater Bendigo and is hard at work brainstorming ways forward for the project.
The group is made up by: Carl Barkmeyer, Alan Besley, Andrew Cameron, Christine Brunner, Jill Barker, Tim Gentle, Heather Odgers, Heather Gartside, Shelley Mulqueen, Dave Richardson, Ben Maw, Geoff Bowyer, Cheryl Axell, Aleisha Rutland, along with City of Greater Bendigo councillors Barry Lyons, Rod Fyffe and Elise Chapman.
Chair of the reference group Cr Barry Lyons said the group had met once and would continue to meet a couple of times a year or as needed.
“It’s exciting,” he said.
“We’ve got a real cross-section of the community – from professionals to swimming people to design people – and their ideas and opinions will be incorporated to whatever we build.
“We’re not going to build something and hope the people like it, we’re going to build what they want.”
The project management responsibility has been assigned to Director City Futures Stan Liacos and Manager Major Projects Rachel Lee but it is anticipated the reference group will play an important role in providing advice on behalf of the community.
“The group as a collective have an extensive range of skills and bring plenty of experience and knowledge to the table,” Cr Lyons said.
“This group represents the interests of a diverse range of professions and interest groups and they all believe in the project and want to see it delivered to the community.
“They also have strong connections to the Kangaroo Flat and broader Greater Bendigo community.
“The group will meet about three times each year or more frequently if need be.
“The reference group will play an important role in this project so that we can build a successful new community facility that meets the needs of the rapidly growing Bendigo region well into the future.”
Geoff Bowyer, a representative from Kangaroo Flat Community Enterprise and Kangaroo Flat Sports Club, said the proposed facility would be more than just a pool and recreational area.
“What we’re going to have here is a first class facility – a well-being facility that will service the whole community,” Mr Bowyer said.
