Community
23 October, 2026
Feasibility study into aquatic needs
MOYNE Shire Council has welcomed a $40,000 Victorian Government funding commitment to support a feasibility study and business case for a potential new indoor aquatic facility in Moyne Shire.
The funding will complement council’s existing commitment of $80,000, enabling the detailed investigation identified as an immediate priority in the recently adopted Aquatics Facilities Strategy 2026-2036.
Mayor Cr Jordan Lockett said the funding was an important step forward in understanding whether a future indoor aquatic facility could be delivered in Moyne Shire.
“Good decisions start with good information,” Cr Lockett said.
“We need to understand whether an indoor aquatic facility is feasible, where it may be best located, what services it should provide, how much it would cost to build and operate, and what level of community benefit it would deliver.
“This study is about gathering the information we need to make evidence-based decisions for the future and we are grateful for the government’s support through this funding.”
At its June 2026 meeting, council adopted the Aquatics Facilities Strategy 2026-2036 following extensive community engagement and stakeholder consultation.
As part of that decision, council committed $80,000 in the 2026-27 Budget to commission a feasibility study and business case for a new indoor aquatic facility within Moyne Shire and resolved to actively pursue external funding opportunities to support the work.
Cr Lockett said aquatic facilities require significant capital investment and ongoing operational funding, so it was critical council properly understands the opportunities, challenges and long-term implications before considering any next steps.
“Securing external funding for this study is an important step forward,” he said.
“It gives us the opportunity to properly explore what an indoor aquatic facility could look like for Moyne and what would be required to make it a reality.
“This is the beginning of an important planning and decision-making process. We need to understand the options, the costs and the long-term sustainability of a facility before we can make informed decisions about future investment.”
Cr Lockett said the community deserved a thorough and honest assessment to understand if an indoor aquatic facility in Moyne was possible, so that any future decisions were grounded in good information, realistic costs and the needs of the community.
Council will now undertake a procurement process to engage a specialist consultant to deliver the study, aiming to start work early in the new year.
