Carnegie Swim Centre Redevelopment

We asked

We asked our community questions about the architectural concept design for the Carnegie Swim Centre Redevelopment via Glen Eira Have Your Say. They were:

• How strongly do you agree with the statement: the concept design sits well within the landscape?
• How strongly do you agree with the statement: I am generally supportive of the current concept design?

You said

The survey results were as follows:

• 80.9% either ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ that the concept design sits well within the landscape.
• 78.9% of the community were supportive of the concept design presented.

Community feedback referred to numerous aspects of the design, such as maintaining the current swim centre’s nostalgic feel, retaining the eastern hill, inclusion of brickwork into the design and providing shaded areas outdoors. Community feedback was also received on the traffic and parking report. Overall, the community were very positive and supportive of the concept design.

We did

Council noted the community consultation feedback received in relation to the architectural concept design and the traffic and parking analysis. At the 1 September 2020 Ordinary Council Meeting, Council endorsed the concept design. Community feedback received will be analysed further during the design phase.

Carnegie Swim Centre is a much-loved part of Glen Eira where many memories have been made for more than 50 years.

At a recent Council meeting, Council endorsed a redevelopment option to commence concept design for the new Carnegie Swim Centre.

The endorsed option, Option B, includes the retention of the existing embankment and an upgrade of the existing 50 metre pool that acknowledges the nostalgia of this iconic space, with the addition of indoor pools to respond to community need.

Also included arean indoor sauna and steam room, accessible changerooms, two program rooms (not a gym), outdoor children’s water play, barbeques and shaded seating areas.

Council resolved in October 2019 to consult with the community on three proposed redevelopment options for the Carnegie Swim Centre, which were:

Option A: Redeveloped swim centre with indoor and outdoor pools and beach volleyball.

Option B: Redeveloped swim centre with indoor and outdoor pools and an outdoor diving pool.

Option C: Close existing swim centre, re-establish open space and investigate options to extend Glen Eira Sports and Aquatic Centre (GESAC).

For over 3 months, between mid-October 2019 and the end of January 2020, we consulted on these proposed options to gather feedback on preferences from the community. The engagement process included a short survey to select a preferred redevelopment option, as well as opportunity to provide comments and any other feedback.

Over 1,300 responses were received, reflecting Option B as the most popular with almost 74% of the vote from the community.

Of the 792 written comments submitted, 96% of responses were positive in support of redevelopment. Only 4% of responses were opposed to any redevelopment.

Some of the themes arising from the consultation were:

• Make the redeveloped centre a year-round facility
• Ensure a sustainable, energy efficient and climate sensitive centre
• Accessible and inclusive for all ages and abilities
• Keep entry cost affordable
• Retain all open space

Historical sentiment was also raised as being important to the community, honouring the memorial pool and the acknowledgement of those who served in the world wars was strongly valued. Closely linked to this was the desire to uphold the sense of nostalgia which the current facility evokes.

Traffic and parking were also clear themes, including the impact on traffic if the proposed closure of Moira Avenue was to proceed.

The next step in the process will be preparing the concept design and a further stage of community consultation. This will seek feedback on the proposed concept design, as well as the traffic and parking analysis for the proposed redevelopment, including the impacts of closing Moira Avenue.

An architect and specialist design team have been appointed and will be engaging with the Community Reference Group, as well as using the valuable feedback gathered through the community engagement, to inform the concept design in preparation for the next phase of consultation.