Concepts out for new Batemans Bay aquatic, arts centre

Eurobodalla Council is seeking community feedback on three layouts for the new Batemans Bay Regional Aquatic, Arts and Leisure Centre at Mackay Park.

The concepts were created by the firm appointed to design the centre, NBRS Architecture, and include the same elements laid out in three different ways. Community feedback about the layout will guide the architects in preparing a final design, expected to be a hybrid of the three.

Concept A incorporates a boulevard between the aquatic and theatre components, Concept B separates the two areas completely, while Concept C proposes a fully-combined facility, with shared foyer.

Eurobodalla Mayor Liz Innes said it was exciting to see the project move forward.

“This is going to be incredible facility for our community, and if you want to have a say on how you would like it to come together, now is the time,” she said.

“We want to know what people like and don’t like about each of the three concept layouts and why.

“We will provide the feedback to the architects, who will use it to refine a final design that will be presented to councillors for their consideration later this year. We imagine the final design will be a hybrid of the three layouts, so I really encourage everyone to check out the concepts and let Council know their thoughts.”

The concepts incorporate feedback put forward by representatives from more than 90 potential user groups in October. These groups will have another opportunity to meet with the architects and discuss the concepts in February, and again once a final design is ready.

A survey is available on Council’s website  to make it easy for community members to share their thoughts.

Council will hold drop-in kiosks at Batemans Bay’s Village Centre from 9am-5.30pm on Friday 11 January, Thursday 17 January, Saturday 19 January, Thursday 24 January, Friday 25 January, Thursday 31 January and Saturday 2 February, where the community can talk to Council staff and fill out the survey.

Clr Innes acknowledged the timing is over the busy holiday period and might not suit everyone.

“It’s why the feedback period is six weeks to give people enough time to have a say after school goes back,” she said.

“Council received the three concepts from the architects just before Christmas and did not want to delay sharing them with the community.

“We’re on a tight schedule, and the grant program requires us to spend the money within a certain timeframe.

“We also want to get this thing built. The Batemans Bay community has been waiting decades for this facility.”

Construction is planned to start early 2020 to have the centre open for summer 2021. The build is planned so Batemans Bay Pool will only be closed for one swimming season once work is underway.

Clr Innes said Council was “quietly confident” in receiving the remaining funding from the federal government.

“We know that we’ve progressed to the next stage and that funding has been assigned,” she said.

“We should know more by February but each of the concepts do include a staging plan should Council not be successful in attracting full funding upfront.”

Hard copy information and surveys will also be available at Batemans Bay, Moruya and Narooma Libraries, Council’s Customer Service Centre in Moruya, Batemans Bay, Narooma and Moruya swimming centres and the drop-in kiosks in Batemans Bay.