The head of Geelong council says surprise state plans for an Armstrong Creek pool complex were neither wanted or needed.
At an inquiry into the now-ditched Commonwealth games for which the aquatic centre was to be built for, city CEO Ali Wastie says locals were blindsided by the news.
“It is likely to cannibalise the success of the Surf Coast Shire offering and also the pools in the surrounding area,” she said.
The state government says it is pressing ahead with the project but in a greatly scaled back form, with a learn-to-swim pool and sports courts now planned, but Geelong council continues to say it is not a priority.
Ms Wastie was speaking before an upper house hearing that’s been scrutinising the government for its controversial decision to back out of the regional games due to cost blowouts. The hearing was in Geelong on Tuesday to speak with local sporting, government, business and tourism groups, who’ve all expressed varying levels of concern about the fallout from the cancelled event.
“Some businesses and some people were very adversely impacted by the cancellation of the games, there’s no doubt about that,” Ms Wastie said.
The inquiry is sitting in Ballarat on Wednesday, where the local council, tourism and athletics groups are due to appear.
