Media Release: 8 July 2011

The Great Ocean Road Coast Committee has announced that the heating of the Lorne Pool could not proceed following a full review of the options available. After 3 years of working to achieve the heating of the pool and despite extensive planning
and carrying out design works since last July, Committee CEO Richard Davies announced that all avenues in attempting to realise the project had been exhausted.  

The improvements to the pool's facilities and infrastructure will continue to go ahead as planned. These include a new water play area, leisure water space, new change rooms, first aid room, upgrades to the pool's pipes, pumps and overall infrastructure, and improved access for people with disabilities.

For more information, access the media release here.

Progress report 26 August 2010

• The Lorne Pool Working Party met on 3 August 2010 with this meeting marking a new direction for the group, which is now acting in an advisory and communication capacity to support the project.
• The meeting provided members with an overview of the project and how we will project manage it. There was also some discussion around the local community’s expectations of the pool’s operations, which encompassed design characteristics, availability and costs. These will be considered during the project’s design phase.
• Work is currently underway to engage a design firm to complete the requisite detailed design and documentation, and proposals have already been received for consideration. The working party will re-convene later this year to review the draft design prior to construction works being tendered.

Progress report 28 July 2010

• The Lorne Pool Working Party - comprising representatives from the Lorne community, Surf Coast Shire, Landcorp Foreshore Precinct Pty Ltd and ourselves - is due to re-convene at the beginning of August and commence its role in an advisory and communication capacity to support the project.
• The Great Ocean Road Coast Committee will be responsible for administering all project funding and reporting to the funding provider (i.e. Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development). The department has appointed a designated project officer who will liaise with us during the entire project and to whom we will report. A number of project milestones must be achieved to release the funding. These include design and documentation, installation of the ground loop system, heat pump installation and commissioning.
• The next steps include seeking proposals to develop the concept to design stage followed by project estimating and tender documentation. As indicated by our proposed schedule below, we are aiming to have the project ready for tender in February next year with construction to commence after the ANZAC Day weekend.

Proposed project schedule (as at July 2010)

1. July 2010: Finalise project management team (i.e. architect, engineer, project manager, etc.)
2. November 2010: Detailed design, documentation and approvals in place
3. January to February 2011: Project construction tender/procurement
4. March 2011: Appointment of contractors and/or service providers
5. May to August 2011: Project construction
6. August 2011: Project completion
7. September 2011 onwards: Project marketing and promotion

Progress report 1 July 2010

The State Government announces it will provide $758,000 to fund the Lorne Foreshore Precinct Geoexchange Heating Project. Read our media release.

Progress report 30 March 2010

The State Government has advised that more work is needed on the funding application for the Lorne Swimming Pool and Precinct Geoexchange Heating Project before it considers the application further. Specifically, Regional Development Victoria has asked us to explore the possibility of the local community making a financial contribution to the project. To this end, we are continuing to work jointly with the Lorne Pool Working Group, including briefing the Surf Coast Shire to determine its interest in potentially making a financial contribution, either with or on behalf of the local community.