Better Sports and Recreation facilities for Cardinia Shire

Cardinia Shire Council has taken its next step to deliver better sport and recreation facilities for the Cardinia Shire community by endorsing a draft scope for the overall redevelopment of its leisure and aquatic facility - Cardinia Life. 

The scope includes much-needed upgrades across the stadium, aquatics and health and fitness areas, and the overall project would include 4 indoor stadium courts including a show court and seating area, a 50m indoor pool and children’s aquatics, and new gymnastics, gymnasium, and fitness class spaces. 

Cardinia Shire Mayor Cr Jeff Springfield said that while Cardinia Life is still a functional facility, it does not meet contemporary standards for leisure and aquatic facilities or current and future community demand. 

“A feasibility study from 2021 identified the need and opportunity to significantly upgrade the facility to provide spaces, programs and services that meet the needs of our growing community now, and into the future. 

“Following an almost two-month long community engagement period, Council has taken the results from the engagement and the feasibility study and developed a scope for the delivery of a community-focussed redevelopment project that will see Cardinia Life become a real asset to the health and wellbeing of our community. 

The overall redevelopment plan is estimated at around $114 million - comparable to other leisure and aquatic facility projects of a similar size – with stage 1 works estimated at around $40 million. 

Stage 1 works would focus on the stadium, including construction of four stadium courts, gymnastics facility, change rooms, office space, storage, and car parking. 

“Council has $20 million earmarked for the project in its long-term financial plan, but external funding is absolutely essential to progress this project. 

While advocating and seeking complementary funding to help deliver the project, Council will progress with concept and detailed designs and a report is due to be presented to the Council in 2023. Additional community engagement opportunities will be provided throughout the project. 

For more information on the redevelopment project: visit www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/cardinialiferedevelopment