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Moorabool Aquatic and Recreation Centre (MARC)

An Indoor Aquatic Centre for Bacchus Marsh is a high priority for Moorabool Shire and the local community, who have been actively advocating for this project for many years.

It forms the centrepiece of a major new sports and recreation precinct in Bacchus Marsh – the Moorabool Aquatic and Recreation Centre (MARC) - and will provide a much-needed recreation facility for our region.

Unlike similar-sized towns in Victoria, Bacchus Marsh does not have an indoor aquatic facility. The existing outdoor pool was built in the 1930s and no longer meets the needs of the community.

There is widespread community support for this project and a high demand for year-round pool facilities in Bacchus Marsh with 56% of surveyed pool users having to travel outside the Shire to participate in swimming activities at indoor pools in other municipalities.

Will create more than 200 direct and indirect jobs during construction and generate more than $100M in economic activity during the life of the project. The precinct will add to other important recreation facilities in the area including Maddingley Park. Council is seeking to partner with the State and Federal Governments to make this game-changing sports and recreation precinct a reality.

The Moorabool Aquatic and Recreation Centre is a three stage development that consists of the following:

Stage One: Indoor Sports Stadium
Stage Two: Regional Bowls Facility
Stage Three: Indoor Aquatic Centre

Indoor Sports Stadium

A new 4-court indoor sports stadium will enable existing sports to expand and ensure a greater number of residents can participate in various levels of competition. The project includes:

4 indoor sports courts
Community cafe and seating
Public amenities
Athlete and referee change rooms
Administration office
Merchandise area

Indoor Aquatic Centre

This project will upgrade the pool to a year-round multipurpose recreation centre, featuring aquatic, health, fitness and leisure facilities to meet community and visitor needs.

25 metre indoor lap pool
A Leisure and Learn to swim pool
Warm water program pool
Changing facilities including family and accessible change rooms
Spa, Steam and Sauna
Café offering high-quality food with a large seating area
Gym, group fitness and spin studios
High priority disability access
Multipurpose spaces
Carparking and access requirements

Regional Bowls Facility

The merger between the Bacchus Marsh Bowling Club and Avenue Bowling Club provides an opportunity for the clubs to come together in a modern purpose-built facility in the heart of a major new sport and recreation precinct. The new facility will provide:

Social/Bowling Club Facilities
Bistro
Commercial kitchen and bar
Community function and meeting rooms
Amenities to support the above facilities and bowling greens
2.5/3 new bowling greens
All weather cover over one (possibly two) of the bowling greens
Bowls Club storage
Maintenance facilities for bowling greens
Outdoor decking/dining
Landscaping
Carparking

Project Updates

December 2019	Council awarded a contract for the design of the entire facility. The contract was awarded to Peddle Thorp Architects
Throughout the design	Consultation occurred with a large number of community groups, sporting clubs and sport associations throughout the design.
June 2021	Council were successful in attracting $1,925,000 from the State Govt via the Local Sports Infrastructure Fund – Better Indoor Stadium Fund.
October 2021 - December 2021	Council advertised an open tender for the construction of Stage One.
January 2022	Council awarded a contract for the construction of stage one at a Special Meeting of Council on Thursday 27 January 2022. The contract was awarded to one of regional Victoria’s leading contractors in AW. Nicholson Pty Ltd. The value of the project inclusive of design, construction, fit-out and the upgrading of services to the site is $19M. Works will commence in March 2022 and will be completed in May 2023.