GIPPSLAND REGIONAL AQUATIC CENTRE

Constructing a world-class facility in a regional centre is always a huge undertaking. But during a pandemic, it’s a feat of Olympic-sized proportions.

Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre’s opening in March 2021 wasn’t just the unveiling of a highly anticipated facility. It was a celebration of overcoming adversity. Unsurprisingly it’s been a drawcard ever since, with around 400,000 visitors enjoying the state-of-the-art facilities over the past two years.

Latrobe City Mayor Kellie O’Callaghan says it’s a triumph for the community and the region.

“You can always anticipate what you think the community will do in relation to adapting to these new facilities, but I don’t hesitate in any way to say the response to GRAC has been overwhelming,” said Kellie.

“We knew it would be a strong response from the community, we knew that there was a lot of desire to see a facility of this type built not just here but in the region.”

The almost $60 million facility attracted $46 million in State Government funding, with a further eight-million-dollar investment via Sport and Recreation Victoria’s Community Sports Infrastructure Loan Scheme, delivered by the Latrobe Valley Authority in partnership with Latrobe City.

In just two years, GRAC has become a centrepiece of health and well-being in the region.

It boasts an eight-lane, 50-metre, FINA-approved indoor pool with 500 seat grandstand, an indoor water play zone, two large water slides, a learn-to-swim pool, water therapy pool, spa, sauna, steam rooms, wellness centre, cafe and retail precinct and a 25-metre heated outdoor pool.

“The way people use it is fairly diverse. For some it is recreational, for some it is more of a rehabilitation kind of thing. But the social connection and gathering opportunities that’s created by significant infrastructure like GRAC is really important and particularly as we come out of circumstances where we couldn’t always get together, I think people have taken that opportunity to get involved, get engaged in it and find new ways to find the spaces.”

The centre has provided a recreational hub for those in the Latrobe Valley and beyond. Since opening, its hosted more than 33,000 group fitness classes, and 24,000 learn-to-swim classes. It also provides rehabilitation facilities and opportunities for visitors of all abilities.

“Just a culture of supporting each other in terms of moving and feeling engaged and feeling able to come to health and recreation in a supportive environment, an all abilities-focused environment and that’s certainly been something that we’ve had a real commitment to.”