Council rejects Brighton style sea baths for Phillip Island

WITH Phillip Island bumped to second place behind Wonthaggi in the marathon race for a long awaited and much needed aquatic centre Bass Coast Shire Council has formally rejected the possibility of sea baths as an interim solution.

Addressing a specific question regarding a proposed sea baths facility in Cowes during council question time, Bass Coast Shire said the timetable for the delivery of a dedicated Phillip Island aquatic centre did not include sea baths.

Raising the idea of sea baths as a creative alternative to a traditional indoor swimming pool a passionate local resident specifically asked why council had not considered building a distinctive “Brighton-style” sea baths right here in Cowes.

It was argued that a sea baths facility would serve as a magnificent tourism card and provide an immediate health asset for local residents while the town waits patiently for a permanent indoor aquatic facility.

In response to the community suggestion council acknowledged the unique appeal of a sea baths facility noting that that it had the clear potential to operate simultaneously as both a valuable community health asset and major regional tourism drawcard.

However, the executive management team explicitly emphasised that a coastal construction project of this magnitude could not be approved without exhaustive preliminary evaluations.

“Any future sea baths proposal would naturally require rigorous feasibility studies, comprehensive environmental and planning permits, precise construction costings, a sustainable model for ongoing operational expenses, and secure funding.”

Council also clearly noted that securing substantial external financial funding sources would be a mandatory prerequisite before any such marine project could be formally approved or even considered.

The public conversation then shifted to the highly anticipated Phillip Island aquatic facility. Disappointed locals questioned why Cowes continued to lack the modern, fully equipped swimming infrastructure enjoyed by neighbouring Wonthaggi.

Council pointed directly to its strategic roadmap to manage these community expectations. Following a comprehensive municipal review, an amended Bass Coast Aquatics Strategy was officially adopted in 2026.

This updated framework firmly established that a dedicated Phillip Island aquatic facility remained a priority, but its delivery was explicitly sequenced to follow the major redevelopment of the existing Bass Coast Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Wonthaggi.

Furthermore, council clarified that breaking ground on the Phillip Island site remained strictly subject to securing sufficient future capital funding from government grants.

Beyond aquatic infrastructure, public question time highlighted the logistical hurdles faced by organisers of major community celebrations such as Christmas carols.

Organisers of the 2026 Wonthaggi Community Carols sought urgent council guidance on securing a reliable wet-weather contingency venue. After severe weather forced a disappointing cancellation last year, passionate planners are eager to safeguard the upcoming festivities, which historically attract over 1,200 festive attendees.

The Community Carols committee asked whether Wonthaggi possessed a municipal indoor venue capable of safely accommodating up to 1,000 participants in the event of rain.

While validating the cultural importance of the holiday carols, council clarified that the event remained entirely community-run. From a venue perspective, officials confirmed that while the local Union Theatre was a viable indoor option, its strict maximum capacity was capped at approximately 420 people. Council admitted the municipality currently lacked a single large indoor asset capable of housing a crowd of 1,000.

Despite this venue gap, council confirmed that staff were actively working alongside the carols' organising committee to explore alternative, compliant wet-weather contingencies to ensure the 2026 event could proceed safely and successfully.