In 2020 the City started working with a Community Reference Group who represent a cross section of key stakeholders and community members. They have helped develop the long-term vision for the project.

There was a public Expression of Interest process for Community Reference Group members. This process resulted in eight community members plus representatives from Eaglehawk Croquet Club and Empowering Eaglehawk coming together to make up the Reference Group.

The Group's role was to identify community needs and make suggestions to Council about how the redevelopment project might best meet those needs. To do this, the CRG members talked with more than 50 different organisations and individuals including Traditional Owners and Indigenous people, young people, older people, families and children, people with disability, culturally diverse people, community / for-purpose organisations, sporting clubs, service providers and businesses. The CRG also reviewed community profile (demographic) information and facility audit data, and undertook some facility tours / inspections.

The Community Reference Group has recommended redeveloping the Centre into a more multi-purpose community hub with better indoor / outdoor connections and the City has agreed that this is a good long-term vision.

The Community Reference Group’s research, supported by technical reports, found the Centre’s existing aquatic facilities still have approximately 15 to 20 years remaining lifespan while the Centre’s other section has much less.

This is one of the reasons the community hub is the highest priority or first stage of the project.

The City owns the facility however YMCA Victoria currently has the contract for the Centre’s management. The YMCA have had a long association with Centre.

The Centre is home to some regular user groups including:

• Bendigo Hawks Swimming Club
• Bendigo Barracudas Special Olympics Team

• YServices Club of Eaglehawk – Men’s
• YServices Club of Eaglehawk – Women’s
• Empowering Eaglehawk

Peter Krenz Centre currently features a range of facilities including a fully equipped gymnasium, group fitness studio, four squash courts, single court stadium and meeting rooms. It also features aquatic facilities including a spa, steam room and three heated pools (50 metre, 25 metre and toddler pool). Some of the current facilities such as the squash courts are no longer used.

Stage 1 of the redevelopment is not proposing any changes to the Centre’s aquatic facilities because they still have approximately 15 to 20 years of remaining lifespan. The community hub has been made the highest priority (or first stage of the project) because that part of the Centre has nearly reached the end of its lifespan.

Planning for the future of the Centre’s aquatic facilities will be done in Stage 2.

It is likely the croquet facilities will be able to stay in place for Stage 1 but will need to be removed in future stages. The City is working with Club members about future options for the Club.

The Eaglehawk Library is currently located in the Mechanics Institute Hall in Sailors Gully Road and is also an important community facility. However, the library has outgrown its current home and the Centre redevelopment provides a unique opportunity to incorporate the library into the community hub and provide a better library service.

Specialist community facility planners and designers, Otium Planning Group and Peddle Thorp Architects, have worked with the City and the Community Reference Group to develop the concept plan.

The project is currently unfunded and it will require considerable, future funding commitments from the City and the Victorian and Australian Governments.

Major projects like this are a great investment in our community’s future wellbeing and prosperity, but they do cost a lot of money and take a long time to plan. Future funding commitments from the City plus the Victorian and Australian Governments will be needed for the project to go ahead.

Even with funding from other levels of government, project affordability will remain a key challenge and the City will need to balance the need for this project with other community projects across Greater Bendigo.

The suggested timeframes are:

Stage 1

• Fully design the community hub – by 2027
• Build the community hub – by 2032

Stage 2

• Plan for the future of the Centre’s aquatic facilities – by 2037

The City wants to hear your thoughts on:

• What you like about the concept plan
• How the community hub will benefit you
• If you have ideas for improving the concept plan
• If you have any concerns about the project and how those concerns could be resolved

Your feedback is important so we can create a great community hub for everyone.