The Lorne Foreshore precinct has received a $758,000 Brumby Labor government grant to heat up the Lorne Pool and Foreshore Precinct.
The Regional Infrastructure Development Fund grant will heat the Lorne Pool and Foreshore Precinct through the Geoexchange system.
The $858,000 project includes the installation of the Geoexchange system consisting of two main components:
• Ground source heat pumps which will use heat transfer of ground source energy to heat the swimming pool and associated hydrotherapy pools and spas and will also be used to cool building spaces; and
• The ground heat exchanger serving water-to-water heat pumps.
The Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP said this was a project that many Lorne community members have worked very hard to get off the ground.
“It is another example of the Government’s determination and commitment to supporting families and communities living and working in rural and regional Victoria.
“It will allow for year round use of the pool and precinct by local and surrounding communities and visitors to Lorne and the Great Ocean Road Area.
“This project will build on the very strong tourism industry throughout Lorne and the Great Ocean Road, as well as providing state of the art infrastructure for the local Lorne community.
“As well as delivering year round use for these excellent facilities, this project will also demonstrate Geoexchange technology as an economically viable method for heating public swimming pool.
Surfcoast Shire Mayor Cr Libby Coker said this is a great project for the Lorne community and for visitors to the area.
“This project will give the Lorne community year round use of our pool, allowing for activities such as swimming lessons and local fitness programs to run through the winter months.
“It will also attract further visitation to the Lorne Foreshore Precinct boosting the positive economic impacts of tourism in the area.
The Surfcoast Shire, together with the Lorne Community and GORCC will contribute $100,000 to this excellent project, which is a great example of local communities working with their local and state government to enhance local community infrastructure,” Ms Coker said.
This project is a part of the Brumby Government’s Regional Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) which will receive another $260 million under the Ready for Tomorrow Blueprint released last week.
“This is the largest single investment since the fund’s inception, taking the Victorian Labor Government’s investment in RIDF to $871 million.
“We spent our first 10 years in government putting the heart back into regional and rural Victoria and we want to work in partnership with rural and regional communities such as Lorne to build a prosperous future for families,” Ms Tierney said.