Monash councillors have rejected an $83.7 million plan to redevelop the Monash Aquatic and Recreation Centre (MARC), sending staff back to find cheaper options that could include demolishing the 25-year-old facility and building a new hub.

🗓️ How’d we get here? Over recent years, the facility has been burdened with heavy community demand, ageing infrastructure, frequent equipment shutdowns and accessibility issues, with talks of an upgrade stretching back to 2018.

🏗️ A refresh: Council staff called the multi-million dollar design the “best value proposition”, with proposed upgrades including full electrification of the centre and inclusion of new 500-kilowatt solar cells, a new car park with about 120 spaces, new outdoor change facilities, expansion of warm water facilities and new fitness and gym spaces.

⏸️ Pool pause: Monash councillors knocked back recommendations to green-light the $83.7 million initial design plans for public consultation and instead passed a motion to investigate cheaper options, including the construction of a new aquatic facility on the site.

⌛ Why the wait? Monash councillor Geoff Lake said the council needed to assess and consider all options before committing to a project that “would have a very significant financial impact on our budget for years to come”.

⏭️ What’s next? The  deferral will push the timeline out for consultation early next year, followed by detailed design that could then begin in late 2027 or early 2028 and construction to begin between late 2029 and mid-2031.