Aqualink Nunawading
Aqualink Nunawading, within the Whitehorse municipality, has been central the community and the people’s health and wellbeing for more than 60 years. The facility no longer meets the growing needs of the community, with two pools at capacity at peak times, and facing DDA non-compliance.
Adding to these challenges, Whitehorse’s population is set to expand by more than 26% in the next 20 years and will materially increase further from infrastructure developments such as the Suburban Rail Loop.
The Council wanted to undertake a detailed business case to understand the costs of Aqualink Nunawading’s redevelopment versus closure with the social and economic impacts to the community being front of mind.
OUR ROLE
Appointed to deliver a detailed business case that would serve to influence investment, Ontoit collated the key issues and defined the investment logic, leading Whitehorse City Council and its key stakeholders through the process. We undertook essential stakeholder consultation to define the facilities’ infrastructure and concept design options, cost and risk assessment, program and procurement strategy, operating and financial modelling; components which each inform and validate the business case and ensure the solution
meet the needs of the community.
Written to align to the Victorian Government Department of Treasury and Finance guidelines, the business case serves to inform the council how they can justify and clearly approach the redevelopment of Aqualink.
Ontoit has put the case for redevelopment to support capital investment from all tiers of government.
OUTCOMES
Not only is the business case aligned to State and Federal policies and frameworks, it also documents the most viable and best project solution, one that will serve the community, support their health and wellbeing in new ways and can cater to projected population growth in the municipality.
The Business Case clearly articulates the value of the redevelopment of Aqualink Nunawading, which if to close would cost the community $15.6M annually in foregone health and wellbeing benefits.
