Eurobodalla Shire Councillors will vote on the preferred design for Batemans Bay's new aquatic and arts centre at the Tuesday, August 27, council meeting in Moruya.
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The design includes less seating in the arts centre than originally envisaged and one less pool.
If they vote to proceed, a development application will be lodged for determination by the NSW Government's Southern Regional Planning Panel.
A detailed design would be finalised prior to a tender process for the construction of the centre.
Councillors will need to consider additional costs for the project.
"Councillors have been briefed on, and will need to consider, additional funding sources for the project," the council said in the agenda.
They will be asked to vote on an arts centre with less seating than originally envisaged - down from 500 to 350 seats. The report to be considered on Tuesday said the architects had engaged "Richard Stuart, recognised Australia-wide as a subject matter expert in theatre and production, as part of the design team".
"He recommended that a theatre with approximately 350 seats would meet both our short and long term requirements," the report said.
"The Project Coordinator then spoke to a number of theatre operators to compare and validate the recommendations made by Mr Stuart ... it is considered the optimum size of the theatre to be approximately 350 seats."
The proposed learn-to-swim pool has also been incorporated into the planned leisure pool in the design to be voted on.
The 25-metre lap pool would have 10 lanes but could be converted to eight for competitions. This was recommended due to "capital cost pressures".
There would be a heated hydrotherapy pool and waterslides.
"The preferred concept design is the result of extensive community engagement," a spokesperson said.
"Council was assisted by the Mackay Park Sunset Advisory Committee to formulate principles which resulted in three concept designs for the complex."
The council said feedback from the community, user groups and key stakeholders was then used by the design team, NBRS Architecture, to develop the preferred concept design.
"Councillors, key stakeholders (Mackay Park Sunset Advisory Committee, president of the Batemans Bay Swim Club, and the Audit Risk and Improvement Committee) have already seen the preferred concept design," a spokesperson said.
"With $51 million in secured funding - $25 million from the Commonwealth Government and $26 million from the NSW Government - the combined aquatic centre and theatre and arts space at Mackay Park fulfills decades-long community wishes.
"The aquatic centre consists of a heated eight-lane 25-metre pool, water program, leisure and learn-to-swim pools, and waterslides, while the theatre is a flexible performance space with retractable seating for 350, with attached arts, performance and amenities rooms."
For more information including the meeting agenda and concept designs, visit https://www.esc.nsw.gov.au/inside-council/council/meetings
