Council owns and manages the Monash Aquatic & Recreation Centre (MARC), located at 626 Waverley Road, Glen Waverley. Council’s vision is to ensure MARC delivers a range of quality aquatic and recreation programs, services and facilities, aimed at improving community health and activity.
MARC needs assessment
A needs assessment is the vital first step undertaken in the planning process for a facility redevelopment.
The MARC Needs Assessment consultation will assist Council to determine what aquatic and recreation facilities and services address our growing community’s needs over the next 10 or more years.
The findings of the needs assessment and community consultation, along with technical condition audits of the facility and plant, will be used to inform the development of an architectural services brief for the design of potential facility development proposals.
Council is seeking to better understand the current and future aquatic and leisure needs of members/users/non-users to help inform the potential redevelopment MARC over the medium to longer term.
Council has already undertaken a member/user survey to better understand the current and future needs of existing users of MARC, who were asked to reflect on their use of MARC and provide information on their level satisfaction or dissatisfaction about various MARC facilities, services and amenities.
Community consultation
Council sought further community feedback until Sunday 31 March 2019.
More information: please call Jackie Grieve, Strategic Leisure Planner on 9518 3559 or email jackie.grieve@monash.vic.gov.au
Council will prepare a summary report from all feedback collected in relation to this survey. The information will be available on this page in April 2019. Please subscribe to page updates to receive email notifications (scroll down below the map).
MARC Needs Assessment - Findings
Council considered community needs assessment at its meeting on Tuesday 26 November 2019.
Please read report to the Council Meeting:
MARC Needs Assessment – Key Findings & Next Steps(PDF, 200KB)
MARC - Needs Analysis Summary Report(PDF, 972KB)
The next step in the MARC redevelopment process is to undertake a comprehensive feasibility study for the redevelopment, services and program priorities.
For more information, please read Council Meeting Decisions (item 2.1) - MARC Needs Assessment(PDF, 287KB)
MARC Needs Assessment - Decision
"That Council:
- Notes the key findings of the Monash Aquatic and Recreation (MARC) Centre Needs Assessment as summarised in this report and as detailed the MARC Needs Assessment Summary Report;
- Directs officers to undertake a feasibility study to develop and assess options for a significant redevelopment of MARC to achieve the following objectives:a) to address the priorities identified in the Needs Assessment and summarised in tables 2 and 3 of the Officers Report;b) to provide a unique and landmark water play offering, including a consideration of water slides and other recreational water-related activities that will attract significant interest to the facility; andc) position MARC as one of Melbourne’s leading and iconic water centres for the next 20 years.
- Require officers to report back on the findings of the Feasibility Study and a recommended redevelopment program with staged works packages for MARC that responds to community needs, optimises community benefit and provides a best value proposition by 30 June 2020; and
- Directs officers to pursue funding opportunities from State and Federal Government and other external sources to support the planning and design of MARC redevelopment priorities"
MARC redevelopment
The findings of the user survey, along with the findings of the broader community consultation, will help Council understand how important various aquatic and recreation facilities, services and amenities are to future needs.
The consultation findings and facility condition data will directly inform the development of an architectural services brief for the detailed design for the staged redevelopment of MARC over the next 10+ years (subject to Council budget adoption). The process for the upgrade of MARC project is outlined below: MARC Redevelopment Process.
MARC Redevelopment Process
2018/19 - Consultation/Data Collection
- Needs Assessment
- Technical Assessments
2019/20 - Feasibility Study
2020/21 - Report to Council
2021/22 - Design (subject to Council approval of feasibility study)
- Appoint Architect
- Detailed Design
Post June 2022 - Construction
- Construction Stage 1
- MARC redevelopment works staged over next 10+ years subject to Council budget approval
Survey Results Existing Users
We received a massive online survey responses from existing MARC users who were asked to reflect on their use of MARC and to identify why MARC is important to them and how facilities and services could be improved.
1,057 people completed the survey, two thirds were female and over 75% live in Glen Waverley, Waverley, Wheelers Hill and Mulgrave.
Existing Use of MARC
95% of people who completed survey use MARC at least once a week, 50% have a centre membership and 35% a learn to swim membership. Consequently, the top two activities or services people use when they visit MARC are the gym or swimming lessons.
92% travel to MARC by car and most use MARC because it is close to home or work, plus the range and quality of facilities meet their needs, the health and fitness facilities and programs offered.
Satisfaction with MARC
Satisfaction with the gym was highest for the quality of the equipment & lowest for access to the equipment at busy times.
For the group fitness room satisfaction was highest for the process for booking into classes & lowest for class times that meet my needs.
For the 50m outdoor pool AND the 25m indoor pool satisfaction was highest for pool depth & lane width & lowest for availability of lanes & pool space.
For the warm water pool satisfaction was highest for the pool depth & lowest for the number of accessible change rooms & pool space.
For the wave pool and water play satisfaction was highest for the pool depth & lowest for the variety of water play activities.
For the learn to swim pool satisfaction was highest for the pool depth & lowest for the space around the pool to watch my children.
For user amenities satisfaction was highest for the space & comfort of the entry foyer & self-entry options & lowest for availability of car
parking including accessible car parking & change rooms including the condition & maintenance & availability of family change rooms.
Important to Future Needs of Users
- Water facilities particularly the size of the warm water pool and the water play facilities offered.
- The quality and size of the change rooms including family and accessible change rooms.
- Car parking accessibility, design and safety
- Safe and clean community hub
Why MARC is Important to Existing Users
- The range of fitness, health and wellbeing programs and facilities MARC provides in the one location & because it supports health, fitness & wellbeing.
- The opportunity MARC provides for children to learn to swim.
- The convenience of being able to access these facilities and programs close to home.
- It is a community place where social connections & friendships are formed and maintained, people feel comfortable & enjoy the environment.