Hepburn Shire Council Creswick ward councillor Don Henderson said tenders would be processed in coming weeks – this would determine the time span for the project.

“I’m hopeful it will be in use for this summer,” Cr Henderson said.

The design of the splash park will be determined after the tender process, but it will be based around a flat surface that will be able to be used for other outdoor purposes during the cooler months. Cr Henderson said the splash park was a great start for the community but maintained he would continue to push for a swimming pool.

“In 1983 a swimming pool was the biggest identified need in Creswick,” Cr Henderson said.

The upgrade of St George’s Lake was officially opened earlier last month, and Cr Henderson said crowds were flocking to Creswick.

“Last weekend there were 150 cars at St George’s Lake,” Cr Henderson said.

Did he think these people same people would flock to a swimming pool?

“I think they would, already we have people come to Calembeen Park to swim,” Cr Henderson said.

While he agreed some people “love swimming in it” the dredge hole was “not for everyone”. 

A sum of $125,000 was set aside in the council budget for the splash park.

Cr Henderson said it was the “middle aged children” who needed to be catered for in the community. 

“Creswick has more young people than any other area in the shire,” he said as he stated his case for a pool in the area. Clunes, Trentham and Daylesford all have pools. 

Statistics published by council this year showed that pool usage, across all pools, had dramatically declined in the previous financial year. 

There is an ongoing community fundraising campaign to build an heated indoor pool for Creswick.

Secretary of Creswick and District Aquatic Centre Incorporated Julie Moran said it was seen as a staged development. 

“The first focus will be on hydrotherapy, but it would also be big enough to build onto later and include learn to swim classes and lap swimming as well.”