I am delighted that the City of Greater Geelong is releasing the tender to construct stage 1 of the Drysdale aquatic facility.
This marks a very significant milestone in delivering an outdoor 50 metre heated pool, complete with change rooms, kiosk, entry pavilion, covered tiered seating and community lawn, in partnership with the Morrison Government.
The Morrison Government’s 10 million election commitment for the stage 1 outdoor pool, supported by council funding of $5.45 million, is delivering a wonderful asset for Bellarine residents, including some 3,500 students who attend local schools. This will not only be so positive for community health and well-being but will save lives.
The project is being staged because there is insufficient funding to construct an indoor pool facility, which is far more expensive than an outdoor pool, due to the state Labor government declining to make any funding contribution. I continue to call on state Labor to deliver funding for a stage 2 indoor pool complete with aqua play, gymnasium and other facilities.
I am pleased that council is progressing community consultation and concept designs for a stage 2 indoor pool facility, recognising the importance of investment from all levels of government.
Corangamite’s Labor MP needs to stop misleading the community about this project and lobby the state government for stage 2 funding for an indoor pool. Federal Labor’s hypocrisy is there for all to see, given it committed no funding to construct any sort of aquatic facility before the last election. Their plan was to push the project into the never-never.
In staging this project, and building a much needed outdoor 50 metre outdoor heated pool which will be used all year around, the Morrison Government and local council are getting on with it. Working together with the community including Bellarine schools and swimming and surf lifesaving clubs, that’s something to celebrate.
9 September 2021