❓ Ms Duncan asks about the Liberal-National government's support for regional public swimming pools. Minister Waldron outlines a $13.2 million revitalisation program funded through royalties for regions, providing grants for maintenance, upgrades, and training.
AnsweredQoN 767Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PUBLIC
SWIMMING POOLS — REGIONAL AREAS
767. Ms W.M. DUNCAN to the
Minister for Sport and Recreation:
Public swimming pools in regional Western Australia are vitally
important community assets. Can the minister advise how the Liberal–National
government is helping local authorities across regional Western Australia
manage and maintain these important facilities?
SWIMMING POOLS — REGIONAL AREAS
767. Ms W.M. DUNCAN to the
Minister for Sport and Recreation:
Public swimming pools in regional Western Australia are vitally
important community assets. Can the minister advise how the Liberal–National
government is helping local authorities across regional Western Australia
manage and maintain these important facilities?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Kalgoorlie for her question. Swimming pools are
indeed very important in her area, and what I am about to announce will benefit
pools in Kalgoorlie; and, member for Eyre, in Coolgardie and Kambalda.
Several members interjected.
Mr T.K. WALDRON : Areas right around the state will benefit.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I call you to order for the third time.
Mr T.K. WALDRON : Aquatic centres around Western Australia
are very important community assets. All members know they are costly to run
and maintain, and I am about to announce some assistance with that. Our pools
go a long way past being an area for people to recreate; they are vital for
teaching our young children to swim and for swimming competitions; and also for
our elderly people, particularly with rehabilitation; and, of course, teaching
water safety to our kids. Pools are very important. They are a great social
meeting place and provide social benefits in our communities. The Liberal–National
government recognises this, and at the last state election it committed $13.2 million
to the swimming pools revitalisation —
Several members interjected.
Mr T.K. WALDRON : Let me say that again: the government
committed $13.2 million to the revitalisation program over four years. I went
to school at Jingalup—it takes me a while! This program was funded
through royalties for regions. It allows a regional aquatic centre to apply for
up to $30 000 of funding each year to go towards maintenance and upgrading of
its pool, purchasing pool equipment and staff training. It does a lot of
things.
Several members interjected.
Mr T.K. WALDRON : Members should just listen. I recently
announced the first round of funding in which 91 aquatic centres will receive
more than $2.7 million for upgrades and maintenance. I think it is a damn good
program and is something that makes a real difference. That is what the government
is about.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr T.K. WALDRON : This is a program that makes a real
difference to communities. Some examples of funding are Goomalling, Bruce Rock,
Mullewa, Carnarvon, and, as I said, the member for Kalgoorlie will be aware of
the Oasis Recreation Centre in Kalgoorlie, along with 87 others.
Mr
M.P. Murray interjected.
Mr T.K. WALDRON : I will let the member for Collie–Preston
know. I have a list here, and I will go through it and check for him.
It is a good program. It provides recognition for, and is a great help
to, our local governments and authorities that have a big job in maintaining
and running these pools. They do a good job, and they are across it. I know
firsthand the value of these aquatic centres. Going around country WA, I meet
regularly as Minister for Sport and Recreation with our local governments; the
issues around pools come up all the time, and this program actively assists them.
The program is administered through the Department of Sport and Recreation. I acknowledge
the great work that our regional staff in particular have done to promote and
administer these grants. I have had some great feedback from local governments,
pool managers et cetera.
I quickly acknowledge the advice provided by the Western Australian
Local Government Association and the Leisure Institute of WA Aquatics, which
does a great job with pools across Western Australia. It is a great program. It
is an important initiative funded through royalties for regions and is just
another example of this Liberal–National government investing in
important community infrastructure.
indeed very important in her area, and what I am about to announce will benefit
pools in Kalgoorlie; and, member for Eyre, in Coolgardie and Kambalda.
Several members interjected.
Mr T.K. WALDRON : Areas right around the state will benefit.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I call you to order for the third time.
Mr T.K. WALDRON : Aquatic centres around Western Australia
are very important community assets. All members know they are costly to run
and maintain, and I am about to announce some assistance with that. Our pools
go a long way past being an area for people to recreate; they are vital for
teaching our young children to swim and for swimming competitions; and also for
our elderly people, particularly with rehabilitation; and, of course, teaching
water safety to our kids. Pools are very important. They are a great social
meeting place and provide social benefits in our communities. The Liberal–National
government recognises this, and at the last state election it committed $13.2 million
to the swimming pools revitalisation —
Several members interjected.
Mr T.K. WALDRON : Let me say that again: the government
committed $13.2 million to the revitalisation program over four years. I went
to school at Jingalup—it takes me a while! This program was funded
through royalties for regions. It allows a regional aquatic centre to apply for
up to $30 000 of funding each year to go towards maintenance and upgrading of
its pool, purchasing pool equipment and staff training. It does a lot of
things.
Several members interjected.
Mr T.K. WALDRON : Members should just listen. I recently
announced the first round of funding in which 91 aquatic centres will receive
more than $2.7 million for upgrades and maintenance. I think it is a damn good
program and is something that makes a real difference. That is what the government
is about.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr T.K. WALDRON : This is a program that makes a real
difference to communities. Some examples of funding are Goomalling, Bruce Rock,
Mullewa, Carnarvon, and, as I said, the member for Kalgoorlie will be aware of
the Oasis Recreation Centre in Kalgoorlie, along with 87 others.
Mr
M.P. Murray interjected.
Mr T.K. WALDRON : I will let the member for Collie–Preston
know. I have a list here, and I will go through it and check for him.
It is a good program. It provides recognition for, and is a great help
to, our local governments and authorities that have a big job in maintaining
and running these pools. They do a good job, and they are across it. I know
firsthand the value of these aquatic centres. Going around country WA, I meet
regularly as Minister for Sport and Recreation with our local governments; the
issues around pools come up all the time, and this program actively assists them.
The program is administered through the Department of Sport and Recreation. I acknowledge
the great work that our regional staff in particular have done to promote and
administer these grants. I have had some great feedback from local governments,
pool managers et cetera.
I quickly acknowledge the advice provided by the Western Australian
Local Government Association and the Leisure Institute of WA Aquatics, which
does a great job with pools across Western Australia. It is a great program. It
is an important initiative funded through royalties for regions and is just
another example of this Liberal–National government investing in
important community infrastructure.
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