Melissa Parke (Fremantle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Coogee Surf Life Saving Club is a community organisation that is a true asset to the people of the Fremantle electorate. It was established in 2002 and is responsible for surf life saving and medical assistance within the City of Cockburn, including Coogee Beach and surrounding areas. The club describes itself as ‘the family club’ and the club is true to this description, with junior life saving programs, a Youth Active Council to ensure youth participation in their decision-making processes and an ambitious vision for a new environmentally-friendly community facility to be built for the people of Cockburn.

The club is working with the City of Cockburn to build this integrated community facility which, along with club rooms, multi-purpose space, cafe, gymnasium and change rooms, will contain an interpretation centre that allows users of the facility to better understand the Indigenous and environmental heritage of the area. The plans include energy and water savings which will aim to make the facility a sustainability showcase for other buildings in the area. The club also has a strong commitment to rehabilitate and revegetate four hectares of surrounding regional park.

I am pleased to have supported the City of Cockburn in their application for funds for this project under the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program strategic projects. The Rudd government’s commitment to increase this fund by an additional $500 million means that this exciting project has a greater chance of receiving funds and providing a much needed facility for the people of Cockburn in the near future.