Rowan Ramsey (Grey, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Next Thursday we'll mark the opening of the $10.1 million upgrade of the Port Lincoln Leisure Centre. I'll give a little history on the Port Lincoln Leisure Centre. It was built as a public facility out at the marina quite some time ago. It hit hard times. Council sold it off about 17 or 18 years ago. At that stage it was bought by Mr Sam Sarin of the tuna industry fame. Sam was a great philanthropist. He passed away earlier this year. He operated that centre for 14 years. I'm absolutely confident that he made a loss every year that he operated, but he did that for the Port Lincoln community. Then he gave the council the opportunity to buy it back after 14 years of operation.

It really needed an upgrade, so we stepped forward with a $4.4 million grant from the Commonwealth. There was $5.3 million from the Port Lincoln City Council, $250,000 from the fabulous local branch of Bendigo Bank and $190,000 from the state government. They have refurbished the indoor pool and splash centre for the kids. There's a stadium, three squash courts, room for a gym and clubrooms, an entry, offices and lift. It will serve Port Lincoln now for another generation. I congratulate the council and all those involved. I'm looking forward to it.