Libby Coker (Corangamite, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

[by video link] I have just announced a $20 million commitment towards a first-class indoor aquatic centre for North Bellarine, a vital piece of high-participation community infrastructure, good for older adults who love water aerobics, great for people with disabilities, perfect for young families with kids learning to swim and just what we need if you are doing rehab—a pool for the whole community, and it will include allied health services. But would you believe it, Deputy Speaker: the Geelong Council Liberal mayor is against an indoor aquatic centre. Instead, she is desperately ramming through a shoddy tender process to build an outdoor pool. An outdoor pool will have low participation. It will be freezing in winter. Older people just won't use it. It would be hopeless for people with disabilities and no good for young families with kids. It's not even suitable for kids under seven learning to swim. Can you believe that? And with massive heat loss, it is totally environmentally unsustainable. The outdoor pool will cost more because you won't have the income that comes with high usage and heating costs will be astronomical. The Liberal Mayor's outdoor pool is just a really bad idea. It will be the big Bellarine lemon! So, instead, let's do it once, let's do it properly and let's do it indoors for everyone in North Bellarine.