Nationals WA pledge funds for regional aquatics in Western Australia

The Nationals WA (the National Party of Western Australia) have committed to providing funds to cover the pool entry costs for children or people attending swimming lessons if they win the balance of power in the upcoming Western Australian state election.

Following publication of a Nationals WA discussion paper 'Community Pool Revitalisation', Western Australian Legislative Council Member Mia Davies has promised, if elected with the balance of power, to provide all regional local governments that have a public pool with an annual grant of up to $30,000 per pool to maintain and upgrade infrastructure, improve pool facilities and/or purchase new equipment under the Royalties for Regions program.

Davies added that councils may alternatively elect to use this funding to cover the pool entry costs for children or people attending swimming lessons, stating "this investment will ensure public swimming pools continue to be safe and vibrant places, while reducing the financial burden on local governments and ratepayers."

The discussion paper refers to the value of aquatic facilities in WA, stating "in Western Australia there are more than 120 public aquatic centres (97 in regional WA) that provide significant benefit in terms of community development, sport, recreation, health and fitness.

"The Department of Sport and Recreation has estimated:

• There are 17 million visits to Western Australian aquatic centres each year;
• More than 3380 people are directly employed;
• Annual recurrent expenditure is in excess of $56.6 million and capital replacement was estimated at $429 million."

Davies' colleague Nationals WA MLC Colin Holt today welcomed the announcement that regional swimming pools would receive a funding boost to ensure they are safe, well maintained and accessible to all, thanks to Royalties for Regions.

Holt stated "public swimming pools are an important part of regional communities, providing a central point for recreation, for learning, for exercise and rehabilitation"From young kids to seniors, our public swimming pools are used widely and are an asset to the town.

"Our pools provide great recreation opportunities, but they also host swimming lessons, teaching children and adults important water safety and survival skills."

Holt said currently local government shoulders the financial burden of making sure that communities have access to pools and the associated benefits such as improved health and providing a local meeting point, adding "this investment will ensure public swimming pools in regional towns continue to be a safe and vibrant place and it does so by reducing the financial burden on local governments and rate payers."

The National Party of Western Australia has supported the Liberal Party as a minority government in Western Australia since 2008.

Click here for more information.

2nd May 2012 - STANDARDS AUSTRALIA DEVELOPS GUIDANCE FOR AQUATIC INFLATABLES