Still afloat: Coker confident on 50m indoor pool pledge

CORANGAMITE Labor federal member Libby Coker is confident her plan for a 50-metre indoor pool at Drysdale can still happen, despite work having already started on a 50-metre outdoor pool.

The re-elected MP said the need for infrastructure for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, which will be partially held in Geelong, could provide an opportunity for a rethink on the project.

The City of Greater Geelong has approved stage one of the North Bellarine Aquatic and Leisure Centre, which includes a 50-metre outdoor pool, at the Drysdale Sports Precinct.

The $15.5 million works are jointly funded by $10 million from the former Morrison Government (pledged by then Liberal member for Corangamite and now Victorian Senator Sarah Henderson) and $5.5 million from the city.

In October last year, Ms Coker announced Labor, if it formed government, would commit $20 million towards the project and reassess it so all available funding could be put towards a 50-metre indoor pool at the centre.

Construction on the 50-metre outdoor pool started on April 28, but Ms Coker said last week that this did not mean her ambitions or her $20 million pledge were dead in the water.

“My commitment to the community was an indoor pool. So that is what I’m striving to deliver, and I am hopeful that the council and the state government and federal government can work together to get that outcome.

“But the minister (Labor’s new Infrastructure Minister) isn’t even in the role yet. I’ve got to sit down with the council and have a discussion with them.

“So there is a road ahead but I’m confident that we all want what the community wants, which is an indoor pool. That’s what they want.

“We know that; I’ve done significant surveying of the community and that’s what they want. They told me that on the pre-poll line on election day.

“One thing that has occurred in the past six months is the Commonwealth Games, and that is a factor that I want to look at in relation to projects for this region as well, and how we could leverage off that and get some really great infrastructure for this region, too.”

Days after Ms Coker’s pledge in October, Senator Henderson described it as a “cruel hoax”.

She said stage 1 of the centre was “contracted, fully funded and proceeding full steam ahead” and that “I wish to assure Bellarine residents that Labor has no legal authority, under a binding funding agreement with council, to shut down construction of the outdoor pool or seize any of the Commonwealth money allocated to this project”.

The unsuccessful Liberal candidate for Corangamite, Stephanie Asher, made a $20 million commitment in early April to build an indoor warm water learn to swim and program pool, a toddler pool play area, a gym and allied health services in stage 2 of the centre.

Last week, Senator Henderson called on Ms Coker to match Ms Asher’s election pledges.

“I trust that Libby Coker won’t attempt to stop construction of stage 1 of the North Bellarine Aquatic and Leisure Centre, which is now well under way,” Senator Henderson said.