TWO Surf Coast sporting organisations have expressed support for Corangamite federal member Sarah Henderson\u2019s push for a 50-metre pool in Torquay, but the MP\u2019s Labor opponent described the petition as \u201call talk and no action\u201d.<\/p>\n
Ms Henderson last week launched a petition calling for the pool in the proposed aquatic centre for Torquay to be 50 metres long instead of 25 metres.<\/p>\n
It is the latest development in the long-running debate about the pool, and follows Labor candidate for Corangamite Libby Coker making an election commitment of $15.3 million towards a $25 million centre with a 25-metre pool, and state Labor pledging $10 million towards the project.<\/p>\n
Last week, Ms Henderson unveiled a corflute about her push for a 50-metre pool and met with Jan Juc Surf Life Saving Club president Aaron Green and Surf Coast Swimming Club secretary Stacie Bobele, who were both keen on the idea.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur club\u2019s about aquatic safety, so access to a pool locally will obviously help more people learn to swim at an earlier age, which will keep them safer in the water, which is absolutely aligned to our club\u2019s core purposes,\u201d Mr Green said.<\/p>\n
\u201c50 metres is obviously ideal because it\u2019s more versatile with the type of activities you can promote here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Bobele said competitive swimmers needed a 50-metre pool.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve seen with Ocean Grove that\u2019s it\u2019s only a 25-metre pool and they\u2019re chockers now; you can\u2019t get lane space over there.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re based at Leisurelink, we\u2019ve got 20 registered swimmers at the moment and about 40 on our wait list that are waiting for the pool, so we could certainly fill a swimming club, that\u2019s for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Coker said Ms Henderson had \u201ccountless opportunities in government, including five federal budgets, to fund a public pool in Torquay\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cSarah is all talk and no action. She had to end her last pool campaign in embarrassment after she was unable to secure any funding from her government for the project.<\/p>\n
\u201cSarah Henderson should make a bipartisan commitment to fund a public pool in Torquay, or stop wasting people\u2019s time.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
TWO Surf Coast sporting organisations have expressed support for Corangamite federal member Sarah Henderson\u2019s push for a 50-metre pool in Torquay, but the MP\u2019s Labor opponent described the petition as \u201call talk and no action\u201d. Ms Henderson last week launched a petition calling for the pool in the proposed aquatic centre for Torquay to be […]<\/p>\n