Pool funding a bit shallow

By Lachlan Ellis

Moorabool Shire Council has renewed its calls for a funding commitment from the Federal Government on an indoor pool for Moorabool, with $15 million required to build the facility.

A $15 million commitment from Council for Stage 3 of the Moorabool Aquatic and Recreation Centre (MARC) was complemented by a $10 million funding announcement from the State Government on 4 May – but Council needs the Federal Government to chip in too.

Inquiries from both Council and the Moorabool News in the lead-up to the federal election did not result in a funding commitment from candidates for Hawke Sam Rae (Labor) or Enamul Haque (Liberal) – Mr Rae said he “supported” the plans but did not promise funding, while Mr Haque failed to return calls and emails.

Council CEO Derek Madden said despite the Labor Party having previously made an election commitment to the project, when Bacchus Marsh was in the seat of Ballarat, Council wouldn’t give up its campaign to get an indoor pool funded, that locals having been waiting for decades for.

“We would have thought the Labor Party would have honoured the commitment it made prior to the last federal election,” he said.

“We have written to both our local Labor MPs Catherine King and Sam Rae to congratulate them on their victories, and to let them know we look forward to working with them and their government for the next three years,” Mr Madden told the Moorabool News.

To read the full story – Simply click on the following link

https://issuu.com/themooraboolnews/docs/mn_2022-05-31/4

in the 31 May 2022 edition
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pick up a paper around your town.