Liam McNally
Moorabool council is “disappointed” by the federal budget, after again missing out on funding for an indoor pool.
Council has been seeking $15 million in federal government funding for several years, to match $15 million funding from council and $10 million from the state government for the Moorabool Aquatic and Recreation Centre in Taverner Street, Bacchus Marsh.
Moorabool mayor Rod Ward said the project is “shovel-ready”.
“All that’s missing to turn it into reality is federal funding,” he said.
“It’s disappointing it’s missing from yet another federal budget, and even more disappointing that recently-released guidelines show that projects for the Growing Regions Fund (GRF) have to be outside of the greater Melbourne area, with Bacchus Marsh just inside the ineligible area.
“This is in contrast to the federal government’s Building Better Regions Fund under which Bacchus Marsh was eligible.”
Hawke MP Sam Rae said he will continue to advocate for the pool, and it may be eligible to be funded under a new federal fund.
“I strongly support building the Bacchus Marsh indoor pool and will continue to work with all levels of government to get it built,” he said.
“As part of the budget we are establishing the Thriving Suburbs program which projects in Bacchus Marsh will be eligible for.”
Cr Ward said the pool project is “so important” for the Moorabool community, and the precinct it is planned to be a part of will generate $100 million in economic activity and help create more than 200 direct and indirect jobs.
