Hawke MP Sam Rae has written to Moorabool council urging it to apply for funding through the Thriving Suburbs Program for an indoor pool in Bacchus Marsh.
Moorabool council wants $15 million from the federal government to complete the aquatic facility.
Applications for the fund, which can provide anywhere between $50,000 to $15 million to a single project, closed on Monday August 26.
Mr Rae said he had heard “loud and clear” the desire of residents to have access to such an amenity and wanted to help council to deliver it.
“As a local dad myself, I know firsthand how important this is to our community,” he said.
“I want to work with Moorabool Shire to give our community the best chance of securing the pool funding under the Thriving Suburbs Program.”
As reported by Star Weekly, previous attempts at getting federal support for the pool have been unsuccessful, with the latest effort to apply for the Growing Regions Fund being deemed ineligible.
However, council will receive the full backing of Mr Rae in Canberra to strengthen its case.
“I am available to support council in their application, including by supplying a supporting letter. I will continue to enthusiastically advocate across government for this project,” said Mr Rae in his letter.
Mr Rae said it was an “important opportunity” to finish the Moorabool Aquatic and Recreation Centre.
Moorabool council chief executive Derek Madden said council officers were checking if the program would allocate the finances necessary to complete the pool.
“Council is looking at the Thriving Suburbs funding guidelines to see if it can assist with the current shortfall in pool funding,” he said.
Council has already provided $15 million to the pool, on top of a state government contribution of $10 million.
The indoor pool is the ‘centerpiece’ of the major sports and recreation precinct planned for Bacchus Marsh, which council claim will create more than 200 jobs and generate more than $100 million in economic activity just from construction.
