A certain and exciting future for the Sunshine Swim and Leisure Centre in Victoria has been secured following the State Government’s announcement of $1.48 million funding under the Better Pools Program. The funding tops up $4.44 million being provided by Brimbank and marks a massive capital investment in the community.
Brimbank Council has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for the Commonwealth Games, Sport and Recreation, Justin Madden, who visited the centre to announce the State Government’s support for the $5.92 million redevelopment. This will transform the centre into a state of the art leisure and aquatic complex in the heart of Sunshine.
“Council can now proceed with a redevelopment to the tune of $5.92 million that will deliver all new modern and state of the art health, fitness and aquatic features,’ said the Mayor, Councillor Sam David. “A major component will be a new indoor leisure pool that will have beach access and a spa, and a new program and therapy pool. This will improve access for young people, families, people with a disability and the elderly, as well as free up the existing indoor 25 metre pool for more lap swimming.
“The announcement provides solid State Government endorsement of the sound research, extensive community consultation and the collaborative approach with key stakeholders that Council undertook to make the redevelopment a reality. It is the culmination of a lot of hard work and commitment by the community, centre members, patrons, centre staff and the Council.”
This redevelopment will expand the life of the centre by 20 years and will see some 250,000 people use the centre each year, which is a 70 per cent increase on current use.
Council applied for Better Pools Funding in December 2003, following a comprehensive planning and community consultation process along with advice from a community reference group.