SOUTH MORANG, VIC. — The City of Whittlesea is calling on residents to back its ‘Make a splash, match our cash’ campaign to help secure the government funding needed to build an aquatic and leisure facility in Mernda.
The campaign invites the community to join the council in advocating to the Victorian and Australian governments to contribute their fair share of funding towards the project.
Residents can help make the case for an aquatic and leisure facility by sharing their stories about why a pool is important to them, their families and the community by going to council’s ‘Make a splash’ Engage page.
“The residents of Mernda and surrounds have been campaigning for a long time for a public pool,” Whittlesea Mayor, Councillor Lawrie Cox said.
These stories will help demonstrate the community’s strong support for an aquatic and leisure facility in Mernda and give Council a powerful voice when advocating for funding from the state and federal governments.
Council will be out in the community in the coming weeks, attending local events where residents can find out more about the project and show their support for the campaign.
Council has endorsed a plan to deliver an aquatic and leisure facility on land at Plenty Road in Mernda and committed to funding 50 per cent of the project’s estimated $85 million cost.
“The council have decided that we can commit to up to $42.5 million towards an aquatic and leisure facility within our budget processes. Now it’s time the state and federal governments made a splash and matched our cash,” Mayor Cox said.
However, a project of this scale cannot be delivered without substantial support from other levels of government.
Since 2022, Council has received a commitment of $10 million from the Victorian Government, well short of the 50 per cent external contribution needed from other levels of government.
The proposed facility would include a multipurpose 25-metre pool, warm-water pool, learn-to-swim pool, spa, sauna, steam room, gymnasium, fitness and wellbeing spaces, cafe and supporting amenities.
Council recognises the significant health and wellbeing benefits the aquatic and leisure facility would provide for people of all ages and abilities living in Mernda and surrounding suburbs.
The facility would support greater participation in physical activity, provide more opportunities for residents, particularly children, to learn vital swimming skills, and offer rehabilitation and low-impact recreation options for older residents.
“With the Victorian state election approaching, all parties and local candidates should know that our community expects the funding to be made available to deliver this project,” Mayor Cox said.
For more information about the ‘Make a splash, match our cash’ campaign and to share your story, visit the Engage Whittlesea website.
