An open letter from Victorian Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has implored him to abandon any plans to end a funding agreement with the City of Greater Geelong to build a $15.5m pool on the Bellarine.
Construction for the outdoor pool at Drysdale is already underway.
The North Bellarine Aquatic and Leisure Centre project began as a 2019 federal election pledge from Ms Henderson, but last year Labor MP Libby Coker made an election pledge to commit a further $20m to the project if the pool was an indoor facility.
“I am deeply concerned to learn that Corio MP Richard Marles, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, and Corangamite MP Libby Coker have informed Council that your government intends to terminate the Funding Agreement and shut down construction of the Stage 1 outdoor pool so that options to build an indoor aquatic facility only can be considered,” Ms Henderson wrote.
“Should your government proceed with this vindictive and heartless plan to destroy this project, this will have dire consequences for the health and wellbeing of our community.
“I am frankly astonished that your government would even consider shutting down a project midway through construction, and subject to a $13.03 million construction agreement with Kane Constructions, which would jeopardise many local jobs.”
