Thursday, 16 October 2025

 Lauren KATHAGE (Yan Yean) (10:03): My community has told me loud and clear that they want a pool in Mernda. A recent survey that I ran for just a short time very quickly had 500 people responding that they want to see a pool built. Council approved a pool in 2021. At the time they said:

We heard that residents want 50-metre lap swimming, warm water exercise programs, water play and learn-to-swim areas in the proposed facility … We’re delighted to bring that vision to life in the future Mernda facility …

On the basis of that, this government has committed $30 million to the overall regional sports precinct. The council has gotten the stadium underway, but an upcoming decision about making the pool a reality could put the pool at risk. I join with my constituents in making very clear to council that the community still wants a pool. The community wants to see council getting behind them, confirming that the pool is going ahead and getting underway the detailed work to make it happen. This is a longstanding project of the City of Whittlesea that we are proud to support as the state government, and we are ready to see it getting underway in our community.