Casey deputy mayor Kevin Bradford wants the Federal Government to commit $5 million to the Cranbourne Aquatic and Leisure Centre. Picture: Stewart Chambers.
By Sarah Schwager
CASEY’S deputy mayor has called on the Federal Government to help fund Cranbourne’s new aquatic centre.
The call from councillor Kevin Bradford came after Prime Minister John Howard recently pledged $5 million in federal funding to upgrade an aquatic centre in the safe Liberal seat of Camden in south west Sydney.
Cr Bradford said he wanted to see the same level of funding committed to the Cranbourne Aquatic and Leisure Centre, which is under construction.
“It is only fair that the Federal Government allocate $5 million to the City of Casey to go towards the construction cost of Cranbourne’s new pool, just like the commitment to the Camden Council,” he said.
However, Federal Liberal candidate for Holt Emanuele Cicchiello said Casey Council was already in the process of applying to the Government for funding through the Regional Partnerships Grants.
“I am not sure what Cr Bradford is asking when council has already put in a request for $1.5 million from the government,” Mr Cicchiello said.
“Perhaps he needs to go back to his own council and reassess the application.
“At this stage I support council’s current application for funding and I support the aquatic centre project.
“I will certainly be advocating for the funding through the Regional Partnerships Grant.”
However, Cr Bradford asked that a similar amount be given to the residents of Casey as that pledged to Camden Council.
“This is now the second commitment of this kind by the Federal Government,” he said.
“In the 2004 federal election, the Federal Government allocated $5 million towards the Frankston Aquatic Centre.”
Once completed in early 2009, Cranbourne’s $37 million state-of-the-art aquatic centre will house a 50-metre swimming pool, two water slides, a lap pool, hydrotherapy pool, spa, sauna, and fully equipped gymnasium.
“Our new Cranbourne pool will almost certainly be one of the most environmentally responsive and self-sufficient pools of its kind in Australia,” Cr Bradford said.
“In the current circumstances regarding our dire water situation, the Federal Government should be falling over itself to fund projects of this nature.”
Cr Bradford urged Mr Cicchiello to demand that his party make a similar commitment to the Cranbourne Aquatic and Leisure Centre.
