City to hold Rudd to pledge

By Sarah Schwager
THE City of Casey is holding the Rudd Government to its pre-election promise as work on the Cranbourne Aquatic and Leisure Centre gets busy.
Mayor Janet Halsall said she welcomed the pledge of $5 million towards the water-smart centre and expected the newly elected Federal Government to be wholeheartedly behind the project.
Construction on the $37 million aquatic centre is well underway and is set to include a 50-metre swimming pool, waterslides, lap pool, hydrotherapy pool, spa, sauna and gymnasium.
The funding pledge is in addition to the $2.5 million already committed by the State Government.
“The $5 million Federal Government funding promise …will contribute towards a state-of-the art facility that leads the way in responsible water use in pools,” Cr Halsall said.
An Australian first for this scale of development, the centre will be self-sufficient in its water requirements and will save about 26 million litres of potable mains water a year.
It will use treated recycled water and rainwater harvested from the roofs of the centre as well as the adjacent basketball stadium and library.
The centre is expected to open in mid-2009 after construction started six months ago.
“It’s fantastic to see the centre taking shape with many of the facility’s features now visible to passers by,” Cr Halsall said.
“I’m pleased that the new Federal and State Government are supporting the Cranbourne Aquatic and Leisure Centre and I look forward to their continued partnership as the development progresses.”