The highly anticipated Litchfield Council Aquatic Facility is one step closer to becoming a reality with today’s announcement by the Federal Member for Lingiari, Warren Snowden that the Shorten Labor Government will provide $10 million to build the pool if elected.
The Aquatic Facility is one of Council’s three top projects and will see a 25m learn to swim pool and supporting infrastructure to ensure local residents have access to swimming and water safety lessons and other recreational activities.
Litchfield Council Mayor Maree Bredhauer said this funding announcement is very welcome news for a project that both Council and community are keen to see delivered. We are very grateful to the Shorten Labor Government for listening to Litchfield.
“With a population of over 25,500 and almost half of these residents not living within a reasonable travel distance of a public aquatic facility, a pool, especially here in our climate and environment, is essential community infrastructure” the Mayor said.
The Northern Territory still has the highest drowning rate per capita, so this project is important.
Council has some sites identified in the Humpty Doo and Coolalinga areas and over the coming months will finalise the site and get the pre-construction work finished.
The concept of a pool for the rural area dates back to over 20 years, with the first documents identifying plans for a swimming pool complex dating back to 1992.