Page 5196 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 27 October 2010
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move shortly. That amendment replaces all words after “notes that” and replaces them with:
(a) the people of Gungahlin deserve to have access to the best quality swimming and leisure facilities possible;
(b) the proposed leisure centre will form part of a ‘wellbeing precinct’ sharing facilities with the soon to be completed Gungahlin College, town park and the adjacent enclosed oval; and
(c) the Government is preparing a feasibility study on the Gungahlin leisure centre pool options for public comment, which includes a 50m pool option and a 25m pool option; and
(2) calls on the Government to:
(a) ensure that the facility will cater for the broadest range of users within the available space and budget, including for uses such as learn to swim groups, aquarobics, lap swimming, waterplay, aquatots, water sports and hydrotherapy;
(b) ensure it receives and disseminates the best available expert advice on what configuration of pools the leisure centre should have;
(c) ensure the leisure centre includes some mix of space for equipment-based fitness programs, as well as flexible rooms to accommodate a range of programs such as aerobics, dance and yoga; and
(d) report to the assembly by end February 2011 once the feasibility study is finalised.
That amendment outlines the process the government intends to follow, and it is consistent with the election commitments from our sport and recreation policy, most particularly noting that we were quite clear that financing models will be determined for the facility once the feasibility study is complete, and that the financial commitment from the territory government is up to $20 million. We will be co-locating the facility with the Gungahlin college, as I have indicated, in the town centre and it will, of course, be a valuable asset for the Gungahlin community.
It is worth noting that, in the process of the consultation around the feasibility study, a variety of different views have been put forward, including from the Royal Life Saving Society and Swimming ACT, recommending a different set of configurations for the number of pools within the facility. So there is a range of views. My view is that the options should be put on the table for community comment and then cabinet can make a final decision on the matter in due course. That decision will be made fully informed on the basis of the feasibility study.
As we indicated in our sport and recreation policy, the financing models and the delivery method for this facility will be determined once the feasibility study is complete. So until that process is complete, it is premature for those opposite to be suggesting that any commitments have been broken. The government will go through
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