More than 2,000 letters supporting the City of Gosnell’s proposed Sutherlands Park Leisure, Aquatic and Sports Hub (SPLASH) are set to be presented by Gosnells Mayor Terresa Lynes to local State and Federal Members of Parliament.
Submissions to sign the letter of support by the City of Gosnells have been open since early September, with the goal of demonstrating how much the facility is wanted by the local community and highlighting the demand for new and improved recreation facilities in the south-east corridor.
The proposed facility includes an eight-lane, 50-metre outdoor pool, indoor leisure and learn-to-swim pools, a spa, steam room, sauna, crèche, café, and four multi-sport indoor courts with seating for more than 250 people.
It also includes a 1,500 sqm gym, with spin classes and group fitness rooms, as well as hireable multi-purpose spaces.
Mayor Terresa Lynes said she believes the facility would benefit people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds in the local community and throughout the south-east corridor and is pleased to see the positive feedback it has gained so far.
“This is a fantastic response, but we need to keep the momentum going – the more people we can get to show their support, the more chance we have of securing State and Federal Government funding,” Mayor Lynes said.
“There is no denying that the current sports and aquatic facilities in the City no longer meet the needs of our rapidly growing population, and this is why the City believes SPLASH is desperately needed for our community.”
The City has pledged $66 million in funding towards the estimated $132 million cost and is seeking the remaining funds from state and federal governments.
Needing to secure $16 million from the State Government and $50 million from the Federal Government, Mayor Lynes hopes to pull on the heartstrings of policymakers by highlighting how the facility will support the diverse community and could help save lives.
“By presenting the community’s letters of support to Federal Member for Burt Matt Keogh and Southern River MLA Terry Healy, we hope to open their hearts and minds to SPLASH as a much-needed, long-awaited facility, to accommodate the mental, emotional and physical well-being of people in our community and the south-east corridor,” Mayor Lynes said.
“With multicultural communities overrepresented in drowning data from Royal Life Saving Australia, and with the City of Gosnells being one of the most richly diverse local governments in the Perth metropolitan area, a facility like SPLASH, which currently doesn’t exist in the City, would not only save lives but bring much-needed health and well-being benefits to our local community,” she said.
Of the 2,000 signed letters of support, many shared why they believe SPLASH is needed in the community.
“The suburbs surrounding SPLASH are heavily populated with families and people who would greatly benefit from a venue to develop healthy habits to better themselves in all aspects of health and well-being,” one supporter wrote.
“We aren’t fortunate enough to be able to afford a house and a pool, and it would be absolutely amazing for my [kids] if there was one just down the road.” another said.
In a letter sent to the City of Gosnells in mid-September, Southern River MP Terry Healy expressed his support for an aquatic centre in Southern River but was disappointed that the Council had yet to apply for WA Government funding for the Sutherlands Park pool.
“The community and I support the Gosnells Council building the $26 million Sutherlands Park Pool in 2024, 2025, or 2026, and we ask that a confirmed cost estimate (& breakdown) and build timeline for the pool be set by the Council Executive to minimise further delays to the pool to progress this from the concept stage,” Mr Healy said.
“On several occasions, I have advocated to the Minister about progressing a state contribution of $1 million (the same State Government contribution to the Armadale Pool), but without the Gosnells Council confirming their cost estimates and build timeline, the project continues to be delayed by Gosnells Council.”
“I look forward to working with the Council to help construct more facilities for our growing community.”
It’s not yet known if the City of Gosnells has presented an exact cost estimate or build timeline to the government for grants and support.
For more information on the SPLASH proposal or to view and sign the City of Gosnells’ letter of support, visit yoursay.gosnells.wa.gov.au.
