Artist’s impression of what would have been the Scarborough Beach Pool.
Camera IconArtist’s impression of what would have been the Scarborough Beach Pool. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Budget drowns hopes for Scarborough pool

Tom RabeStirling Times

THE Federal Government will not contribute to the Scarborough Beach Pool, forcing the City of Stirling to look elsewhere for $10 million.

The $26 million ocean pool was announced by the City of Stirling last December, with the local government committing $13 million to the project.

City of Stirling Mayor Giovanni Italiano said he was astounded the City had not qualified for the multimillion dollar federal funding.

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"The Scarborough pool project is all about promoting tourism into WA and creating jobs for the people and tourism is the cornerstone of long-term employment in this State with the project creating over 8000 direct jobs," he said.

�We feel forgotten, a bit like the rest of WA in the whole GST argument.

"Yet again we appear to have been overlooked for pork barrelling opportunities in other states such as NSW and Victoria, who between them took over 64 per cent of the funding cake."

The City of Stirling will look to the State Government for $3 million in funding, through a recreation grant.

Stirling MHR Michael Keenansaid he was supportive of the 50-metre pool and encouraged the City to reapply for funding.

"I would encourage the City of Stirling to reapply for funding for the Scarborough Beach Pool in Round 2 of the National Stronger Regions Fund (NSRF), which opens next week," he said.

"I would be more than happy to again provide my full support for the application of funding for this worthy local project."

Cr Italiano pointed out three similar projects had secured federal funding, with Gympie receiving $5 million for an aquatic centre as well as Darwin ($4.4 million).