MOUNT Gambier aged care provider Boandik has unveiled plans to build a $2m recreational centre at its Lake Terrace site to house a community hydrotherapy pool.
The pool is among a string of Mount Gambier community ideas vying for funding in the State Government’s $40m Fund My Neighbourhood initiative.
Other ideas include a pump track at the western end of the bike trail in Mount Gambier as well as playground, mountain bike trails and sporting club upgrades.
Voting is now under way for more than 20 short-listed community ideas across the city.
Mount Gambier projects list
Community amphitheatre project
Hydrotherapy pool at Boandik for community use
Blue Lake Soccer Club in-ground sprinkler system
Install lights and develop new training pitch at Casadio Park
John Powell Reserve nature play wetland and picnic area
Kooringa Street neighbourhood Nature Play Environment
Crater Lakes mountain bike trails
Disc golf course installation
Mount Gambier cross country mountain bike trail network
Valley Lake Conservation Park community Bushcare project
Heaver Drive playground upgrade
Community fitness track
Percy Street car park garden beautification
Tenison solar powered college community
New Wehl Street Theatre seating
Old Gaol biodiversity garden
Pump track for bikes and scooters
Tumbleweed Active Playgroup
Weekend play with loose parts for kids and families
Mount Gambier Harness Racing Club dining courtyard
Melaleuca Hub – learning space for the community
Community band hall upgrade
Outdoor area redevelopment
Wirrina Park Upgrade
Nature based play space with barbecue facilities and shelter
Kooringa Street cul-de-sac fencing
Mulga Street Primary School median strip fence
West Gambier netball and tennis clubs court redevelopments
John Powell Reserve barbecue
Boandik chief executive officer Gillian McGinty said the aged care provider had submitted a $150,000 proposal to help fund a hydrotherapy pool that would be available for the whole community.
She said there was a desperate need in the community for a hydrotherapy pool for people with mobility issues.
“We have had residents asking to go swimming for a long time and there is nowhere in Mount Gambier for a person with a mobility issue to get into and out of a pool,” Ms McGinty said.
She said the Boandik residents and people from the wider community would benefit from having access to hydrotherapy.
“There has been a need in the community and if we do build a hydrotherapy pool, then it will be opened to the whole community,” Ms McGinty said.
She revealed plans to build a recreational facility at the front of the Lake Terrace site, which would house the pool.
“We are looking to build a stand-alone building at the front of the property so there is easy access for people,” Ms McGinty said.
“The entire project we are looking at will have a gym, change-rooms, office space and activity areas.”
She said the $150,000 Fund My Neighbourhood bid would help pay for the pool.
“This would nearly fund the construction of the pool,” said Ms McGinty, who revealed more research was needed before the size of the pool could be determined.
More than 1600 neighbourhood-improvement projects have been submitted for the fund, which is one of the world’s biggest community funding initiatives of its kind.
South Australians are being encouraged to vote for the projects short-listed within their neighbourhood, with the successful projects to be announced before the end of the year.
Premier Jay Weatherill said the response had been overwhelming and he was excited to see these grassroots projects improve local communities.
“There has been a particularly large response from the southern part of the state, with a huge amount of ideas nominated in that region,” Mr Weatherill said.
“Nobody knows your neighbourhood better than you, so don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to win funding for your streets, suburbs and towns.
“I strongly encourage everyone to get involved by logging on and voting for local Fund My Neighbourhood projects.”
A total of $20m has been allocated across the state for round one and round two will kick off in 2018.
