THE Penola Swimming Pool was announced as one of the facilities across the Limestone Coast to receive significant funding from the State Government’s Fund My Neighbourhood Program.
A boost of $98,000 has improved the prospects of heating being added to the facility after strong community support.
It was one of many projects across the South East opened for public voting to assess which proposals would secure a share of the funding on offer under the program.
Limestone Coast Labor Upper House candidate Clare Scriven said the program was a great opportunity for the local community to get behind steering where the funding should be spent.
“The installation of heating to the pool will hopefully allow for extended opening hours, which will be useful for young people and those wanting to keep fit,” Ms Scriven said.
Penola Swim Club leader Stuart Sharman suggested the project for the funding program, was excited about the announcement and thrilled the community backed the idea.
Mr Sharman said use of the pool was significantly impacted due to very low water temperatures.
In his proposal, he said the local swimming club struggled to keep children swimming due to the cold water, resulting in cramps and head aches.
According to Mr Sharman, elderly pool users also struggle to enjoy the remedial effect of swimming and general community use decreases during the cooler months of November, December, March and April.
“This wonderful town asset could be used for many more months in the year with an improvement in the water temperature,” he said in his proposal.
Yesterday he said the swimming community was now hopeful major improvements could be made.
“We will continue to endeavour to improve the pool and this funding is a great step forward,” Mr Sharman said.
Kongorong also received a significant amount of funding from the program with its sports club gaining $90,000 for a new barbecue and bar area, storeroom and female toilets and changerooms.
In addition, the Kongorong Soldiers’ Memorial Hall received $52,107 to install new showers, upgrade the toilets and renovate the hall with fresh paint inside and out.
Other projects around the Limestone Coast to receive funding included the Wehl Street Theartre in Mount Gambier, funding towards a hydrotherapy pool at Boandik Lodge, a Fossil Hunters Nature Playground at the Naracoorte Caves and the Naracoorte Swimming Lake.
Ms Scriven said the response to the Fund My Neighbourhood program had been overwhelming.
“There is a real diversity in the types of projects that won support in our local area,” Ms Scriven said.
“It is great to see funding across categories such as sports and open space, health and wellbeing, and arts and culture.”
She congratulated the community for putting their support behind the projects – which will benefit a range of people across the region.
“From those who took the initiative and put their idea forward, to those who supported it and encouraged their friends, family and neighbours to vote – thank you for making a difference to our community,” Ms Scriven said.
A second round of Fund My Neighbourhood funding will open in May.
“This strong commitment to community decision making will continue with round two, which will provide a further $20m across the state,” Ms Scriven said.
