Liberal vow to fight for 50m pool

Vasse MLA Libby Mettam has announced she will continue to fight for better aquatic facilities in Busselton and Dunsborough after the State election. The Liberals have pledged $500,000 to develop a business case to address the urgent need for a 50m pool despite predictions they will lose. Tipped as one of the only Liberals to hold their seat, Ms Mettam has highlighted her intention to keep pushing for better sporting infrastructure in the region as Busselton, Vasse and Dunsborough continue to share what is described as an inadequate aquatic facility with two 25m pools. “If smaller centres like Collie and Mt Barker have 50m pools, surely we can build one here,” the Liberal deputy leader said. “We are the only regional centre in WA that has more than two swimming clubs and no 50m pool.” Busselton swim squads trek to Bunbury every week to use the town’s 50m facility, and reports of families unable to enrol their kids in swim lessons because of a lack of space as well as dangerously overcrowded lanes have highlighted the need for improvement. The plan would look at gaps in aquatic recreation in the region and determine how or where a new facility could go ahead. “The business case would include looking at a 50m pool, a dive pool and additional hydrotherapy facilities, as well as the potential to co-locate with other sporting codes,” Ms Mettam said. With Busselton recorded as having the highest rate of population growth outside Perth, Ms Mettam could not understand why the region’s sporting facilities did not represent this. Busselton Swimming Club head coach Andrew Sexton said it was difficult for swimmers to make use of the current facility. “I cannot adapt, I have to make do with what I’ve got,” he said. Mr Sexton trains national-level swimmers and State champions in his performance squadand said it was a very difficult situation to manage with up to eight swimmers practising different strokes in each lane. “We have hit our limit, the facility is at capacity,” Mr Sexton said.