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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-05-03 Daily Xml
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SOUTH AUSTRALIAN AQUATIC AND LEISURE CENTRE

Mr SIBBONS (Mitchell) (14:58): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier update the house on the magnificent new aquatic and leisure centre at Marion?

Mr WILLIAMS: Point of order, Madam Speaker: the question is clearly out of order, it is full of comment.

The SPEAKER: I would ask the member to withdraw the use of 'magnificent'.

Mr SIBBONS: I will lose the word 'magnificent', Madam Speaker.

The SPEAKER: Would you just like to ask the Premier to update us?

Mr SIBBONS: We will lose that, definitely.

An honourable member: But it is magnificent.

Mr SIBBONS: It is magnificent.

The SPEAKER: Have you finished asking your question?

Mr SIBBONS: I will repeat the question, Madam Speaker: can the Premier update the house on the new aquatic and leisure centre at Marion?

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (14:59): There could not be a more appropriate question from the member for Mitchell, given his extraordinarily supportive—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.F. Conlon interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, minister for Transport!

The Hon. I.F. Evans interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Minister for Transport and the member for Davenport will be quiet.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: The member for Mitchell is an enthusiastic supporter of this project and I congratulate him for having this magnificent facility in the heart of his electorate. On 9 April I officially opened the nation's newest international standard aquatics centre at Marion. The centre, which is the largest single built aquatic hall in the Southern Hemisphere (some say the world), exceeds the strict international competition standards of FINA, the world aquatics governing body.

The centre contains a 50-metre competition swimming pool and a 55-metre diving and water polo pool. The centre also provides state-of-the-art training equipment for aquatic athletes, including dryland training facilities such as springboards, harnesses, trampolines, and strength and conditioning apparatus. The centre will allow South Australia to nurture future generations of swimmers and divers, and it will now allow us to host key national and international aquatics events and showcase Australia's best aquatics athletes. There is purpose-designed seating for 4,500 spectators, ensuring the best possible viewing experience for competition swimming, diving and water polo.

The first event held at the centre was the Australian Age Swimming Championships, held between 18 and 23 April. The event was an outstanding success, with our facility receiving glowing endorsements from all those present. Fifteen hundred competitors participated, with a number of longstanding records broken by our future stars of the pool.

The next event in the centre's calendar is the Australian Short Course Swimming Championships from 1 to 3 July this year, where South Australians will get to see the likes of Michael Klim, Stephanie Rice, Eamon Sullivan and Libby Trickett competing. I understand that the minister for recreation and sport has also swum at the complex. The construction of the new centre has also allowed South Australia to secure the 2012 World Lifesaving Championships and the 2012 World Junior Diving Championships.

However, this is, importantly, also a community facility. The world-class swimming, diving and water polo facilities sit alongside 1,000 square metres of leisure and recreational water. The leisure water features a six-lane, 25-metre community program pool with disability access, a dedicated learn-to-swim pool, play equipment and a toddler's swimming pool. There are also the spectacular new water slides featuring South Australia's first 'space bowl', certain to be a very popular destination for young people and the minister for recreation and sport. There will be a health club, gymnasium, spa, sauna and steam room facilities. The site also includes a new purpose-built car park for 560 vehicles, as well as being conveniently located for public transport next to the Oaklands Park rail and bus terminus.

The YMCA has been appointed to operate the centre. The YMCA will ensure that the centre meets the needs of all users—young children, families and elite athletes. This $80 million project has delivered to South Australia the nation's premier aquatic facility. It provides the facilities to nurture our stars of the future and showcase the stars of today, as well as being a place for the community to learn to swim, get fit and enjoy a fabulous aquatics centre, alongside the minister for recreation and sport.

I am very pleased to acknowledge the funding support from the federal government, which provided $15 million, and the City of Marion, which provided the land on which the centre stands plus an additional $5 million. I commend all of those involved. I commend not just the member for Mitchell but also the Mayor of Marion, although neither of us fulfilled our pledge to be the first swimmers in the pool. In an act of extraordinary generosity, we made way for Michael Klim. I congratulate everyone, including the Minister for Infrastructure, on this outstanding addition to infrastructure in this state.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr Venning interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Schubert will be quiet.

Mr Williams interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for MacKillop!

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