A Shorten Labor Government will invest $5 million to renew the Palmerston swimming pool, ensuring the local community has a modern swimming pool that effectively meets the challenges of a growing community.

Palmerston is the second largest and fastest growing city in the Northern Territory, with the population forecast to reach over 70,000 residents in the following decades. As a regional hub, the pool services Palmerston and the surrounding local government areas.

The Palmerston pool is almost 30 years old, and it is in need of serious upgrades in order to operate effectively for a growing community and to provide more opportunities for health and well-being.

Labors $5 million investment will go towards:

• refurbishing the 50-metre pool with a ramp, wet deck and shade sails for community comfort and year-round swimming;
• a leisure pool with beach entry, interactive features and a dedicated learn to swim section with in-pool ledges;
• an adventure zone including water slides;
• a BBQ area for families;
• spectator viewing for swimming competitions; and
• a dry play area (interactive/adventure playground)

Local swimming pools like Palmerston are incredibly important especially for Northern Australia where access to safe swimming beaches and rivers is limited, and in some cases restricted.

Every child also has the right to learn to swim. Access to local swimming pools for lessons through either school programs or local swim schools is critical to ensuring kids have this opportunity.

And because the Palmerston pool is the only public pool in the Palmerston and surrounding areas which can provide the community with this access to learn to swim classes, upgrading the pool is essential.

Labor knows that investing in infrastructure isnt just about building roads and rail its about investing in better lives for the community, through increased access to sports and leisure facilities like the Palmerston pool.

This pool upgrade is long overdue the community has been campaigning long and hard for a new pool and thanks to the advocacy of Luke Gosling, Labor is delivering.

The total cost of the project is estimated to be $10 million. Labor will work in partnership with Chief Minister Michael Gunner and City of Palmerston Council to make sure this vital upgrade is delivered.

Labor has made hard budget decisions to ensure our priorities are fully paid for we will make multinationals pay their fair share and close unsustainable tax loopholes, because we want the Palmerston community to have access to modern swimming facilities.