Anthony Albanese, Minister for Infrastructure and Local Government and Kate Ellis, Minister for Sport, today announced that the Rudd Labor Government would offer more than $2.36 million towards the Strathalbyn Community Swimming Pool Redevelopment.

Ms Ellis was in Strathalbayn today to make the announcement with the Mayor of Alexandrina Council, Kym McHugh.

Located on the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia, this is the only Olympic-sized facility in the region and is in one of the fastest growing towns in South Australia.

This federal funding is part of our $800 million Community Infrastructure Program – the largest one-off investment in local infrastructure in Australia's history.

The funding announced today builds on $160,000 that the Rudd Labor Government has already delivered for repairs to the Strathalbayn swimming pool earlier this year.

Through the Rudd Government’s economic stimulus plan, we are investing in major projects like this to support local jobs and economies during the global recession.

The more than $3.56 million project, managed by the Alexandrina Council, includes:

• Construction a new building incorporating a plant room, kiosk, change rooms, swimming club room and the associated fit-outs;


• A new children’s pool;


• Main pool repairs;


• Shade structures;


• Wet deck conversion;


• Solar heating to extend swimming season from five to seven months;


• Retaining walls and safety fencing.

Built in 1968, the Strathalbyn Community Swimming Pool is set in the State Heritage listed Memorial Gardens. It is used widely by the community including sporting clubs, schools, community groups and learn-to-swim programs.

Nearly 70 per cent of the stimulus plan is infrastructure with construction projects already underway. More than 3,000 projects are being funded through the Government’s Community Infrastructure Program across Australia to support local jobs.