WYCHEPROOF residents will be able to beat the heat after the Federal Government unveiled a $200,000 grant for major upgrades to the town’s swimming pool.
Cabinet minister Fiona Nash visited the small Mallee town on Wednesday to announce the funding and spoke of the importance of helping rural towns to thrive.
Ms Nash, who holds the Regional Development, Regional Communications and Rural Health portfolios, said the pool was a symbol of the government’s investment in rural and regional Australia.
“I aim to help build the kinds of communities our children and grandchildren want to either stay in or come back to,” she said.
“Good local facilities such as pools are a big part of that.”
Wycheproof Swimming Pool committee member Margaret Duncan said the pool was used by a diverse range of community members during summer.
“Little kids, older people, generations use the pool as a bit of a hub. It’s a good place,” she said.
The money will be used to install new change rooms, a first aid area, a new kiosk and solar heating.
Buloke Shire Mayor Reid Mather said a previous council decision had set the shire’s seven pools as important assets.
“We have a shire of 8000 square kilometres and the only water we have is seven swimming pools,” he said.
“Don’t touch the pools. If we take them away why would people want to come to Wycheproof?”
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