Community members in the City of Gosnells are rallying together to call on State and Federal Governments to help fund the proposed $132 million aquatic and recreation development at Sutherlands Park in Huntingdale.
Last month, Mayor Terresa Lynes delivered more than 2300 letters supporting the Sutherlands Park Leisure, Aquatic and Sports Hub (SPLASH) to Federal Member for Burt Matt Keogh and Southern River MLA Terry Healy.
That support has since surpassed 3300 letters and is growing by the day, with signed letters now delivered straight to the email inboxes of State and Federal MPs.
“The local community is behind our push to make a SPLASH in the City of Gosnells – building a life-changing and life-saving facility,” Mayor Lynes said.
“Swimming is an essential part of the Western Australian lifestyle and our community is in dire need of a new facility that will deliver life-saving benefits to our culturally diverse community and support the health and wellbeing of our growing population.”
Joining the City’s call to action are people from a range of backgrounds – including swimmer Anisha Azzizi, 76-year-old resident Pam Ruocco, basketballers Lexi and Archie King and Alexia Pang, and Gosnells Chinese Association’s Stephanie Chan.
A competitive swimmer who has travelled interstate to compete in national championships, 16-year-old Anisha lives in Huntingdale but travels to Trinity College in East Perth up to 12 times a week for training.
“My mum drives me to East Perth twice a day, up to six days a week, so I can train,” she said.
“To have an outdoor 50-metre pool nearby would make such a difference, not just for me and my family, but for many other swimmers I know who live in the City.”
Having grown up in Beckenham, junior domestic basketball players Lexi and Archie keep dad Tobe King busy on the road, with the father-of-two driving the siblings to and from training and games at basketball venues in Willetton and Kalamunda.
Alexia also plays junior domestic basketball and lives in Southern River, within walking distance to the proposed SPLASH site. Mum Belinda Pang is also busy driving Alexia to and from training and games at various locations in Leeming, Willetton and Kalamunda.
Both the Pang and King families agree that a facility like SPLASH would drastically reduce the time and money they spend each week driving their children around to meet basketball commitments.
Gosnells grandmother Pam raised her children in Thornlie and sees enormous benefit in the proposed new facility.
“I have lived in Gosnells for most of my life, so I know how much a facility like SPLASH would make a difference not just for me, but for my children and grandchildren,” Pam said.
The City of Gosnells is one of the most culturally diverse local governments in the greater Perth metropolitan area, and research shows people from multicultural backgrounds are over-represented in drowning deaths in Australia.
The City has committed $66 million toward the anticipated $132 million cost for the project and seeks government funding for the remainder.
For more information about SPLASH or to sign the City’s letter of support, click here.
City of Gosnells Mayor Terresa Lynes with Councillors Emma Zhang and Balli Singh and (left to right) Gosnells Chinese Association’s Stephanie Chan, Pam Ruocco, Anisha Azzizi and her mother Noor Muhaidi.
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