Electioneering Farce

Third Election Promise Ditches Equal Or Better Belconnen Pool

Wayne Berry - Member for Ginninderra

Media Statement - 11 December 2000

Ginninderra MLA Wayne Berry has described the latest tendering move for a Belconnen Pool as an electioneering farce.

Mr Berry's statement follows the announcement by ACT Sports Minister Bill Stefaniak of the calling of new tenders in the wake of the collapse of earlier attempts to find a developer for the pool.

"And on top of this the promise of a pool 'equal or better' than the one built by Labor for Tuggeranong residents has fallen by the wayside with the government's limited funding offer of $10 million," Mr Berry said.

"It would cost at least $15 million to build a pool equal to the standard set by Labor for Tuggeranong residents.

"The whole process has descended into farce as the Minister attempts to patch up his failure to deliver this promise after two elections - now the promise will not be delivered for a third election.

"Looks like we'll see yet another sod turning in the next election campaign.

"In contrast, when I was Sport Minister, I promised a pool for Tuggeranong residents for the first time at the 1992 election and had my first swim in the pool in 1993.

"This humiliating episode of the Belconnen pool saga has grey whiskers on it and highlights again Bill Stefaniak's inability to deliver on the longest running Liberal election promise.

"The Liberals can't make up their mind whether this is a core promise or a non-core promise but non-core looks like it is in front by the length of the elusive pool," Mr Berry concluded.