Thursday, 18 April 2024

 Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (11:54): (489) My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. When floodwaters engulfed Rochester in October 2022 the Rochester pool was destroyed. Eighteen months of empty Labor promises later, the pool remains closed and is an eyesore. In April last year $9 million of joint Commonwealth and state funding went to Campaspe shire for flood recovery works at Rochester, including for the pool redevelopment. Last December the council advised the shire will need between $8 million and $13 million to replace the pool, and council officers are preparing detailed design and costings for a new aquatic facility in Rochester. Local residents have made it clear that a community pool in Rochester is a top priority. Minister, when will all the money be made available to resurrect this vital community asset?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (11:55): I thank Mrs Broad for her question. There is a lot of investment that has been made available. Since the floods of 2022, $2.5 billion from state and federal governments has gone into the region in relation to recovery. I know that is not a direct answer to a specific project that you are inquiring about. I do have a role as Minister for Emergency Services in relation to recovery, but that does not mean that I step into the shoes of the sports minister or the regional development minister when it comes to community projects.

I, like you, have heard from the community of Rochester that the pool is their number one priority. The telling point in your question was the final part of it: that council are in the process of designs and seeking exactly what they want to ask from government. I was quite surprised to hear the mayor using his introduction to the recovery event last night to put a figure on the table, because I have not yet received a figure from the council in any formal way. I double-checked that with ERV this morning, because I was like, ‘I haven’t seen the direct request in relation to the specifics.’ I am advised – and your question confirms that that is your advice as well – that the work is not complete yet in relation to what the requests of the community and the council exactly look like. Because we have provided support in relation to the development of the ask, I think that is a pretty good indicator that we are very receptive to receiving that ask. We have not yet received that ask in any formal way other than through some words of the mayor in a speech last night.

 Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (11:57): Thank you, Minister. I appreciate the response to that question. As you look to receive the further detailed costings from the council, will you commit to the government providing the funding to see this pool rebuilt?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (11:58): I will always have conversations and talks about the priorities of communities as a local member. The Attorney-General or the Minister for Emergency Services does not provide funding for pools; that would be another ministerial responsibility. But as I made very clear, Rochester have made it abundantly clear to government and to visitors that the pool is their number one priority. I think that in terms of a project that not only meets the needs of a community but is symbolic of a recovery project, it is a project as a local member that I am pretty sure I will get behind. I cannot give you a commitment when it is not yet even formulated as a formal ask, but the fact that we are supporting the development of that request is probably a good indicator that it is on the right track.