Minister David Templeman visits Geraldton Aquarena to announce free pool access for eligible children

More families will be able to enjoy summer by the pool after a program offering free seasonal pool passes for eligible children was extended. Following a successful trial in the Mid West-Gascoyne, Wheatbelt and Great Southern earlier this year, Sport and Recreation Minister David Templeman visited Geraldton Aquarena on Monday to unveil a $1 million investment to roll out the KidsSport Regional Pool Program. It will extend to pools across regional WA to reduce the financial barrier preventing participation in community sport for low-income families, while increasing physical activity and water awareness in children aged five to 18. Mr Templeman said the trial saw a large uptake in participation at pools “We want to see more kids, more girls and boys, involved in sport, being active. And of course, this subsidy we are announcing today means more and more kids will be able to go and enjoy their pool,” he said. “We do have times when there are sadly drownings in Australia, quite often that’s people who are not experienced water users. “So this opportunity means that more and more kids are going to have exposure to the safety of a place like (Geraldton Aquarena).” The initiative is available at 88 regional pools and will give eligible children seasonal passes to use at their local pool for free throughout summer. Geraldton MLA Lara Dalton said it was important kids became confident swimmers early on, particularly in a coastal town such as Geraldton. “It’s going to be great that people who may not be able to afford it on a regular basis will now be able to afford to use the pool,” she said. City of Greater Geraldton mayor Jerry Clune thanked the State Government for the initiative. “To get out of the stingers and the salt water to jump in the pool here, it’s certainly a great asset, and we certainly appreciate it,” he said. “To learn to swim at such a young age is so important and so vital.”