With National Water Safety Day on Sunday 1 December, City of Gosnells Mayor Terresa Lynes is focused on highlighting the importance of water safety and building life-changing and life-saving facilities for the community.
“Water safety is a serious issue that is often overlooked – and it’s something I want to make a bigger priority this National Water Safety Day,” Mayor Lynes 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.
“Our City is so diverse with 44 per cent of residents born overseas, compared with greater Perth, which has 36 per cent of residents born overseas.
“As a local government that celebrates its rich culture, we also have a role to play in creating and fostering an inclusive, connected and safe community.”
Data from a Royal Life Saving Australia (RLSA) 2024 report shows people from multicultural backgrounds are over-represented in drowning deaths in Australia. Over the 10 years from 2013/14 to 2023/24, the data shows 34 per cent of all drowning deaths were of people born overseas.
Mayor Lynes said providing access to secure, inclusive facilities where people of all ages can learn to swim was vital.
“The City of Gosnells has developed a concept design for a state-of-the-art recreation and aquatic complex – the Sutherlands Park Leisure and Aquatic Sports Hub (aka SPLASH) – that will support a growing community,” she said.
“SPLASH will create life-changing and life-saving opportunities for people not only in Perth’s rapidly expanding south-east corridor but for people across Perth and further afield.”
The proposal includes an eight-lane outdoor 50m pool, an eight-lane indoor 25m pool, a 20-metre indoor learn-to-swim pool, a pool focused on rehabilitation and much more.
The estimated cost of this proposal is $132 million – with the City committed to invest $66 million of the total project cost.
“It’s a community facility – for people of all ages, backgrounds, abilities and aspirations – and it will help prepare the next generation of safe swimmers,” Mayor Lynes said.
“Access to secure, inclusive facilities where people of all ages can learn to swim is crucial.”
With the population in the City of Gosnells projected to grow from around 137,000 in 2024 to more than 187,000 by 2046, Mayor Lynes said there is no better time to create a facility for a community that is severely lacking similar opportunities.
“This National Water Safety Day, we are calling on the State and Federal Governments to get on board and help fund this project,” Mayor Lynes said.
“Now is the time for our community to get a facility they not only deserve but need.”
To sign the City’s letter of support for SPLASH, visit yoursay.gosnells.wa.gov.au/splash
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