As the Adelaide Aquatic Centre calls last laps today, ahead of its final day of operation this Wednesday, the Opposition is concerned groups that use the existing pool are facing substandard alternatives while they wait for the new facility to be built.
Despite Labor telling South Australians it would “allow the existing facility to remain open during construction of the new centre”, in a blatant broken promise the current venue will close for good on Thursday 1 August so demolition work can begin.
Concerns have been raised with the Opposition that the quality of some programs currently held at the centre will suffer because of the move, with many alternative locations simply too small to properly accommodate them.
There are also fears those with disabilities will be unfairly impacted due to the difficulty of travelling to other venues, and not all staff at the current centre will get work at other pools.
The Opposition is also calling on Peter Malinauskas to disclose the cost of accommodating pool users to attend alternative venues, with the price tag of the new facility already blowing out from $80 million to an eyewatering $155 million.
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Vincent Tarzia, said it’s disappointing Peter Malinauskas and local Labor MP, Lucy Hood, have ignored the community’s calls to keep the current facility running while the new centre is built.
“Labor’s handling of the new Adelaide Aquatic Centre has proven they just don’t have the ability to properly manage major projects in South Australia – with cost blowouts and broken promises becoming the norm,” Mr Tarzia said.
“Peter Malinauskas promised South Australians this new facility would cost South Australians $80 million. That quickly shot up to $135 million, with local ratepayers also on the hook to pay an extra $20 million for the demolition works. That makes this project’s total cost almost double what was originally pledged.
“However, we fear the price of this project could be even higher due to the additional costs of accommodating pool users at alternative venues.
“Regular pool users are telling us they’re heartbroken by the decision not to keep the current facility open as originally planned and are expressing all kinds of concerns, including that elderly participants are now being deterred from exercising, impacting their health and social wellbeing.
“It’s a sad week for many Adelaide Aquatic Centre users, who have been left feeling betrayed by the Malinauskas Labor Government.”