00:02Myrnda is a beautiful place to live. Residents say one big thing is missing.
00:08It would be really nice to go swimming with friends.
00:11We saw that in the near future we were going to have a swimming pool and then we get this.
00:17This site off Plenty Road was first earmarked for a pool more than 20 years ago.
00:23Work's begun on a sports stadium, but the pool doesn't rate a mention on the signage
00:28or in the council's draft budget.
00:30We moved into Myrnda 17 years ago
00:32and we were promised certain infrastructure like a swimming pool
00:36and we built our home and yep, it's been 17 years, we're still waiting.
00:41Rajika Agampodi used to spend at least half an hour each way
00:45to drive her three kids to swimming lessons in Thomastown.
00:49They were in the car more than they were in the pool.
00:52Swimming is a life skill. Every child should have that swimming skills.
00:57We started but we couldn't continue because of the distance.
01:02It's not just splashes and bubbles and fun.
01:05It's about health, it's about wellbeing
01:08and it's about our community getting what it deserves.
01:10The state government has committed $30 million to the precinct,
01:14including $10 million for the pool,
01:16but the council says the pool would cost $120 million.
01:21They are expensive, it's not simply digging a hole in the ground and put water in it.
01:26The council's due to receive a detailed report into the design of the pool in the next few months.
01:31Then councillors can examine how to get the pool funded
01:34and whether it can go ahead at all.
01:38Across Victoria, councils are struggling with the cost of building and maintaining swimming pools.
01:44It's getting harder and harder to build new infrastructure.
01:47We know the community wants it.
01:49Growing populations and growing building costs.
01:53at a place for them.
01:53But what's the goals of the city?
01:55We know for many businesses and things.
01:56and we should all work and fight with some people too much better.
01:56Music makes sense and doesn't thing it is too difficult to get through the itself.
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