Victorian Labor MP 'sick to death' of council approach to new Maryborough pool
Martha Haylett says she is fed up of Central Goldfields Shire Council repeatedly asking for further money for the troubled Maryborough pool.
Martha Haylett, the Labor MP for Ripon, has expressed her frustration with the Central Goldfields Shire Council's approach to the Maryborough outdoor pool redevelopment. The pool, which has been closed since 2022, is set to be demolished and rebuilt with a budget of $9 million. Haylett has demanded transparency and a detailed plan from the council before the government releases any taxpayer funds.
She has criticized the council's management of the project, calling it "dramatically mismanaged." The pool's closure was recommended by an independent assessor, who estimated the cost of reopening it at $14 million due to rising construction costs and site complexities. Two other local candidates, Megan Read from the Liberal Party and Jo Armstrong from the Nationals, have also pledged to fund the pool's redevelopment.
Despite the controversy, the Central Goldfields Shire Council has welcomed the commitment from the Coalition and Labor parties to provide $5 million for the project and stated that further community engagement will occur once funding is secured.
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