Premier opens pool

PREMIER Steve Bracks officially opened Pakenham’s $11.3 million aquatic and recreation complex Cardinia LiFE on Monday.
Cardinia mayor Bill Ronald joined Mr Bracks, Sport and Recreation Minister Justin Madden and local MPs and councillors at the event.
Several other local community groups who use the pool were also on hand to see the ribbon cut, including members of the Cardinia Piranhas Swimming Club and Pakenham Arthritis Club.
Olympic silver medallist Brooke Hanson donned her bathers to entertain the crowd and swam a few laps in the pool with seven lucky locals.
Mr Bracks congratulated Cardinia officials for their foresight in making the pool a central and vital part of the community and said it would serve residents well for a long time.
“Cardinia LiFE will provide a variety of leisure and recreation opportunities for locals to go for their life,” Mr Bracks said.
The Premier also commented on the unique architectural design of the building and said he thought it would win significant design awards in the future.
The State Government contributed $2.5 million to the construction of the building, which started in September 2004 and was delivered to the Cardinia community $3.8 million over budget.
Residents first took the plunge on 1 July when the pool opened to the public and have continued to attend in higher than anticipated numbers since.