Limited access to aquatic facilities in Wyndham is harming community connections and ultimately risking lives as families face long travel times and packed classes when seeking access water safety education.

As we face the prospect of another long hot summer, Wyndham City is calling on all candidates and political parties contesting the upcoming State Election to commit funding towards a new aquatic facility, warning that inadequate aquatic infrastructure is disadvantaging the communities that need it most in one of Victoria's fastest-growing and most culturally diverse communities.

The CEOs of Lifesaving Victoria and Infrastructure Victoria, Catherine Greaves and Dr Jonathan Spear, lead a panel of experts discussing the impacts aquatic facility shortages in Wyndham, particularly on culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, as part of the Treading Water: A Way Forward for Aquatic Centre a discussion panel event, airing tonight.

The panel also features Wyndham City’s Mayor Cr Mia Shaw, Cam Vale, CEO Western Leisure Services and Troy Scoble, Director City Life Melton City Council.

The panel event is a key part of the A Way Forward for Wyndham advocacy campaign, designed to get all parties and candidates to making commitments on key infrastructure projects throughout the municipality in the lead up to the state election. 

Quotes attributable to Wyndham City Mayor Cr Mia Shaw 

“Wyndham City’s advocacy campaign A Way Forward for Wyndham and panel discussion Treading Water, delves into the realities and impacts on for communities in of growth suburbs when they don’t have access to adequate Aquatic facilities. 

“Surrounded by beaches, rivers, lakes and backyard pools, Australians regularly engage with water environments. However, for many newly arrived migrant families and refugees in Wyndham, exposure to water-based recreation and swimming is not a common recreational activity and often access to pools and aquatic facilities has been limited or non-existent.”  

“In multicultural communities, like Wyndham the benefits of aquatic facilities and water safety education is even more significant. Every child, parent and community member deserves the opportunity to feel confident and safe around water, and local swimming pools are essential to making that happen.” 

Quotes attributable to Life Saving Victoria’s CEO, Catherine Greaves

“Life Saving Victoria’s purpose is to save lives and empower communities to safely enjoy water; importantly, we want everyone to develop the skills, confidence and knowledge to be safe in and around water.” 

“Swimming, whether in beaches, pools or other bodies of water, is in the DNA of Australians, but not everyone has had the same opportunity to learn swimming and water safety skills.”

“Accessible aquatic facilities are essential places for people of all ages and backgrounds to learn swimming and water safety skills. This is particularly important in fast-growing communities such as Wyndham, where many people face barriers to accessing these opportunities” 

Quotes attributable to Infrastructure Victoria CEO, Dr Jonathon Spear

“The data tells us that Wyndham is one of the areas in highest need of aquatic facilities.”

“It is unrealistic to expect Councils to deliver Aquatic facilities alone. Infrastructure Victoria recommends the State Government fund a third of the cost and the Federal Government fund a third of the cost towards new aquatic facilities.”

Quotes attributable to Western Leisure Services CEO, Cam Vale

“The diversity here in Wyndham is phenomenal. Aquatic facilities encourage social cohesion and inclusion.”

“They are much more than places to swim. They provide vital opportunities for water safety education, physical activity, rehabilitation and community connection for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.”

FURTHER BACKGROUND:

• Wyndham has just one aquatic centre for every 48,000 young people, compared with the City of Melbourne with one aquatic and recreation facility for every 5000 young people. Compared to the City of Greater Geelong which has one aquatic and recreation facility for approximately 75,000 people, Wyndham has one aquatic facility for approximately 150,000 people. 
• In 2020 a teenage boy drowned in the Werribee River. Prior to the incident he had told friends he couldn’t swim.
• Drowning remains a significant public safety concern in Australia. Research has consistently shown that people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds face additional barriers to learning water safety skills. According to Life Saving Victoria, 37% of drowning fatalities between 2015 and 2025 involved people from multicultural backgrounds.

For more information on the A Way Forward for Wyndham campaign, visit: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EEGLQyLra/

To view the panel discussion visit: https://www.youtube.com/live/DIREcsJAmd0?si=3mLxEmtpXfMBXEMp