Ms SPENCE (Yuroke) — Recently I was thrilled to participate in a sod-turning event for the Craigieburn Regional Aquatic and Leisure Centre development. The centre will be an amazing facility for Craigieburn locals as well as for people from across the region. The centre will have something for everyone, with a leisure pool, toddler pool, learn-to-swim pool and a 50-metre pool. Also included will be a spa, sauna and steam rooms, cafes and spectacular water slides making it a great space for locals to relax or join in the fun. In addition there will be ample male, female and family change areas, making the facilities accessible for all ages and abilities to enjoy. The development of this precinct in Craigieburn has been taking place over many years. During my time as a councillor, this aquatic facility was envisaged to complement the amazing Hume Global Learning Centre, the Craigieburn Central shopping centre and the other sports and recreation facilities that we will see in the area.

The current council has been able to finalise these plans and get the project underway though the cooperation and support of all levels of government as well as Stockland and Lend Lease. It was terrific to join Rob Mitchell, the federal member for McEwen, and Cr Helen Patsikatheodorou, the mayor of Hume City Council, to mark this significant milestone. Well done to all involved in this project. My thanks go to Hume City Council for inviting me to participate in this major event. I am confident this will be a successful project and an amazing facility, and I look forward to visiting it when it opens in 2017.