The State Government will provide $1 million towards the Perth City Council's $5.5 million re-development of the Beatty Park swimming pool complex.
"Beatty Park will be given a new lease of life with facilities which will allow its use by a much wider cross-section of the community," Premier Carmen Lawrence said today.
"The new-look Beatty Park will appeal to recreational swimmers as well as elite athletes."
The re-development would include a new heated 25-metre indoor pool, comfortable spectator seating and cafe-style food outlets. Air conditioning would be installed and some landscaping carried out.
Beatty Park was the centre-piece of the 1962 Commonwealth Games and was the headquarters for the State's aquatic sports for many years.
"In the 1960s, the emphasis was on a competition swimming pool aimed at the elite sportsperson. But times have changed and the community now wants a facility which will satisfy a variety of leisure needs," Dr Lawrence said.
"Beatty Park will still be able to nurture our budding swimmers, as well as providing enjoyment for thousands of local residents."
The Premier said the Government's decision to financially support the re-development proposal was part of a general commitment to increasing the level of community participation in sporting and recreational activities.
The re-development was in line with the trend towards developing `leisure' pools for local communities.
