Pool a welcome addition to Lakelands’ growing community

The WestSwim Lakelands heated pool will offer swimming classes for children aged three-months or older, as well as seniors, multi-class, adult learn-to-swim and school students in the area. 

Swimming WA chief operating officer Geoff Reid said this was the first facility in the state to have ledges for swimmers to stand on, circling the entire pool. 

“The children have a safe environment to launch from, and swim back to,” he said.

“We don’t have to have as many platforms, and they can just stand on the side. It gives them confidence.”

Lakelands mother-of-two Tara McLaughlin was pleased with the new facility because she previously has to travel to Rockingham and Warnbro for her children’s swimming lessons.

“Now we have one on our doorstep,” she said.

Read More: 

WestSwim Lakelands operating manager Andrea Maeda said Lakelands was a growing community, and had a large number of first-home buyers with young children. 

“There are lot of young couples taking advantage of the first-time home buyers grant in the area,” she said. 

“They needed somewhere to start lessons early, that was accessible and affordable.”

Swimming WA chief executive officer Darren Beazley said the project was discussed two-years-ago, when the not-for-profit spoke of expanding it’s learn-to-swim operation.

He said their objective was to put money back into clubs and junior development programs across the state and to provide a “clearly defined pathway” from a positive learn-to-swim experience, to a swimming club environment.

Mr Beazley said he appreciated the state government funding, however, he said the funding sources had been reduced over the years.

He also thanked ISPT, Focus Building, Peet Limited and Westpac.

“We now have a facility that we control and that will enable swimming in this state to benefit from our expertise,” Mr Beazley said. 

A Swimming WA spokeswoman said WestSwim Lakelands had been designed with the needs of families in mind with family-friendly changerooms, pool deck showers, infant change tables in close proximity to pool, pram friendly areas, and seated areas for parents.

Swimming WA patron Gina Rinehart cut the ribbon at the open day.

Other attendees included Canning MP Andrew Hastie, Mandurah MP David Templeman and City of Mandurah Mayor Rhys Williams.