Pollies’ bitter seat beef

Heated battle spills into Corangamite pool funding war

FEUDING federal MPs Sarah Henderson and Libby Coker are still locked in a territory battle for the federal seat of Corangamite, more than a year after facing off at the election.

The pair traded barbs this week over funding to build pools in Torquay and Drysdale, and their rivalry escalated over Senator Henderson’s promotion of herself as “the government’s representative in Corangamite”.

Despite losing the seat to Ms Coker at last year’s election and then being parachuted into the senate, Senator Henderson also distributed a sixpage glossy Corangamite Community News brochure in the electorate this week

“Senator Sarah Henderson simply can’t get over the fact the voters of Corangamite dumped her at the last election,” Ms Coker said. “Her continued efforts to brand herself as ‘the government’s representative in Corangamite’ screams of someone who is unable to let go of the past.

Senator Henderson this week launched a petition calling on the State Government to fix the funding shortfall for the Surf Coast Aquatic Centre and the Bellarine aquatic facilities.

The Federal Government has promised $20 million to the proposed $38.5 million project in Torquay, and $10 million for one in the north of the Bellarine Peninsula.

Senator Henderson said the State Government allocation of $10 million for the Torquay project was not enough, and accused Ms Coker of contributing to delays in securing money for it when she was a Surf Coast councillor.

“In order for council to build this facility in Torquay, Labor needs to fix this $9 million funding shortfall,” Senator Henderson said.

The council has applied for a grant from the state.

Senator Henderson took a swipe at Ms Coker over the project, saying it had been “stymied” when Ms Coker was a Surf Coast councillor.

But Ms Coker said she had supported the proposed Torquay pool long before being elected as the member for Corangamite.

“As a Surf Coast councillor,

I voted to reserve civic land for a potential pool,” she said.

“As the Labor candidate for Corangamite, I promised $15.3 million toward the pool.

“I know just how important the facility is to many in the community.

“I support a pool. However, unlike the bullying attitude of the senator, I have always been conscious that Surf Coast has to make a very careful and considered decision as to whether to build a pool.”