Mr Andrews also toured Ararat Olympic Outdoor Pool, which was re-opened in 2016 with $200,000 from the state government to complete its refurbishment..

Mr Andrews was in the region to announce new funding for Stawell Hospital and Elmhurst Bush Nursing Centre, and to tour the redevelopment of Ararat hospital’s community health centre.

Last year, the state government announced a new peak period unit for Ararat with seven full-time equivalent paramedics and a new ambulance vehicle.

Mr Andrew’s sad the government was now upgrading the existing branch in Ararat, giving paramedics the modern and safer facilities they deserve and room to grow.

 “We’re so proud of the work our paramedics do. We’ve given Ararat paramedics the tools and the resources they need to do what they do best – save lives and protect Ararat families when emergency strikes,” he said.

Within Ararat Rural City, the latest performance data shows the average time an ambulance is taking to reach the scene of a Code 1 emergency has improved to 16.09 minutes. Mr Andrews said that was quicker than the 18.31 minutes a year prior, and “much faster than when the Liberal Nationals were last in government”.

Ararat Olympic Outdoor Pool committee president Ambrose Cashin said Mr Andrews was pleased to see Moyston and Willaura primary school students making the most of the pool on Friday afternoon.

Mr Cashin said Mr Andrews told him that he would like to return when the new extra-long waterslide was installed and the new water heating blankets were in use.

“The project that the state government help fund included the shade that’s gone over the splashpad area and to allow blankets to go over the pool to ensure a longer season,” Mr Cahsin said.

“It also included artificial turf. The Premier just dropped i to see how it was all going and to find out how the pool was progressing.

“The school students on Friday demonstrated that the pool is not just an amenity for Ararat; its for regional schools to utilise the 50-metre pool and gain experience in cold water.”

Mr Cashin said Mr Andrews was very impressed.

“Overall, he believes Ararat should be very proud and impressed with the effort they have put in,” Mr Cashin said.

“It just goes to show that when communities work together, fantastic things can be achieved.

Mr Andrews also dropped into the pool’s Gardens Lake Cafe for a soft drink.