Concerned about the loss, but …
(COUNCIL PRESS RELEASE): Council has been reviewing the future of swimming facilities in the Shire over many years. In February this year, Council released the Mount Alexander Shire Indoor Aquatic Centre Feasibility Study and asked for feedback from the community. The proposal details the feasibility of establishing a new Indoor Aquatic and Leisure Centre at the Western Reserve in Castlemaine, and also proposed that Council consider the closure of the outdoor pools in Chewton, Castlemaine and Harcourt.
“This Shire has a relatively large number of outdoor pools for its population and they are all over 35 years old,” said Mayor, Cr Philip Schier.
“Tackling the complex question of the renewal or replacement of our aquatic facilities is always a hard thing for Councils.
“The feedback that we have received about the Indoor Aquatic and Leisure Centre proposal has shown that communities are concerned about the loss of local pools.”
Those communities include people who mobilised the support of volunteers and built facilities decades ago. The pools have also played an important role in the lives of many people who have benefitted from the proximity of a local pool.
Council also received support for the proposal from others who urge the Council to build an indoor centre that can provide a high quality year-round recreation and health facility.
Recently, Council commissioned detailed technical assessments of the Chewton, Harcourt and Castlemaine pools. The reports have revealed that the Chewton Pool has a number of problems with the condition of the concrete and the reinforcing in the pool shell that make repair no longer feasible. The Harcourt Pool shell has some major cracks but the condition of the concrete and the reinforcing in the pool is relatively good, and if maintained well, is expected to last for the short to medium term. The Castlemaine Pool shell is also in poor condition and repairing the pool for long term use has not been recommended.
Consequently, at its meeting last night Council resolved to close the Chewton Pool because of its poor condition and because the structure is not suitable to be repaired. Continued operation of the pool would compromise public safety.
Council is mindful of its responsibility to provide services and infrastructure that meet the needs of the whole community. This community includes a higher than average number of older people and people with disabilities who do not enjoy good access to health and recreation facilities in the Shire.
“Council is still working through some of the issues raised through the community consultation process about the indoor aquatic centre proposal,” Cr Schier said.
“We have requested further information to assist us in making a final decision on the proposal in the coming months.”
Council is undertaking further work to understand the possible environmental impacts of a new Indoor Aquatic and Leisure Centre and preparing a long term sport and recreation plan on Council and the community’s sport and recreation aspirations, including a capital works plan.
Did Philip Schier write this article?
Maybe he could write another explaining why the Central Goldfields Shire has an olympic sized outdoor pool and a much better indoor facility than the proposed one for our shire.
Why they have excellent, new netball courts and ours are a shambles?
Why they have lights at their premier oval good enough to play under while the Camp Reserve is a shoddy dump?
Why, when the drought was destroying their facilities the council had recycled water pumped to the main oval and golf course while our gold course died and had to rack up a massive debt to pay for their salvation?
Why this town has not had a squash facility for over 5 years?
Why we have seen facilities such as the cricket nets and tennis courts at the Western, the Campbells Creek and now Chewton pools and the indoor sports centre close, or be demolished?
Every councillor in the last 15 years stands condemned for the disgraceful way the sport and recreation facilities in this shire have been managed. The next generation will suffer the consequence of council inactiona dn incompetence and they should be truely ashamed of themselves.
“Preparing a long term sport and recreation plan on Council and the community’s sport and recreation aspirations, including a capital works plan.” – I can hardly wait!