‘The issue is the dilapidated and dangerous condition of the pool’
2 August, 2010
A Chewton resident has raised serious allegations about how Council has dealt with the Committee’s FOI request. The resident alleges that the Chewton Pool Committee had great difficulties in getting the results of their FOI request on the the details of the recent council survey on the aquatic centre.
‘After a bit of stalling they finally got the imformation two-three days before Tuesday’s council meeting,’ the resident alleges.
‘The shire officers had under quoted how many responses they got by more than 100, overquoted the support for the centre – and omitted to mention that many of the ‘supporters’ did not want an aquatic centre at the expense of the outdoor pools. It seemed that the Council, not liking the results that 70% of the 530 respondents did not support the Aquatic Centre, as shown in the latest survey, instead used figures in an earlier 2006 online survey (126 respondents) – which better suited their preffered outcomes!
‘The details of the delays and the discrepancies were raised at question time by several members of the Save The Chewton Pool Committee but were fobbed off.’
Council has responded immediately to these allegations, and in an email CEO Phil Rowland told the Independent that Council complied with all of its obligations in responding to the FOI request.
‘Required timelines for decisions and response under FOI legislation are well known and advised to people applying for access to information,’ Mr Rowland wrote.
‘Council officers undertook an objective assessment of the submissions received during the consultation period. All submissions were provided to the applicant in response to the FOI request, including those received after the conclusion of the consultation period. The results of this assessment have been made widely available in a detailed report which sets out all the issues raised, including those raised by people in support of the proposed centre.
‘The results of earlier planning work and any consultation processes were included in the report to Council to ensure a complete reporting of the process to date … I know this issue has caused real concern for many residents. In the case of the Chewton Pool, unfortunately Council’s independent external expert advice is clear and consistent with previous advice. The pool is not able to be repaired. Suggestions about community management of the pool are just not feasible – this is not a discussion about preferred management arrangements. The issue is the dilapidated and dangerous condition of the pool.’
Posted in Culture, Environment
August 2nd, 2010 at 5:02 pm
Phil Rowland is wrong. He is trying to justify the decision to close the Chewton pool. It is not dangerous in the immediate. It is not about to collapse. It is still viable for swimming in the interim whilst other options are worked out. Why are’suggestions about community management of the pool not feasible?’ This is a cop out. The community wishes to manage the pool whilst getting its own independent assessment re repairs or renewal of the pool. Council refuses to give the pool committee a choice. What is their real agenda?
August 3rd, 2010 at 8:29 am
The pool can most definitely be repaired. It is structurally as sound as it has been for years. The fact is there are supporters for keeping the pool open and in good order and they are prepared to look at all the options to keep it functional including community management, fund raising and grant applications.
There is no evidence in any report that states that the pool is in a “dangerous condition”.
Phil Rowland and his supporters are hell bent on shutting down CHEWTON POOL! What do you read into that?
August 3rd, 2010 at 1:14 pm
If the Chewton pool is dilapidated and dangerous then REPLACE it.
If it is underutilized then MARKET it. It is only 4km from the CBD after all….
If it is only open 3 months – then EXTEND that. This is Australia – we’re not talking swimming in the Arctic Circle here! We live in a shire which leads the state in Photovoltaic renewable energy sources – a heated outdoor pool – that would be worth bragging about!
If it is going to cost $2 million to upgrade then BUDGET for it. (Much easier to fund than 14 million!)
In the last 10 years the Castlemaine Library/Phee Broadway theatre complex has undergone 3 significant upgrades. There would be hardly any FAMILIES in our shire who could afford a ‘night out at the theatre’ for 3 kids. And to state the obvious the more ACTIVE we allow our kids to be when they are young – the less obesity related illness they will have in the future.
We are seriously becoming an elitist shire when we think it is okay to erode or remove 50 year old VALUED community assets from smaller communities to fund massive rate guzzling facilities for those of us lucky enough to live in Castlemaine.
The reason we have an aging population is that council is not spending on assets that would enhance communities and bring young families to our less expensive townships.
If council was prepared to look at SOLUTION based thinking to maintain & RENEW these small town assets – then maybe it would help them keep in touch with the 50% of ratepayers who can’t see much of anything for their 8.5% compounded interest rate hikes which are amongst the highest in the state….