Public Swimming Pools planning for our future
Violet Town in the north-eastern Victoria has one of the best recreation areas in the State. Click image
Strathbogie Shire Council has engaged recreation planning consultants, Smart Connection Company to develop an Aquatic Facilities Strategy for the Shire.
The project is being jointly funded by Council and the Department for Victorian Communities.
Strathbogie Shire Council operates four outdoor pools within the Shire at Euroa, Nagambie, Violet Town and Avenel. The pools open in December through to the following March.
Mayor of Strathbogie Shire Council, Robyn Machin said, "Some of our swimming pools are nearing 50 years old and require considerable investment to keep them in a safe and functioning condition. Even with regular maintenance, components of some of the facilities are nearing the end of their operable life and ongoing maintenance is no longer a viable use of rate payer funds."
The condition of the pools will continue to deteriorate without a substantial investment of funding to upgrade and replace the ageing infrastructure. A complete condition assessment will be undertaken by the consultant developing the Strategy.
Recent statistics have indicated that operational costs for the pools far outweighed any income by around 5 to 1.
In the future, Council intends to apply to the State Government for funding to upgrade and improve aquatic facilities within the Shire.
The development of an Aquatic Facilities Strategy will assist Council to identify how future funding on public pools within the Shire should be invested.
As part of developing the Strategy, pool users and the broader community will be consulted.
It is important that the community shares its views about aquatic facilities to ensure the best long term realistic outcomes for the community. Consultation with the community will commence in December 2006.
To ensure that the community's views of aquatic facilities are obtained, four consultation methods will be employed in the development of the Aquatics Facilities Strategy. These are:
a) Interviews with Key Stakeholders;
b) Surveys of Pool Users; (200)
c) Telephone Survey; and (350 residents)
d) Schools Survey (all schools in the shire as well as neighbouring areas)
The broader community that has been directly targeted through the consultation methods described above will be invited to contribute to the project informally through the development of the project and formally once the Draft Aquatics Facilities Strategy is placed on public exhibition and public submissions are called.
If you would like any further information about this important community project please contact Mr Ray Novosel at Strathbogie Shire Council on (03) 5795 2010.
For more information: Marli Kelly on 0409 410 178. [22 November 2006]
For details/interview call the Editor on (03) 5798 1858