Backflip on pool
BUOYED by the overwhelming endorsement of the Mirboo North pool by the OurSay survey, the Friends of the Mirboo North pool have gone on the offensive.
In a major turnaround of fortunes, previously faced with possible closure of the pool, the group is now seeking assistance with a $2.8 million project. The “Friends” released a development proposal to the South Gippsland Shire at a briefing last Wednesday.
After receiving almost 500 votes in the South Gippsland Shire Council’s OurSay program, president of the pool’s planning group Fred Couper and Alan Cox from AC Pools presented the proposal to council.
“Our first aim when putting this proposal together was to keep the pool on its existing site whilst bringing it, and the associated facilities, up to a standard that’s going to ensure its survival for another 50 years,” Mr Couper said.
“We’re delighted with what AC Pools have put together for us. It achieves everything we were hoping for, yet at an estimated cost of half of what has been talked about when the pool’s master plan was released two years ago.”
Mr Couper approached the council with two possible funding options – either council fund $2 million of the project and the community commit to fundraising the rest of the cost or for the pool redevelopment to be done in stages.
“We are very aware a key issue for council is the ongoing financial support the pool will require,” Mr Couper said.
“The community needs to work with council to develop a management model that will reduce the costs. We’re expecting the current outdoor pool strategy review and the second stage of the feasibility study to assist in this process.”
Country Alliance candidate for Gippsland South Deb Meester said she is in support of the pool.
“Swimming and water safety is an essential skill for children to learn. An upgrade would ensure its longevity,” Ms Meester said.
“Teaching children to swim helps to keep them active therefore reducing childhood obesity, which essentially saves the community money in long term healthcare. Being able to provide disability access is also essential to aid rehabilitation and physiotherapy, as well as those who are less able bodied.”
The key to the development is the bottom half of the main pool will remain, with the top cut off and replaced with a new wet deck and concourse.
The current two children’s pools will be replaced by a single purpose built pool that would include a water fountain play area plus a beach entry.
To support the new pools a completely new amenities facility would also be built including changing room, a kiosk and a first aid room.
All areas of the pool would have full disabled access.
Application grants have been submitted to three different funding bodies for a wider feasibility study into tourism and recreational options for the pool hub. If the grants are successful, the study will start at the beginning of 2015.
“Slowly but surely we are bringing together our strategy for guaranteeing the future of this pool for another couple of generations,” Mr Couper said.
“The first step is this redevelopment – by doing this we can ensure it will be as popular as it has been for the last 100 years. Next we need to explore how we can reduce the gap between what the pool earns and what it costs to run, to put the pool on a more financial stable footing.”
Mr Couper said the redevelopment will increase patronage, but they’re also keen to reduce operating costs. They are also looking at what other facilities or services can be built to support the pool, such as an RV halting site.
The next steps are to present council with an initial management plan aimed to minimise costs and options to generate revenue by the end of February, 2015, gain confirmation from council the existing pool shell is suitable for redevelopment to get in principle support from council for the redevelopment.
“In a lot of ways it’s quite simple – this facility is too important to be lost and it means too much to the community. You only have to spend an afternoon there on a hot summer’s day to realise how precious it is,” he said.
“But that doesn’t mean we can’t make it better, and this redevelopment will mean it will be as good as any other outdoor pool anywhere in Australia. That is pretty exciting prospect when you think about it.”
Forward planning: from left, president of the pool’s planning group Fred Couper and Alan Cox from AC Pools approached the South Gippsland Shire Council on Wednesday with a redevelopment plan for the Mirboo North pool.
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Posted by Sarah Vella on Nov 25 2014. Filed under Featured, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
