Swimmers locked out of pools

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Swimmers locked out of pools

THREE South Gippsland pools have been open for just 19 of the 53 days of the season, sparking community concerns about low attendances threatening the security of pools’ futures.

Pools at Mirboo North, Poowong and Korumburra have been open to the public for just 19 days.

Out of a possible 32 days, Foster’s pool has been open for just 12.

The community is reeling at the lack of pool time and Korumburra residents have started a petition with nearly 1000 signatures calling for change.

Pool opening hours are based on the Bureau of Meteorology forecast for Leongatha at 6pm the evening before, except for Mirboo North which uses the Latrobe Valley forecast.

The temperature forecast needs to be a minimum of 26 degrees.

The petition calls on South Gippsland Shire Council to resume temperature evaluation on the day of opening and to re-instate the 24 degree minimum opening temperature.

Fred Couper, president of the Mirboo North Pool committee, said the few opening days were disappointing.

“We have had a bad season. It hasn’t been the warmest summer by any means but at the same time, the council’s new temperature policy hasn’t helped,” he said.

“It doesn’t serve anyone’s purpose to have the pools sitting idle. It’s not good for the community and it’s not good for the council.

“All we ask is that at the end of the season, the council sits down and examines the situation, because at the moment it is not working for anyone.”

Pool season ticket-holder and frustrated parent Karen Fowles, from Korumburra, said the temperature in Korumburra had surpassed the 26 degree requirement on several days, despite a cooler forecast the previous night.

“But the pools haven’t opened due to the limitations of using the forecast from the night before,” she said.

“The council is doing a disservice to our towns. If it can’t keep the pools open, give them back to the communities to run.”

Foster Pool committee president Ian Lyon has heard of several complaints from locals and regular summer visitors about the lack of opening hours.

“People have turned up on what they thought was a warm afternoon to find the pool closed. Melbourne visitors, who are not as well informed on the rules, are a bit confused,” he said.

“On the very hot Saturday in early January the pool was open from noon. In the past, it has always been 11am.

“Again, some of the holiday-makers and local families were very disappointed.”

The Foster community is keen to manage the pool and has a plan that will minimise council’s expenses.

“We believe community can provide a more comprehensive and flexible service for the community than a contracted operator, at no great expense for council,” Mr Lyon said.

Council’s strengthening community manager Ned Dennis said he was aware of the Korumburra petition.

“Regular petition protocol would see the petition tabled at a council meeting. The first council meeting will be held in February,” he said.

If the minimum operating temperature had remained at 24 degrees, the pools would have been open just three more days so far this year.

“Seven days (for January) is a pretty low figure and in the holidays we would be hoping to have them open more often, but they wouldn’t have been open much on the old regime either,” Mr Dennis said.

He said council recognised outdoor pools were valuable assets.

“We really can’t make a good assessment of what adjustments we can make until closer to the end of the season, which is March 9,” Mr Dennis said.

Pool attendance figures for December will be released publicly once councillors have reviewed the statistics.

 

 

Let us in: Jacob, Nic and Bailey Fowles showed their disappointment after the Korumburra pool was closed again last Thursday.

Let us in: Jacob, Nic and Bailey Fowles showed their disappointment after the Korumburra pool was closed again last Thursday.

Pool fun: from left, Rueben Okie, Lachlan Cook and Alexander Cook from Berwick had a great time staying cool at Toora’s swimming pool. Toora pool hours are not dependent on forecast temperatures.

Pool fun: from left, Rueben Okie, Lachlan Cook and Alexander Cook from Berwick had a great time staying cool at Toora’s swimming pool. Toora pool hours are not dependent on forecast temperatures.

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Posted by on Jan 20 2015. 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

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