Public discussion to be held on controversial Tara Pool project

Western Downs Regional Council will host community drop-in sessions to share plans on their controversial multimillion-dollar Tara Pool Masterplan.

COMMUNITY: The Western Downs Regional Council will host community drop-in sessions to share plans on their controversial multimillion-dollar Tara Pool Masterplan. Pic: Supplied

Key stakeholders, designers, and community members will meet in Tara to view the Western Downs Regional Council’s controversial multimillion-dollar Tara Pool plans.

The information session will be held at the Tara Soldiers Memorial Hall at 2pm on Wednesday, May 12, and will wrap up at 6pm.

The Western Downs Regional Council welcomed the community to attend the session where they will be able to view multiple designs and provide feedback.

The WDRC announced the then $3m project in 2020 as part of their COVID-19 stimulus package, stating independent engineers deemed the 50m pool had “reached the end of its life, and is in a state of disrepair”.

The new $6.5m project ignited an uproar when community members were told their 50m pool would be replaced with a 25m pool.

Past president of the Tara Swim Club David Gunther, who has been a strong advocate for a 50m pool said although all the designs at the community session will be for a 25m pool, it’s great to see the council is willing to host an open discussion.

“This will be the first public meeting on the project so I’m really happy, hopefully we can work with them,” he said.

“We’ll be able to provide some feedback on their designs and discuss aspects that might be suitable for the community.”

Long-term Tara resident Gayle Porter, whose father helped build the Tara Memorial Pool in the 60s, said “it’s too little too late” for the community consultation, although she encouraged everyone to attend the session to ensure their voice is heard.

“There’s been absolutely no community consolation, we’ve just been told what we are getting, they should have done this way back,” she said.

“This whole thing has really hurt me – I use the pool to help with my mobility issues and I don’t think I’ll be back if it’s shortened.

“It’s really sad because one of my earliest memories was of the pool being built – the whole community got together to raise funds, it was beautiful.”

The local small businesswoman said she hopes the drop-in session will be constructive and that the community is finally listened to and represented.