Safety issue raised by community with council’s Tara pool plan

The Tara community has reached breaking point over the council’s handling of the Tara pool project, as more issues with the plan arise.

SHOW OF FORCE: Up to 50 concerned community members showed up to the council meeting to have their voices heard, with seven key speakers taking the stand during the deputations. Pic: Peta McEachern

The Western Down Regional Council’s $6.5m upgrade to the Tara Memorial Pool came under fire in 2020 – largely due to the shortening of the pool which may lead to multiple negative ramifications for the town and swimming club, according to the community members.

SAVE THE TARA POOL: Hannaford cattle farmer David Wells has two children who are members of the Tara Dolphin Swimming Club and he said the council’s lack of communication had been appalling. Pic: Peta McEachern

After the council organised a community drop-in session on Wednesday, May 12, to reveal multiple pool designs, fresh concerns were sparked which led to close to 50 people attending the ordinary council meeting in Tara.

Speaking at that meeting on Wednesday, May 19, meet manager for the Tara Swim Club Jaime Hirst said she had grave safety concerns for children who might be diving when she saw the maximum depth of the pool may be reduced to 1.5m.

“Anyone diving in a 1.5m pool must be under supervision by a qualified swim coach as it’s considered a low impact dive,” she explained.

“Normal diving is done at 1.8m to 2m – the propped depth is irresponsible and dangerous.

“As a swim club, we would not feel comfortable continuing to operate… for fear of a child suffering head, neck, or spinal injury.”

25M POOL: One of three WDRC Tara Pool Project designs Pic: WDRC

Tara Medical Centre GP Tim Lawton appealed to the council to protect the health, future viability, and children of Tara by revitalising the current facility.

“There isn’t a great deal of healthy outdoor activities for kids in this town,” he said.

“To preserve this facility, it seems to me from every perspective to be entirely the correct decision, so the children of this town are not further disadvantaged,” he said.

Dr Tim went on to say that if the council shortened the pool, they would be removing Tara’s tourism drawcard, and that it would struggle during the two-year construction phase.

“Heaven knows small regional towns need growth, it seems counterintuitive and counter-productive.

“I’ve been living in rural Queensland for 42 years and I have seen small communities with empty shop fronts with dwindling facilities.

“To take away the major drawcard for the children, their health, their development of teamwork and ambition, so they can be like the six (locals) going to state - these are things we must foster.”

SHOW OF FORCE: Up to 50 concerned community members showed up to the council meeting to have their voices heard, with seven key speakers taking the stand during the deputations. Pic: Peta McEachern

Mrs Hirst echoed Dr Tim’s fears, and said the club wasn’t financially strong and may collapse before the new pool is complete.

“Unlike other swim clubs, Tara chooses not to make money off membership… to make it more affordable for families to join,” she said.

“Without the club operating for the next 18m, two years, or indefinitely, many of these families will simply not swim again.

“Completive swimmers… will struggle with additional costs of travel, time off work and the increased cost attending other clubs and aquatic centres.”

Rather than focusing on a generic structural refurbishment, Mrs Hirst said the council needed to take a good look at what the community needs - including financial support.

“The council must financially support the swim club members through the project,” she said.

BLOOD SWEAT AND TEARS: The Tara community rallied funds for the pool in 1960 and built it by hand. Pic:Contributed

By the end of the council meeting it was clear the Tara community had struck a chord, as councillor Megan James called for an urgent agenda to ensure the Tara Pool community was better supported by the council.

The motion passed, although to councillor James’ dismay, multiple amendments were made to extend the time frame, and remove council’s sole responsibility to bill the support measures.

Read more about the councillors’ discussion here.