New Tin Can Bay pool ‘welcome’ amid TMR, Gympie council dispute

The future of a leaky but popular community pool is uncertain after the government body that owns the land it has occupied for decades revealed it now wants the community to start paying.

The future of Tin Can Bay’s pool at Norman Point has been muddied following a request by the state government for Gympie Regional Council to enter a lease on the site, which is owned by Transport and Main Roads.

The future of the Tin Can Bay pool has been muddied amid revelations the state government wants Gympie Regional Council to enter into a lease for the Norman Point facility.

A proposed deal by Transport and Main Roads was rejected unanimously by councillors at its November 23 meeting, but a deal remains in the works.

TMR’s proposal was discussed behind closed doors, after which councillors turned down the lease but gave the permission for negotiations to continue.

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The pool and its condition will be professionally assessed as well.

Sources have said the council has never previously had a leasing agreement with the state government over the site.

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The Tin Can Bay pool was refurbished in 1993, with the overhaul expected to give the site a lifespan of “about 20 years” at the time.

Details of TMR’s proposed lease have not been released.

A TMR spokesman did not respond to questions as to why it had proposed a lease at this time.

“We manage all leases within state-managed boat harbours in accordance with our Boat Harbour Leasing Policy and the Queensland Government Land Transaction Policy,” he said.

The pool is located within 200m of the Tin Can Bay yacht club.

TMR owns the land.

“Leasing matters within state-managed boat harbours are commercial in confidence,” the spokesman said.

“We recognise Tin Can Bay Swimming Pool is an important public facility provided by Gympie Regional Council and will work with council to ensure the best outcome for the community.”

Gympie council has been contacted for comment.

Councillor Dan Stewart said on social media the pool’s future needed investigating, given its age and ongoing problems.

Councillor Jess Milne said she would welcome a new pool at Tin Can Bay, which would provide an opportunity to build a new “spray park”, a step down from the “splash park” some corners of the community had been pushing for, with it.

Mr Stewart said it was “lapped by king tides and there are apparently some significant leaks and other issues that many locals would be aware off”.

A new facility was not off the table, either.

“As the second biggest population centre in the region, limited suitable swimming areas … and an ageing population, the town does require a pool,” Mr Stewart said.

“It will need to be an upcoming project of Council as TMR may want use of the land the current pool occupies.”

Jess Milne, whose division includes Tin Can Bay, said she would welcome a new pool for the town if it was offered.

“We do have a high population down here,” Ms Milne said.

A new pool would offer the chance to be built with a spray park – a smaller, less costly alternative to the splash park some members of the community have been pushing for.

Ms Milne said it would be a great way to “value add” to the region.

Tin Can Bay’s pool has been located at Norman Point for decades.

The original facility was given an overhaul in 1993, with new concrete being laid across the original tidal pool.

At the time it was expected to have a lifespan of “about 20 years”,