Southern Downs Regional Council backflips over fate of Allora Pool and caretaker Andrew ‘Fidgey’ Fidge- for now

After weeks of turmoil in the Allora community, Southern Downs Regional Council has made a major decision regarding the future of the town’s beloved pool. See why it made a splash.

The Eldridge kids at the Allora pool. (Photo: File/ Sean Teuma)

Allora swimmers and residents can have peace of mind – temporarily – as Southern Downs Regional Council backflips on a decision regarding the fate of a beloved community institution and the figure who tends to it.

Drama began in December 2023, when the previous Southern Downs Regional Council determined it would not be extending the contract of Allora Pool’s caretaker, Andrew ‘Fidgey’ Fidge, causing a stir for locals.

The move by council was a belly flop into the deep end, with many Allora locals not happy with the decision, and saw it as an example of Allora being slighted and overlooked.

During the ordinary council meeting on April 19, 2024 SDRC chief executive Dave Burges said he would review the decision and prepare a proposed way forward to take the views of the community into account.

Mr Burges said that negotiations with Mr Fidge had been positive and preparations would now commence for council and the preferred operator to have the facility ready to go for the coming season.

The council also said it had exercised the option under the current management agreement to extend the term of the contract between council and Mr Fidge for a period of 24 months.

Mayor Melissa Hamilton (Photo: Michael Hudson)

Mayor Melissa Hamilton said that the swift action of Council officers to undertake a review and negotiate a way forward reinforces that Council is listening to the community.

“We as councillors are listening to the community. We wanted to ensure that council had fully taken into consideration the economic and social impacts of its decision, as well as the input we received from both users of the facility and the wider Allora community,” Ms Hamilton said.

“Following the review by the chief executive, council wishes to advise that Andrew Fidge remains the pool operator up to the winter recess in 2026.”

Residents were quick to support Mr Fidge following the first decision, making it clear he was a prominent and beloved part of the Allora community.

“So disappointing. Another case of a village in our community being treated as 2nd class. In my 56 years involvement with the pool … the pool has never been better. Andrew and his team had that pool in pristine condition. However it is Andrew that we will all miss so much,” one commenter said.

The council says it remains committed to delivering quality, cost-efficient facilities across the region and unless extended further, the contract with Mr Fidge will now end on March 31, 2026.