Russell Island residents ask: ‘Why won’t they open our pool?’
On the mainland it’s hard to find a public swimming pool that isn’t open every day, now Russell Island ratepayers are demanding to know why they can’t just be like everyone else.
Redlands Coast
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Russell Island residents believe the review of a standing agreement on the operation of their public pool could hold answers to having the facility open longer.
While the mainland might be awash with public pools, islanders have limited access to the Bay Islands Aquatic Centre and want to know why they have been denied the right to have a say about operating hours.
The Friends of Russell Island Swimming Pool (FRISP) will stage a rally tomorrow at the pool to voice their concerns.
FRISP spokeswoman Alison Laing said residents wanted answers about the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Department of Education, which owns the pool, and Redland City Council, which manages it.
The MOU expires in April next year.
Ms Laing said residents had waited long enough to find out why they did not “have the same level of services and hours as mainland swimming pools”.
Outside of school holiday periods, the Bay Islands Aquatic Centre, owned by the Department of Education but managed by Redland City Council is closed every Tuesday and Thursday.
The pool operates limited hours on Monday, Wednesday and Friday (7-10am and 3-6pm) but is open 10am-5pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
The newly-formed Facebook action group is also drawing attention to why a community engagement committee to oversee the pool operations was not formed when the asset became the property of the Education Department in 2015.
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In a July 2013 recommendation, as part of the handover of the pool to the State Government, Redland City Council resolved to “work with Community and Education Queensland to ensure that the pool is managed to maximise community benefit”.
Residents say this did not happen.
“Why should islanders have a much poorer service when we have contributed so much to the building of the pool and have so few other recreation and sport options that other ratepayers have?” Ms Laing said.
The News investigated the operating hours for other mainland pools (outside school holidays) with similar residential populations operated under neighbouring Moreton Bay Regional Council (MBRC).
According to 2016 Census Data, Russell Island has 2836 residents.
Dayboro, which had 2119 residents in 2016, has a public pool that operates Monday to Thursday 5.30am-7pm, Friday 5.30am-6pm, Saturday 6am-5pm and Sunday 8am-5pm with public holidays 10am-4pm.
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Woodford, population 3,458, operates its public pool seven days a week and is open Monday to Thursday 6am-6pm, Friday 6am-5pm, Saturday 6am-5pm, Sunday 9am-5pm and public holidays10am-4pm.
Meanwhile, Samford Valley (3,068 residents) pool also opens to the public seven days a week, although it has more limited hours, operating Monday to Friday 5-8am and 3-7pm, Saturday 6am-6pm and Sunday 8am-5pm.
Ms Laing said the Bay Islands Aquatic Centre also met the needs for neighbouring islands increasing the potential population using the centre by thousands. Macleay Island had 2,681 residents registered in 2016 Census.
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Members of the Facebook group said they were angry the council resolve had not been honoured.
“It’s an essential resource for our islands,” Susan Glenn said.
Rachel O’Neill commented that it was “unfair Russell Islanders fought for the pool for so many years and then were charged a levy on their rates but now are unable to use it at reasonable hours or for many of the purposes it was built for”.
“Islanders should have a say in how the pool is managed so that it meets the needs of the SMBI community,” Ms O’Neill said.
“It is an asset that is, currently underused and not being used to it’s full potential.”
A Council spokeswoman said under the MOU “the Department has priority use of the pool for educational purposes, and the pool may be opened for community use outside of those times”.
“This agreement, which was formalised in 2015 and expires on 19 April 2020, stipulates that Council will operate and manage the pool in accordance with the terms and conditions set out within the agreement.”
The spokeswoman said Council had received email inquiries from members of the public about the pool’s operating hours and Council was monitoring “patronage intensity for the remainder of the season before determining whether extending the hours of operation at the pool is possible in the future”.
She said that in the current season, Council had trialled extending the school holiday hours, which were 6.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Sunday (84 hours per week).
“This is an increase over the 69 hours that were in operation in the 2017/18 season,” she said.
“School holiday hours can be extended under the MOU as the Department does not require the pool for school use at that time.”
She said the trial had seen a minor increase in patronage and also an increase in labour and maintenance costs at the facility.
The News asked Council if it was considering extending the operating hours.
“Council is monitoring patronage intensity for the remainder of the season before determining whether extending the hours of operation at the pool is possible in the future,” the spokeswoman said.
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Residents also called for an expansion of therapeutic services available at the pool for residents many of whom said they were either elderly and needing rehabilitation water therapies or would like to see the pool develop a wider range of fitness programs.
Ms Laing said residents “had very few meeting places … our pool could be made more friendly for islanders, encouraging groups and individuals to enjoy this space with better services and beautification,” she said.
“Currently the pool has fewer services than any other public swimming pool in South East Queensland (based on a survey of 10 nearby pools).”
“Items that are missing include: A shop for food and drink and basic swimming items, like goggles. EFTPOS payment for entry fees.”
Bay Islands Aquatic Centre
This swimming pool on Russell Island is easily available by free inter island water taxi. It is situated on the corner of High and Borrows Street, Russell Island. General admission fee s $3.50, with a family pass for four only $13.00. Pool opening times vary throughout school terms and holidays. Aqua Aerobics and a Swim School are available.
Phone: 3409 1503
Source: Redland City Council
Council Report co-ordination Committee Meeting July 10, 2013
Background
The Council is the owner of the land described as lots 135,136 and 137 on RP130091 County of Stanley, Parish of Russell contained in Title Reference situation on the corner of High Street and Borrows Street, Russell Island.
B. The Council Land adjoins the Russell Island State School.
C. The State the Council have agreed that the State will construct a community school pool (“the Pool”) on the Land.
D. The Council has agreed to make a cash contribution of $930,000 (excluding GST) towards the cost of constructing the Pool (including project management costs, regulatory assessment cost and contingencies).
E. The State has agreed to make a cash contribution of $110,000 (excluding GST) towards the cost of constructing the Pool (including project management costs, regulatory assessment cost and contingencies
Source: Redland City Council.
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