Group opens pool battle with salvo

A NEWLY-formed lobby group fighting to retain the Lismore Lake Pool has fired a shot across Lismore City Council's bow ahead of council meeting on the issue.

Lismore Lake Pool Action Group public relations officer Tony Beard is calling on council to view the pool as a tourist attraction. Picture: Cathy Adams

A NEWLY-formed lobby group fighting to retain the aging Lismore Lake Pool has fired a feisty shot across Lismore City Council's bow ahead of council meeting on the issue.

The group called for Lismore City Council to return the free pool to the community so it could find the funds to keep it afloat.

Lismore Lake Pool Action Group member Tony Beard also accused the council of withholding crucial costings from the public.

Estimates put the full restoration of the pool at around $1 million dollars but the precise break-down on those figures is unclear.

"I'm very much questioning the million dollars," Mr Beard said.

"We requested a detailed costing and were refused. We're not allowed to see the breakdown, we're only allowed to see their estimates."

Following investigations, council staff has recommended that the pool be closed and councillors have the unenviable task of voting on the future of the popular pool.

The council's executive director of sustainable development, Brent McAlister, has said investigations highlighted serious safety concerns regarding any future operation of the pool and identified that "high-level infrastructure reinvestment would be required to upgrade the facility to satisfy current industry standards".

In his report the immediate remediation work required was costed at about $350,000, while further work including the sealing and resurfacing of the pool and pump replacement was put at $220,000.

He added that the pool was nearing the end of its operational life and any long-term works were "likely to cost well over $1million".

A council spokesperson denied council was withholding costings and said all community views concerning the future management of pool were welcome.

"Council only very recently received a letter from the Lismore Lake Pool Action group and therefore has not yet had the opportunity to fully consider the points raised," the spokesperson said yesterday.

Should council keep the Lake Pool open? Leave a comment below.

 

Originally published as Group opens pool battle with salvo