Glenorchy City Council will repair memorial pool for short term use
The Glenorchy Memorial Pool will be repaired so it can be reopened in the short term. It comes as the council weighs up its options for the facility in the long run.
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As the Glenorchy Council prepares to repair the memorial pool for short term use, supporters say councillors needs to focus on the benefits when they decide its long term future.
The Glenorchy Memorial Pool was closed last year because of problems related to its age.
What followed was a community campaign to save it and election promises for $5m for short term repairs.
Glenorchy Residents Action Information Network spokesperson Jan Bryan said there was too much emphasis in the report on whether the pool would turn a profit.
“We only wanted a basic pool facility that functions to provide the benefits this community
needs for preventive health, Learn to Swim, social cohesion and place for young people to
exercise and enjoy themselves,” she said.
“When these benefits are provided it is proven that there are savings for other areas of
government. Why aren’t these savings this factored in?
“A pool shouldn’t have to return a profit, it’s an important facility for the welfare of the community.”
Ms Bryan said the pool was just one facility young people in the community were missing out on.
“Our young people are hugely disadvantaged and don’t have the opportunities they deserve,” she said.
“The BMX track was taken from the young people, it was huge for young people out here. We need a proper skating bowl for the older children, we don’t have a youth centre.”
Save Glenorchy Memorial Pool member Lee Rose said there was a strong support in the community for the pool to be saved.
She said it was also supported by Australian swimmer Shane Gould.
“I’ve spoken to many people, it’s affecting the community in a hard way, in a difficult way,” Ms Rose said.
“It’s so frustrating, our children and our youth, they deserve to have that pool, they deserve to have somewhere to go in summer.”
Ms Rose said she was surprised by the estimated cost.
“No pool makes a profit, public pools were put in communities to provide a service for communities,” she said.
“I feel sceptical, but I still have hope we’ll get the pool.
“I feel like hopefully the state or federal government will help us get it through.
“Four was the most preferred option for the whole community.
“It still keeps the 50m pool and it’s outdoors, a lot of the people I’ve been talking to want that.”
Glenorchy mayor Sue Hickey said the council would continue to develop a business case.
“While a redeveloped facility is a long-term plan, we are getting on with $5m in repair work on the current pool facility to make it safe and have it reopened to the public as soon as possible.”
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