Hornsby Council knock back bid to investigate Berowra Pool
A PUBLIC pool in Berowra has been on the wishlist of residents for more than 30 years, but they will have to wait a while longer after Hornsby Council rejected a bid to investigate options for the new facility.
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A PUBLIC pool in Berowra has been on the wishlist of residents for more than 30 years, but they will have to wait a while longer after Hornsby Council rejected a bid to investigate options for the new facility.
Labor councillor Mick Marr called for an independent feasibility study for a new public pool in Berowra to meet the needs of pleading residents.
Cr Marr, who raised the independent study as a notice of motion in a council meeting this week, suggested the report identify the use of a 25 metre indoor pool and 10 program pool to be developed next to the Berowra Community Centre.
“Berowra and surrounding areas is a unique place that has a population of around 21,000 local
residents. These residents reside in Berowra, Berowra Heights, Cowan, Brooklyn, Berowra Waters, Mt Ku-ring-gai and Mt Colah,” Cr Marr said. “A pool in the vicinity of the Berowra Community Centre would serve these areas.
Cr Marr said funding for the construction of the pool could come through the introduction of an infrastructure levy, a voluntary resident levy — which would lead to discounts — rates, government grants or volunteers from the construction industry.
“Various studies have identified the many community benefits of public pools. Some of these surveys showed strong support and a willingness from residents to contribute financially to the construction of a pool,” he said.
“The estimated $6 million cost for a pool at Berowra plus associated running costs of about $300,000 per annum would seem very reasonable in comparison with a total expenditure of $60 million plus for the provision of new sportsgrounds at Westleigh, including the cost of purchasing the land.”
Liberal councillor Nathan Tilbury has been outspoken about his objection to the construction of a pool in his home suburb.
“The first plan for a public swimming pool to be built in Berowra was started 33 years ago in 1985, and frankly the Berowra community should have had their pool a very long time ago,” Cr Tilbury said.
“If this proposal were to go ahead, it would put two very successful small businesses, Moving Bodies and Action Indoor Sports, out of business, which is ironic because council is currently sponsoring Small Business month across the shire.”
Cr Tilbury said he believed most Berowra residents would be opposed to a rate increase or levy to fund the construction and maintenance of the pool.
Action Indoor Sports manager Austin Morey said he was relieved the bid was knocked back, because the pool would destroy his business.
“I have been working in the area for the past six years today, and in the industry for the past 25-years,” he said.
“The proposal has been spoken about for several years and Mr Marr has been pushing it for some time now, this would be a death sentence for our business.
“We moved here because the community needed a sports and leasuire centre to service it — I think Cr Marr needs to come to our facilities and speak to those that run them.”