Parramatta and Cumberland council dispute ownership and management of Granville pool

GRANVILLE  pool users could be the losers in the council amalgamations process as Parramatta and Cumberland councils tussle over who takes ownership of the swimming centre.

Granville Pool. pic: SAM RUTTYN.

GRANVILLE  pool users could be the losers in the council amalgamations process as Parramatta and Cumberland councils tussle over who takes ownership of the swimming centre.

Parramatta Council initially proposed to continue operating Granville pool for another three years before Cumberland was to take hold of its running and management.

The pool was previously in the Parramatta local government area and now falls within Cumberland Council’s jurisdiction.

But Cumberland bosses have rejected Parramatta’s proposal, coming up with three alternative options instead.

Granville Swimming Pool in 1940 Source: Granville Historical Society.

One of the options included selling the pool to Parramatta.

At a council meeting on Monday night, Parramatta administrator Amanda Chadwick shunned Cumberland’s suggestions.

Ms Chadwick said the two councils would need to undertake further negotiations about the pool’s management and ownership.

“A proposal that would have seen City of Parramatta Council operate Cumberland Council’s Granville Pool until November 2019 will not proceed after the two councils did not reach agreement on the final terms,” she said.

“Ownership of the pool had transferred to Cumberland on May 12, when new council boundaries were proclaimed. However under the Transitional Service Agreement of the two councils, Parramatta continued day-to day pool operations on behalf of Cumberland.”

“Unless otherwise agreed, City of Parramatta will now hand management of the Granville Pool to Cumberland by 30 November as was envisaged in the Transitional Service Agreement.”

Cumberland administrator Viv May told the Parramatta Advertiser his council was happy to take on the pool, provided maintenance costs that could amount to more than $3 million were not passed onto Granville residents.

“Why should the ratepayers of Cumberland take on that liability?” he said.

But Ms Chadwick said there was “no need to spend money on the pool at this point in time”.

“We’ve handed Cumberland over in great nick,” she said.

Granville pool underwent a $9.5 million refurbishment in 2005.