Parramatta councillor restarts talks with State Government over replacement pool

Stalled talks between a western Sydney council and the State Government may be given a kick start as councillors admit to being “cashed up” and ready to splash.

Parramatta councillor Pierre Esber, has called on council to pay up for the Aquatic Centre.

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There is a call for “cashed-up” Parramatta Council to end months of treading water and take the lead in splashing out on a world-class pool.

Labor councillor Pierre Esber is pushing for new Sports Minister John Sidoti to meet with councillors to restart talks on getting Parramatta a replacement pool for the one demolished in the $360 million Bankwest Stadium redevelopment.

“We want the Minister involved in this process, but it’s time for council to make sure our residents get a new aquatic centre without further delay,” Cr Esber said, lamenting the collapse of negotations late last year.

“If the government wants to kick in some money, then great. But this is a council that is not short of a dollar.

“We have $432 million in the bank in cash and bonds. There’s $266 million cash at hand. At the end of the day, it’s the ratepayers’ money. Let’s use some of it on getting them an aquatic centre that we can all be proud of.”

Pierre Esber and the Abdallah boys of North Rocks , Jay 11, Joel 6 and Liam 9.

Cr Esber’s move was backed by other councillors at this week’s council meeting amid revelations that senior staff had already resumed talks with the government.

“I’m very disappointed in the organisation for not keeping the elected representatives up to speed on any new talks with the bureaucrats,” Cr Esber said.

“They knew this was a very important decision for council (to restart talks) — and most of the councillors are gobsmacked by this. They can say what they like, but, aside from the Lord Mayor (Andrew Wilson) and acting chief executive officer (Rik Hart), this was news to the rest of us.

One of the rejected pool designs for the Parramatta Aquatic Centre. The design, completed by FJMT STUDIO, for the $64,960,000 pool was rejected and the state government has taken over construction.

“And this is the problem with the council. There are 15 elected councillors who all deserve to be briefed together about these type of important matters.

“The council staff tell us what we need to know; there’s no trust in councillors.”

A council spokeswoman said councillors were “given an update on the status of the aquatic centre, as well as other projects, at a regular briefing session on June 24”.

“Council is in communication with a number of stakeholders regarding this important project, and will next update councillors at a briefing session in August,” the spokeswoman said.

Council has already spent $2.45 million on developing a business case, and other related costs, for an aquatic leisure centre.

State Member for Parramatta Geoff Lee Picture: John Appleyard

Parramatta State Liberal MP Geoff Lee said he remained committed to helping deliver a new pool for his electorate.

“We have allocated $30 million to the project, changed the legislation to allow council a long-term lease of land on Parramatta golf course and transferred Wisteria Gardens to the Park Trust to offset any impact for the pool,” Mr Lee said.

“I apologise for the delay in delivering a new pool. However, despite my best endeavours, not all decisions are within my control.”

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