Riverstone Dolphins Swimming Club to raise fees or close after Blacktown Council increases pool hire fees
The Riverstone Dolphins Swimming Club will be forced to increase their fees or close after the cost to hire Riverstone Swimming Centre increased by more than 400 per cent.
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The Riverstone Dolphins Swimming Club will be forced to increase their fees or close after the cost to hire Riverstone Swimming Centre increased by more than 400 per cent.
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Blacktown Council raised pool hire from $66 to $300 per hour at all pools in the area in this year’s budget.
Club secretary Erik Mellenbergh said the club had been running for 20 years but its future was now in doubt.
The club usually charged members $1 per person for entry into the pool, but would now have to increase that to around $5 per person.
“If the price doesn’t drop we may consider folding the club because it’s not economically viable,” he said.
Mr Mellenbergh said $5 would be a significant amount for families with more than one child.
He said the price hike was not warranted.
Last week the council agreed to a review of the increased fees.
Councillor Alan Pendleton said the outdoor pools in the area should not be charged the same amount as enclosed swimming centres such as the one at Stanhope Gardens.
“We’ve got a swimming club that’s been there 20 years that looks after 200 young people and they do it on a shoestring,” he said.
“If this falls over the pool will lose even more income and the next thing they’ll do is probably close Riverstone pool.
“The motivation was to save money and cut costs and they don’t care at what expense to community.”
But Blacktown Mayor Len Robinson opposed the review of the fee increases.
He said the notion that the club would fold was ridiculous.
“We put fees up to $300 and that’s still cheaper than just about every council in western Sydney,” he said.
“Quite clearly the Dolphins are not going to go broke. They’ve got 200 members so if 200 members turn-up that’s $1.50 each.”
Cr Robinson said the council received no public submissions when the fee changes were put on exhibition.
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