Yarra Ranges councillor wants damaged dome at Kilsyth replaced

THE vandals who slashed the inflatable dome at Kilsyth Centenary Pool have caused a rethink on whether the pool roof needs an upgrade.

The large dome of the Kilsyth Centenary Swimming Pool when it was slashed by vandals. Picture: Steve Tanner

YARRA Ranges councillor Len Cox will advocate for an upgrade to Kilsyth Centenary Pool, including replacing the famous canvas dome, after a devastating vandalism attack earlier this month.

Vandals slashed the inflatable canvas dome that covers the popular Kilsyth pool, known as the “Home of the Dome” on September 2, forcing it to close for over a week.

Cr Cox said he believed the pool needed a more permanent “hard top” roof, like a traditional indoor pool.

DO YOU WANT TO SEE THE CANVAS DOME REPLACED? TELL US BELOW

“We need to put a hard top (over the pool); what we’ve got there uses an immense amount of electricity for a start, and although that’s the first damage we’ve had done (at the pool) for years, it’s expensive when we do have it done,” Cr Cox said.

“The dome must be getting close to the end of its life.

“And the place needs upgrading anyway; the change rooms and the toilets need an upgrade, the whole place is looking a bit tired.”

He said it would be cheaper to upgrade the popular pool than build a brand new centre.

He said the canvas dome had been in place since 1990, and had been replaced once by council.

“It’s been a long time, and I think it is time for a change,” Cr Cox said.

“People want heated pools, and people want pools with a roof over the top.”

He said security at the pool also needed to be reviewed.

There was no security vision of the vandalism.

Cr Cox said he planned to raise both issues at a council forum.

“I like to see things done as quickly as possible; local government being the way it is it doesn’t always happen that way, but I’d like to see (this upgrade) done as quickly as possible.”

Police are still investigating who was responsible for the vandalism attack.