Don Tatnell Leisure Centre shut down after discovery of underground cracks
Casual workers at a popular Parkdale indoor swimming pool may lose shifts after the centre was closed after leaky pipes and sinkholes were found and Kingston Council baulked at a whopping $9 million repair bill.
Inner South
Don't miss out on the headlines from Inner South . Followed categories will be added to My News.
Job security for workers at a popular swim and gym spot in Melbourne’s southeast could be up in the air after the centre was closed following the discovery of leaky pipes and sinkholes filled with mud.
Swimmers in the City of Kingston will have to make the trek to Waves at Cheltenham for a dip and sweat session after a serious safety risk — found under the pool and group fitness room — left the Don Tatnell pool in Parkdale with “very unstable” foundations.
And the centre’s 200-plus staff — mostly casuals — could lose shifts after council confirmed its “first priority“ was to accommodate hours to permanent staff.
“However we are also working hard to minimise any reduction in hours for our casual staff,” a spokeswoman told the Leader.
“We are currently working with casual staff on our next roster for Waves and will be
adding extra shifts to accommodate the extra visitors who have transferred over from Don
Tatnell.”
It comes after the Warren Rd centre was unexpectedly closed in early February after investigations uncovered water leaking from cracks in underground pipes.
Engineers installed more than 30 safety props which were driven into concrete filled holes below the surface to stabilise the walls and ceiling, but after evaluation Kingston council decided works would not be worth the whopping $9 million repair bill and 10-month wait to return the pool to a usable state.
The group is looking to develop a new centre which could be opened at other locations or at the original site.
“We believe the best use of ratepayer funds is to focus on investing in a new facility that will meet the current and future needs of our community,” Kingston Mayor Georgina Oxley said.
“We will be working with any regular users who need help travelling to Waves to make sure they can still use council’s pool and gym.”
MORE NEWS
TEEN SLASHED IN VIOLENT STREET ATTACK
DILAPIDATED SCHOOL’S BLOCK-LIKE TRANSFORMATION
‘SICK’ CASEY COUNCILLOR WAS TEACHING CLASSES IN EGYPT
Admission prices are slightly higher at the Chesterville Rd pool, which is now the only council-operated pool in the City of Kingston.
A family swim pack costs $26 at Waves, $6 higher than Don Tatnell, with a $4.50 to $20 jump in multi swim passes depending on number of swims purchased.
Single admissions cost 50 cents higher for adults and 60 cents higher for children.
Casual gym prices and over 55’s group fitness class prices were unchanged.
Staff at Waves were contacted for comment.