Pascoe Vale MP Lizzie Blandthorn takes aim at Moreland Council’s ‘copy and paste’ pools strategy

State MP for Pascoe Vale Lizzie Blandthorn has blasted the draft of Moreland Council’s aquatic strategy, accusing the council of ‘vague’ recommendations about two local pools.

Coburg Olympic Swimming Pool faces an uncertain future. Picture: Andy Brownbill

THE integrity of Moreland Council’s upcoming public pools strategy has been questioned by a state MP, with accusations of “copy and paste” reports into two of Moreland’s most vulnerable pools.

In a letter to the council about the aquatic and leisure draft strategy that will be finalised in June, Pascoe Vale state Labor MP Lizzie Blandthorn accused the council of “minor and vague” recommendations for Coburg Olympic Swimming Pool and Pascoe Vale Outdoor Pool.

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The two summer pools were recommended to stay open; however, without heating, Coburg users fear their pool is at risk of closure.

“The ‘detailed recommendations for each facility’ cannot be described as such ... (they) are minor and vague,” Ms Blandthorn wrote.

“I take issue with the obvious lack of consideration of the needs of both (pools).”

The draft includes identical recommendations for both pools: monitoring the facilities’ popularity with residents, the creation of reserve funding to cover any repairs, and that the facilities may have to close temporarily for repair works if necessary.

The council’s social development director Arden Joseph said “extensive work” was undertaken for the strategy and “each pool was reviewed individually”.

Friends of Coburg Olympic Pool member Cate Hall said she was disappointed there was no mention of installing heating in the draft.