Geelong councillors vote in favour of splashing the cash to keep Drysdale pool open all year

The North Bellarine Aquatic Centre will remain open during winter, much to the delight of the local community – but ratepayers will subsidise each pool visit by more than $15.

Louise and Chris Skeen launched a petition aimed at getting the North Bellarine Aquatic Centre opened all-year round.

People power has won the day as Geelong council votes in favour of keeping a new Bellarine pool open all year round.

The decision will cost ratepayers an additional $423,000, including an extra $48,000 for electricity.

Mayor Trent Sullivan, whose Bellarine ward takes in the Drysdale pool, put forward an ultimately successful alternative motion at Tuesday night’s council meeting that overrode a recommendation from council officers to close the pool until November.

The alternative motion passed unanimously.

It was originally planned for the pool to open 12 months a year but the change to a seasonal facility – announced just prior to its opening in November last year – was due to the “difficult financial environment”.

Under the new plan adopted by councillors, the pool will open for four hours each weekday from 6am and Saturdays from 8am up until November.

It will be closed Sundays.

A review found morning and afternoon sessions during winter would be challenging to staff and may have resulted in service disruptions.

Local resident Emily Kennedy uses the pool every day.

She campaigned tirelessly for the government funding that made the pool a reality.

“It’s a true win for the people,” Ms Kennedy said of council’s vote.

“The pool has been so popular since its opening and has delivered on its promise to support community physical, mental and social health.

“It’s reassuring that in these difficult times, councillors have valued the investment in a now much loved and integral community asset.”

Ms Kennedy’s friend, Louise Skeen, kickstarted the campaign to keep the pool open during the winter months after she learnt in March of its impending closure.

Her petition gathered more than 2000 signatures.

Council documents revealed the total annual cost of keeping the pool is $1.05m, with a deficit of $829,600.

A $60,000 saving derived from using pool blankets more frequently was factored into those costs.

Ratepayers will subsidise each visit to the pool by $15.20.

“The north Bellarine has quickly taken this pool into their heart and are very protective of it,” Mr Sullivan said.

“If we good get numbers, hopefully we can push out further the opening hours next year.”

Fellow Bellarine ward councillor Elise Wilkinson encouraged the public to make the most of the extension.

“To offset the increased operating costs to open all year, we need the community to show its support for the North Bellarine Aquatic Centre by increasing their usage of the facility,” she said.

City Hall said in March that the facility was averaging just over 1500 visitors per week.

The federal and state governments have each committed $20m for an indoor aquatic and recreation centre at the Drysdale site.

This is expected to take up to three years to deliver.

Also Tuesday night, councillors voted in favour of formally naming what has been known as the Northern Aquatic and Community Hub since its opening in February to Norlane ARC (Aquatic Recreation Centre).

Geelong Mayor Trent Sullivan at the newly named Norlane ARC (Aquatic Recreation Centre). Picture: Supplied.

The pool hall within the $66m facility will be named Waterworld to honour the legacy of the former aquatic centre at the site on the corner of Cox Rd and the Princes Hwy.

City Hall will now consult with the traditional owners to establish an appropriate First Nations name for the auditorium and community hall.

Originally published as Geelong councillors vote in favour of splashing the cash to keep Drysdale pool open all year