Wadeye Pool: Operations of closed pool tendered out to YMCA, but NT Government may need to fork out
The CEO of West Daly Regional Council, whose $4.8m pool at Wadeye is set to reopen after being contracted out, says the health of locals will suffer if it is forced to close again amid financial constraints.
Northern Territory
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Updated: The chief executive of West Daly Regional Council, whose $4.8m pool at Wadeye is set to reopen after its operations were contracted out to YMCA, has urged the NT Government to invest in the health of locals by providing ongoing pool funding.
The pool reopened to the public on November 23 last year after a multimillion dollar facelift, $4.5m of which came from the Territory Labor Government.
The pool had closed to the public in 2018 due to neglect and vandalism.
Earlier this week, the NT News revealed the council was in the final stages of tendering the pool’s operations out to YMCA, but it could only afford the commitment in the “short-term,” with a lobbying campaign underway to win ongoing operational funding.
On Friday, the council’s acting chief executive Mark Blackburn said the Wadeye Local Authority had drained its budget on the contract in recognition of the pool’s importance to the social fabric.
“West Daly Regional Council has a very limited rate base and the council is currently investing nearly twenty per cent of the rates collected in Wadeye to pay for half the real costs to fund the operations of the pool,” he said.
“The [local authority] is forgoing monies allocated to improve community facilities to ensure the pool remains open.”
He said it was not unheard of for governments to fund pool operations, pointing to Western Australia’s Remote Aboriginal Swimming Pools program.
Mr Blackburn said that program had reduced ear infections and skin sores, the sort that can lead to acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.
Chief Minister Eva Lawler was noncommittal when asked previously whether the NT Government would stump up.
The CLP opposition’s local government spokesman, Steve Edgington, said providing $4.5m to the council for the pool without ensuring it had the capacity to deliver was a mistake.
“This is another example that proves to Territorians that Labor cannot be trusted to manage taxpayer funds,” he said.
“This is an irresponsible use of taxpayers’ money by Labor, to not ensure the council could cover operational costs for the pool.
“The CLP will responsibly manage taxpayer money away from Labor’s pet projects and to investments that bring better opportunities for Territorians.”
New development for $4.8m NT pool that closed after three months
April 10: A Northern Territory council whose recently reopened, multimillion dollar pool closed for want of staff will fund a third-party to operate the facility in the “short-term”.
Wadeye Pool, located in the West Daly region, reopened to fanfare on November 23 last year after undergoing a $4.8m facelift, $4.5m of which was funded by the Northern Territory Government.
It had previously closed in 2018 due to neglect and vandalism.
However, just three months after its reopening, it closed again to the general public due to “staffing issues,” although it was still being used in limited circumstances by students of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Thamarrurr Catholic College.
Council went on a recruitment drive to hire lifesavers – a minimum of two are required to by on duty at all times at the pool – and put out a tender for the pool’s operations.
Now, it can be revealed that the council is in the final stages of awarding a contract to YMCA.
According to recent council documents, West Daly Regional Council (WDRC) will stump up the cash to establish YMCA in the “short-term,” it will be unable to maintain the commitment in the long-term.
“The council is advocating for the Northern Territory Government to provide ongoing operational funding for future years,” a report by the council’s acting chief operations officer stated.
The council was forced to reallocate $280,000 of funds from other Wadeye projects, including the Nilinh to Wadeye footpath and Wadeye main street beautification, in order to get the contract over the line.
The $280,000 was in addition to other council funds allocated from the overall budget.
Council officers reported that the pool must be reopened urgently to provide “much needed relief and activities for the children”.
West Daly acting chief executive Mark Blackburn met with two top mandarins within the Department of Chief Minister and Cabinet, Michelle Walker and Maree De Lacey (twice), in recent weeks to advance the council’s case for ongoing funding.
“The Department [of Chief Minister and Cabinet] is aware WDRC has very limited financial resources and may need to be supported in the way forward,” Mr Blackburn said in a report to the council in January.
Mr Blackburn has been contacted for comment.
In a statement, Chief Minister Eva Lawler was lukewarm on the idea of shelling out further for the Wadeye Pool, noting the government had already provided $4.5m towards its refurbishment costs.
“Councils are generally responsible for operating and maintaining council-owned pools, often through funding grants or partnerships with other organisations,” she said.
“We are working with the council to support their efforts to secure immediate and long term funding.”
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