For those who were both in attendance and at home, I have provided below my speech and the alternate recommendation to reopen the Olinda Pool!
7.1 Olinda Pool
Cr Jason Callanan
ALTERNATE RECOMMENDATION 1
That:
-
Council reopen the Olinda Pool and initiate repair of the Pool to its “original
state”, including upgrades to satisfy current building and safety regulations, to
be completed before the 2015/16 Summer Season.
-
A budget of $770,000 be allocated for the works with Council’s contribution
provided from unallocated funding with the Future Community Projects
Implementation Program of Council’s Capital Expenditure Program.
-
Council utilise any State or Federal Government financial support to reopen the
Olinda Pool.
-
Council recognise the community’s strong connection to the Olinda Pool by
approaching both the Save The Olinda Pool, Friends of the Olinda Pool and the
greater Hills community to investigate a possible communitypartnership
agreement, which could establish responsibilities in property management,
operations and financial commitments.
-
Officers report back to Council on the establishment of a project working
group and the design and delivery process for reopening the Olinda Pool.
-
A review of the Olinda Pool consultation be undertaken to ensure processes
were best practice, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and reported back to
a Council Forum in the near future.
Cr Jason Callanan's Olinda Pool Submission Speech -
Councilors, tonight we decide the fate of
the Olinda Pool, this has been a long journey for all involved, Its exciting to
see the crowd tonight, it’s a great display of community, thank you!
but before I get started on why I am recommending to reopen the
Olinda Pool, I would like to acknowledge the officers who have worked
tirelessly to review this pool.
Council officers Robyn Mansfield, Ben Bainbridge,
and Sue Neale,
these officers have worked extremely hard in
providing information, creating reports, and conducting a community engagement
process which at times has been challenging for all.
I
would just like to make one thing clear to all who are here tonight:
Council is not in the business of closing facilitates down and to suggest
that there has been ulterior motives is
outrageous.
The officers in this area being the “built
and active spaces department” are here to create and enhance the yarra ranges
recreational experience
not
tear them down!
They want to build more spaces for people
to enjoy, they want to see people get active, it is their chosen career!
I would also like to thank - Community
members – John Faull “President” of the Friends of the Olinda Pool Group”,
Tim Moore and the “Save the Olinda Pool”
group, along with the Olinda community especially those who spoke at public
meetings both “adults and kids” who have expressed their desire to see this
historic place be reopened and enjoyed as it was in the past.
Councillors please allow me to review the
road we have been down and why we are here:
2007 – Council adopts YR Aquatic Strategy
2007-2017, the Aquatic Centres are divided into 4 “districts” being: Upper Yarra /
Yarra Valley / The Hills / Urban.
The Olinda Pool is 1 of 2 “outdoor” pools
for the hills district the other being Belgrave.
This strategy primarily focused on how long
the pools had been in operation, its location and patronage to the facilities.
Unfortunately the Olinda Pool’s performance
was ranked second last in overall performance, cost and patronage. As of 2007.
On the 24th July 2007 at the
general Council Meeting the council of the day voted on a motion to
•
Endorse the Shire of Yarra
Ranges Aquatic Facilities Strategic Plan 2007-2017 and the recommendations
contained in the plan
•
Endorse the implementation
of the plan as funded in the 10yr Major Capital Works Program
•
Adopt a general principle
that before any major decisions are made in relation to those townships where
there is an outdoor pool which is underperforming that a township engagement
process be undertaken to explore various options that would be relevant to the
township. This would include alternatives to the continued maintenance of the
outdoor pool and projects that would enhance the economic and social outcomes
for the community.
On the 28th January 2014 Councilors
moved a motion that Council officers “immediately investigate alternative
methods of repairing the Olinda Pool to expedite its reopening.
Further to this motion, on the 25th, councillors put forward a motion asking
council:
“Will as soon as practicable, publicly advise the community that the
Olinda Pool will remain closed for the remainder of the summer period and request that
officers report back to Council the details of the final engineers report at
the next available meeting.
The report tabled at this meeting
presented an update on current investigations, and advised council that it wasn’t
possible to re-open the Olinda Pool for the remainder of the 2013/14 summer
period and recommends that a consultation occur with the broader community on
future options for the Olinda pool as recommended in the Aquatic Facilities
Strategy.
The next date was the 11th, where council moved a motion that:
Consultation occur
prior to July 2014 with the broader community on future options for the Olinda
Pool as recommended in Council’s Aquatic Strategy and that Further report(s) be
provided to council on the progress of the community engagement well prior to
the 2014/15 summer season.
On the 8 July this year the Final
Structural Engineers Report was presented which covered a broad range of issues
relating to the pool such as the recommendations relating to the Olinda pool in
the Aquatic Strategy, safety reports, cost analysis and risk assessments to
reopen the pool.
Performance reports and costs associated
with this were also presented and Council agreed to move:
Engagement with key stakeholders and the
broader Olinda community commence which considers the analysis of issues and
options for the Olinda Pool and future long term options for this site.
We are now here on the 11th November with the current motion proposed in
your agendas tonight.
This
report detailed ALL of the Yarra Ranges Council’s aquatic facilities, their
current usage rates, costs for repairs, maintenance and recommendations.
Of that
the Olinda pool was recognized as needing immediate works with costs of $80
Thousand dollars and then a further $150 thousand dollars to bring it up to
2007 standards, remember these are 2007 industry prices, not todays which would
most likely be 2 – 3 times this price. This total was $230 thousand dollars.
Lets now
look at the recommendations for the Seville pool at that time - $267 thousand
dollars to re-open.
Fairly
close I reckon in prices but the 2007 Aquatic strategy report wording is
clearly different.
Where as
in the recommendations for the Seville pool, it clearly states “close the
pool”, the Olinda pool recommendations don’t say this.
What it
does say is consult with the community on its future and look at possible
“alternatives” for this site.
This was
in 2007! Im still confused as to what has happened for the last 7 years! I
understand that there was recommendations made to address the pool’s status
post the completion of the Monbulk Pool redevelopment, but I cant understand
why it has taken up to now for this to occur! Maybe that’s a question for the
officers to answer for us.
Looking
further into the Aquatic Strategy 2007, I found that on page 6 - the Development Principles recommends “This Strategic Plan recommends strategies that have been guided by a
set of development principles” highlighted in these were:
•
(2) – Each provision
district have a mix of indoor and outdoor aquatic facilities
•
(8) – Strengthening the
presentation, positioning and access to each venue (including fee reviews and
the assessment of “community transport services”)
Continuing on from
this, on page 7 - 6.3 - The proposed development or
redevelopment of aquatic facilities is “intended to meet a range of needs as
follows”
Now there were 4 points but let me
highlight 2 of these –
•
Each district to be provided
with a number of common facilities to ensure that local needs are met. “with a
focus on health, summer leisure programs, youth and tourism”
•
It is intended that the
Upper Yarra, Yarra Valley and Hills districts have aquatic facilities serving
sub-municipal and local needs.
So
councilors Im not convinced that this
2007 strategy clearly states the Olinda pool should be closed.
Further
to this I feel we must provide our community with these essential “core” facilities both indoor and
outdoor.
That now
brings me to my next point, “Are pools or recreational facilities a CORE
business for councils”?
I think it is! Council has a role to address the community’s health and
wellbeing. This is done through providing facilities that promote activity for
both the mind and body.
Our health and
wellbeing plan which all councillors supported, Identifies significant health
risks within the municipality such diabetes, mental health, low rates of
physical activity and economic disadvantages, the latter could be related to
having the ability to get to facilities and the reliance of public transport,
which we all know is clearly lacking in the Hills district.
The health and
wellbeing plan understands that recreational facilities are important in
reducing health problems for both adults and children and makes that abundantly
clear in the plan and in this report of page 13 stating “We will increase access to recreation and sporting activities for
all, including through active recreation facilities including POOLS, ovals,
community programs and participation in community events”
Coming
to the end of my presentation tonight councilors, officers, and the community
here tonight I have pondered hard over my position on this matter.
I went
back to look at our council plan and in that was our Mission, our vision, and
our Values and this has helped me re-affirm my position.
That our priorities
are to assist our community to live not only longer but improve their way of
life. Our plan says this, Our community has asked for this through shire wide
surveys rating recreational facilities as the 2nd most important
priority for our community.
So councillors I ask
you, who do you represent? Who do you
speak for? We must ensure that the community’s voice no matter how small,
is brought to this table!
Summing up – There is
a strong demand by the community to
see this pool reopen to it’s former glory,
Policies such as the
Council Plan, and the Health and Wellbeing plan which are “fundamental”
guidelines in directing council on how to provide for its community clearly supports the use of these types of recreational
facilities.
We must support our
small communities to be healthy and self sufficient
Give our youth a place
of sanctuary where they can feel safe,
free from boredom and a sense of inclusion
We have financial
support from both state and federal governments on reopening this pool
And maybe just maybe this site will now be “on the map” and will see increased
levels of attendance which would lead to increased activities at the Olinda
Pool!
Councillors I urge you to think about how you will
vote tonight and consider what are our
core services and remember that we are here to represent our community!
Thank you.
