Damage strains pool

By Ed Merrison
A SPATE of break-ins at Belgrave outdoor pool have caused a headache for staff and put a strain on the facility’s tight budget.
However, they have failed to dampen spirits at the popular summer attraction.
Pool coordinator Brooke Dalvean said the incidents were caused by people clambering over fences for a free swim and to mess around.
“We’ve had lots of issues with people breaking in at night, breaking fences and stealing garden hoses,” she said.
Ms Dalvean said she was worried about the cost of the damage since the pool was not ‘financially sound’.
“We’re having to spend thousands of dollars from a budget we don’t want to hack into,” she said.
Shire of Yarra Ranges senior community relations officer Simone Ryan said the council was aware of the recent vandalism at the pool, including a New Year’s Eve incident where a fence was vandalised by unknown offenders gaining after hours access.
“The fence has since been repaired and the matter referred to the police,” Ms Ryan said.
Senior Sergeant Doug Berglund of Belgrave police said these kinds of incidents were common during times of hot weather.
“It’s local kids taking the opportunity to cool off and getting up to high jinx when they get carried away,” he said.
Sen Sgt Berglund said preventing the vandals from entering the pool was important but to catch them would be ideal as trespassing was a serious issue.
“It’s also a safety issue. If they get in there, there is no one to protect them when swimming and they could drown quite easily,” he said.
Ms Ryan said vandalism at the Best Street facility had reduced over the last three years through improved security measures and fencing but Ms Dalvean said staff were having to look at new ways to heighten the security of the fencing.
Despite the setbacks, Ms Dalvean said the pool was well run by the YMCA and shire combination and continued to be a success.
“Staff do a course in dealing with young people and getting through to them what is acceptable behaviour and the kids have behaved really well,” she said.
The pool has recently had a fresh lick of paint and staff were excited at the prospect of swimming lessons for babies, children and adults which will run throughout term one, Ms Dalvean said.
“It’s hard to start a swimming class program at a pool that’s well established as not having one, but the more kids we can get involved the better,” she said.
Classes, which begin with the school year and run until the pool closes on Sunday, 26 March, are fully transferable to any other YMCA in the shire and can be resumed in Belgrave at the start of next summer.
Ms Dalvean said there were several factors that made Belgrave pool so special.
“The garden, the trees, the grass area – and the views of the mountains are fantastic, too.
“We open at six in the morning, so you can get here just in time for the sun coming up. It’s gorgeous,” she said.
Crowds turning out in force for the shire-organised Cruisey Tuesday on Tuesday, 10 January appeared more aware of the pool’s charms than its vandalism woes.
Part of the shire’s Youth Services Summer of Fun program, the event featured a sausage sizzle, live music on the grass and a giant inflatable in the water.