By MELISSA MEEHAN
Report on Olinda icon overides community interest …
THE Olinda pool could be permanently closed with the pool structure, buildings and facilities demolished and removed early next year.
THE fate of the Olinda Pool is set to be decided tonight (Tuesday), with the community hopeful of a positive outcome despite all signs pointing at the closure.
Council officers have recommended that the Yarra Ranges close the pool, and replace it with a district playground, half basketball court and barbecue facilities as well as a number of other proposals.
But the final decision will rest with councillors at tonight’s meeting.
The pool has been closed since late last year, with the council citing irreparable cracks in the ageing pool.
A report was prepared by council officers and found that a facility with declining public use, high subsidy costs and the minimum cost of $750,000 to repair the pool for future seasonal use was too high.
Tonight’s recommendation also identifies new facilities being built in the area would affect the development of the Olinda Pool – including Ringwood Aquatic Centre, in the municipality of Maroondah.
It concedes that there is significant community interest in the project and a strong level of support for reopening the pool, but cites mixed local response.
It says that Friends of the Olinda Pool and Save the Olinda Pool Group support the repair of the pool, but Dandenong Ranges Tourism and business leaders identified that the pool had reached the end of its life after serving the community for 50 years.
Save the Olinda Pool spokesman Tim Moore said his group was obviously unhappy with the recommendation they were not surprised.
“There is a pretty clear message from the community that we want the pool re-opened,” Mr Moore said.
“It doesn’t make sense that they would make that recommendation after community consultation, to be honest, we’re quite surprised.”
He said the community support to keep the pool was evident from the recent community meeting held at the Olinda Hall.
“We had 300 people come to the meeting, and we think we had consensus that the pool should be saved,” he said.
“It’s not our fault the pool has been neglected by council for the past 10 years.”
But all hope is not lost; Mr Moore said that investigations were underway to see how the community could take over management of the pool.
“There is a town called Chewton, near Castlemaine, that had the same fight as us to save their pool,” he said.
“And as a community they took over the management of their pool, and have seen an increase visitation to the pool.”
While it’s another option, Mr Moore said a number of councillors had been supportive of their fight to save the pool, and hoped they would vote against the recommendation.
