By KATH GANNAWAY
THE Hills community’s fight to save the Olinda Pool has been won.
Yarra Ranges Council voted six to two at Tuesday night’s council meeting to allocate a budget of $770,000 to repair the pool and upgrade facilities.
The gallery was packed, once again, for the decision which went against the Environment and Engineering Department’s recommendation to close and demolish the pool.
There was applause as one by one councillors Callanan, Cliff, Dunn, Cox, Witlox and McAllister indicated their support for re-opening the pool and voted accordingly.
The gallery erupted into cheers and outside there were hugs – for each other and for the councillors who had gone in to bat for the Olinda Pool cause.
“We are not in the business of closing community facilities” and “pools are core business” were common themes as the councillors put their views forward.
Councillors Child and McCarthy argued for closure, but it was evident quite early in the meeting that nine-months of campaigning and lobbying had delivered a strong message.
Janine McClelland spoke on behalf of the Save Olinda Pool and Friends of the Olinda Pool noting that John Faull who as chairman of the Friends group had been a passionate spokesman on the issue, was unwell and not able to attend the meeting.
Ms McClelland called on the council to represent the interests of its residents and ratepayers which in this case, she said, had been demonstrated with a clear message. “We would like the Olinda Pool re-opened … please,” she said.
She rejected the proposition that Monbulk and Belgrave pools were an option saying: “You can get to St Kilda beach in less time”.
Ms McClelland put forward a proposal which would see the community manage the pool in conjunction with the council and said that would open up more avenues for funding and more innovative ways to build attendance and raise funds.
Cr Callanan called for a budget of $770,000 made up of 60 per cent from the council and the balance from external sources – including any State or Federal government support.
He acknowledge the hard work put in by council officers but said he was not convinced that the council’s 2007 Aquatic Strategy called for the pool to be closed.
“I believe we should be providing those core facilities of indoor and outdoor pools.”
Cr Child opposed the motion saying the council’s Aquatic Strategy ticked all the boxes in relation to pools in the Hills district with the upgrade of the Monbulk and Belgrave pools.
“What concerns me is deviating from that strategy. We have a responsibility to our policy decisions and this was a very strong policy decision,” he said.
Cr Callanan said after the meeting that the council could not overlook the overwhelming support from the community to re-open the pool.
“We need to make sure the pool meets all relevant safety standards, including building and public health, before it is re-opened to the community, so this is going to take a little time,” he said.
Olinda resident John Abrahamsen was among many who hailed the decision as a win for common sense and for the Hills communities.
Father of a teenage son, and a grandfather of seven, he said he was very happy with the outcome and was looking forward to being able to take his grandchildren for a dip in a year’s time.
“It’s wonderful that they are going to keep a community resource going; that’s what it’s all about … community,” he said.
He said he believed the pool and the site had great potential with its unique location and beautiful views.
“It would have been a travesty to get rid of it,” he said.
The council will investigate possible community partnership in managing and operating the pool and review the consultation process.
