Bleak future for Healesville pools

By Melissa Donchi
THE Healesville Outdoor Pool is not worth saving according to a controversial new report commissioned by the Shire of Yarra Ranges.
The 2007 Aquatic Facilities Strategic Review advised the council against spending $5 million to save the pool claiming it would ‘not enhance its financial performance.’
The Jack Hort Memorial Pool also came under fire for its poor facilities estimated to cost the council $100,000 to upgrade.
The council says it has already spent $100,000 on capital improvement to address urgent occupational health and safety requirements at the pool over the last three years.
But the pools manager Ross Isley said the comments are no different to those made in a 1997 report in which no action was taken.
Mr Isley said the 1997 report earmarked the Healesville pools for significant upgrades, which never happened.
“It’s a bit ironic that they want to close down the pools they were supposed to fix 10 years ago,” Mr Isley said.
“Maybe if they had gotten it right then we wouldn’t be having these problems now.”
The 1997 Aquatic Facilities Review depicted the Healesville Outdoor Pool as being in poor condition due to consistent leaking and shabby changeroom and buildings, while the Healesville Indoor Pool was noted as having inadequate off street parking and slippery surfaces that ‘require immediate attention.’
The next step for the council will be to identify upgrade or enhancement priorities for the Healesville Pools, which will determine their future.
But shire spokesperson James Martin said there had been no decision to close any pools.
“Any decision about the future of our outdoor pools will be subject to extensive community involvement,” Mr Martin said.
“The strategy will guide the long-term development of pools in the shire. The council wants to ensure its aquatic facilities meet the community’s needs well into the future and most importantly that people use them.
“We know that people are less inclined to use outdoor pools, this is highlighted through falling attendance figures. Generally people choose to attend indoor pools and want a mix of wet and dry activities such as pools with gymnasiums. Where we have outdoor pools we have made a commitment to engage with those communities on what they would like to see happen. If there is a preference for alternatives to an outdoor pool that is only open for three months of the year we need to look at it.
Mr Martin said the aquatic strategy would play a key role in supporting the council in making funding applications through the State Government’s Better Pools program.
“It will also help us identify priorities for expenditure.”