Pool cash commitment

By Kath Gannaway
WORK could start immediately on a $200,000 upgrade of the indoor pool and community centre at Healesville High School if the Education Department comes to the party.
The Shire of Yarra Ranges allocated $100,000 to the project in its mid-year budget review in January.
However, the funding is contingent on the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development contributing on a dollar for dollar basis under the joint use agreement between the shire and the department.
The money would be spent on works including replacing the roof and improvements to the male and female disability toilets and change rooms at the Jack Hort Memorial Pool and major maintenance of the basketball courts.
Ryrie Ward representative Cr. Jeanette McRae said the shire’s money was available immediately but they were waiting on a decision from the department.
She added that the amount of money ultimately available was also dependent on the department.
“Whatever they contribute up to $100,000, we will match,” she said.
Healesville High School principal Tom Bege said the school welcomed the shire’s $100,000 commitment but said the department had asked for further information on its funding submission.
An Education Department spokesperson told the Mail no decision had been made and that the department was considering what assistance could be provided to the multi-use facility.
“We went back to the school for more information and are now waiting for that information,” she said.
She said the department was unable to give any indication of when a decision would be made.
Cr McRae said, however, there was a degree of urgency involved in the work.
“Some of it involves occupational health and safety issues identified in an audit of the joint-use facility and certainly there are essential works that need to be undertaken to the roof of the pool.”
“But this is also about making both the pool and the community centre more viable and more attractive to users,” she added.
Meanwhile, the Rotary Club of Healesville has again moved to ensure the pool, which the club built as a community project, is maintained with a $19,000 donation to the 2008 maintenance program.
The money will be used exclusively on maintenance and equipment including a new solar heater, non-slip coating for the wet deck, replacement of skylights and painting.
Rotary spokesman John Robinson said the money was raised with the assistance of the Healesville business and wider community.
“Without community support these projects and the viability of our pool would not be possible,” Mr Robinson said.
Cr McRae commended the efforts being made by the Healesville community and by the shire to ensure immediate needs of the community are met in terms of keeping the Jack Hort Memorial Pool operating but added there was a longer-term need for a new, modern aquatic facility for the district.