By JESSE GRAHAM
A NARBETHONG family has reacted with dismay to news that Healesville’s Jack Hort Memorial Pool’s days may be numbered.
David Vulfs contacted the Mail after the story broke last week that the Healesville indoor pool was running at a deficit of around $50,000 and is cutting back its opening hours.
Pool manager Ross Ilsley said that he didn’t think the pool would make it to its 25th birthday next March.
Mr Vulfs said that his family have had a positive experience using the Healesville pool for around 10 years for his three children’s lessons.
Two of his children still get lessons at the pool, while his eldest child does squad training at Kilsyth’s Indoor Pool.
Mr Vulfs said that, should Healesville’s pool close, his family would have to relocate all their lessons to Kilsyth, making a 109km round-trip for each occasion.
“The town would be without a pool,” he said.
“There are quite a few parents up our way that do take their kids over the mountain – to Mansfield – for lessons.”
That’s a 272km return journey for local families.
“If there was a continuous facility in Healesville, it would be used by people on this side of the mountain,” he said.
Mr Vulfs said that he understands the pool needs maintenance work, but that it should be supported until a new aquatics centre is established in the town.
“It’s disappointing that there’s no funding,” he said.
The new aquatics centre for the Yarra Valley is the subject of a current feasibility study by the Yarra Ranges Council.
The Jack Hort Memorial Pool’s opening hours as of 29 January are 8.30am-7.30pm Monday-Thursday, 8.30am-4pm Fridays and 9am-1pm on Saturdays during school terms.
On 22 April, the pool hours will be stripped back more, and the pool will open from 8.30am-12.30pm, then 3.30pm-7.30pm Monday-Thursday, 8.30am-12.30pm on Fridays and 9am-1pm Saturdays during school terms.
However, Monday-Thursday hours may be extended if school groups are attending the pool.
