Plea for pool makes splash

By CASEY NEILL
EMERALD residents are calling on Cardinia Shire Council to grant its wish for a pool in the town.
Suzanne Farr created Facebook group ‘Cardinia Shire, build a pool in Emerald’ last week to gauge the community’s interest in the proposal.
“Whenever surveys are done in the area, a pool is always on top of the list as a want or need,” she wrote.
“With the shire’s main pool based at Pakenham, this is quite a distance from Emerald, and the closest pools and most convenient, road-wise, are in the Shire of Yarra Ranges.”
Karen Johns wrote that a pool was “badly needed in the area”.
“Emerald has 11 football teams, 12 netball teams, 20-plus basketball teams, 16 cricket teams, numerous tennis sides, and plenty more various sports that would utilise and support a pool without the rest of the population of Emerald,” she said.
“The Intensity (personal training) crew have 40-plus members – they would use the pool I am sure.”
Ms Johns said senior citizens in Emerald and surrounding areas would use the pool, and it would give the town’s Vibe Health and Fitness gym another option for its members.
“The list goes on and on,” she said.
“Come on Cardinia Shire, it is about time a pool was built in Emerald.
“I know Emerald would make it sustainable for you and it would not run at a loss.”
Annie Walker said a pool was “the one thing I think that emerald is lacking” and suggested the Pepi’s Land site “with those beautiful views”.
Annette Campbell said an aquatic facility would bring local jobs and save parents and children from travelling to swimming lessons.
Joy Mills said she hoped the council listened to community calls.
“Not only is the Pakenham pool quite a distance away, if you don’t happen to have a car it is very difficult to get to from the hills townships,” she said.
Jodie Chandler Barlow said a pool was “most definitely something the community needs” and Bridie Zethof said it was long overdue.
Cardinia Shire Council’s community wellbeing general manager Fiona Hodges said planning for the future was a priority for the shire.
“It is important to make sure current and future residents have access to the best possible services and facilities,” she said.
“This includes the long-term provision of community infrastructure in townships like Emerald.”
Ms Hodges said the council had undertaken an aquatics feasibility study for the Ranges Ward area.
“The study analysed existing aquatic catchments through the hills’ region, cost implications of aquatic facilities and aquatic needs of residents,” she said.
“This preliminary work by the council is yet to reach a decision on the future direction of such facility in Ranges Ward.”
Ms Hodges said the nearest aquatic facility to Emerald was Monbulk Aquatic Centre in the Yarra Ranges, which was about 9 kilometres away and currently undergoing an $8.5 million dollar upgrade.