By JESSE GRAHAM
THE stricken Olinda Pool will not see its gates open to the public until at least November, after Yarra Ranges Council decided the pool would remain closed for summer.
Councillors moved a motion by Cr Jim Child at the 25 February meeting to notify the public that the pool would not be open again during this summer period.
Cr Child said the motion was a formality, and that the pool had suffered significant damage and repairs could not possibly be completed before the summer period ended.
“I just think that we have to let the hills’ community what is happening up there,” he said.
Cr Len Cox said the notification of the closure should come as “no surprise” to residents of Olinda, with the closure of the shire’s cold-water pools at hand and the extent of the pool’s damage being revealed.
The Yarra Ranges Council recently posted on its website some details of the pool’s current level of damage, though councillors are expected to table a more detailed report at tonight’s (Tuesday 11 March) council meeting.
“Water leakage has resulted in a high groundwater level, which is putting pressure on the pool shell, and continues to create significant cracks in the pool floor and wall,” the website read.
The website also made note that the pool and buildings on site “do not comply with the Building Code and other health, disability access and occupational health and safety legislation and regulations”.
Save the Olinda Pool group member John Faull said the announcement from the council was just the reality of the situation, but that he hoped repairs to the pool would take place before summer.
“Common sense will prevail – hopefully they’ll get it done before next summer,” he said.
Mr Faull noted that major core testing had taken place at the pool recently, and criticised the council for not undertaking the testing in November, when the pool was first closed.
He said the group, who have applied to become incorporated, will eagerly await the engineer’s report from the council and figure out their next steps from there.
The summer period for outdoor pools in the Yarra Ranges spans from November-March.
