By JESSE GRAHAM
OLINDA Pool supporters believe there is a good chance that it will be saved, but say the fate of their beloved community hub is in the hands of Yarra Ranges Council.
The future of the Olinda Pool will be discussed at next week’s council meeting after a report was released detailing the pool’s damage and potential solutions.
The Final Structural Engineer’s Report on the Olinda Pool was publicly released on 19 June and details the tests undertaken on the stricken community pool.
The report will be brought before Yarra Ranges Council on Tuesday 8 July.
Beca Pty Ltd, which undertook the structural review, recommends a number of significant works to re-commission the pool either with or without a liner installed.
With a liner, the report recommends the council allocate $80,000 to prepare the pool’s shell and pipework, with $100,000 recommended for repairs without a liner.
The $80,000 recommendation does not include provisions for supplying and installing the liner, and both options involve extensive works on the pool’s shell and drainage.
John Faull from the Save the Olinda Pool group said that he was impressed with the report, which he said many expected to be bad news.
“It’s not as bad as what everyone was anticipating,” he said.
“Unfortunately, I don’t know whether the shire will act the way the community wants to act.”
Mr Faull said the group is hoping to have the pool up and running for the coming summer season.
He said there was extra urgency for the pool to be fixed, due to falling trees and storms damaging the Olinda CFA’s water supplies.
The council noted the issue of water access for the CFA in a post on its website, but said that it was working with the brigade to ensure fire-fighting water supplies were adequate for emergencies.
In the post, the council said that hydrants are located throughout Olinda – including one adjacent to the pool – and that a 100,000 litre water tank was available at the CFA station, along with static water supplies.
The engineer’s report also recommends that the council investigate occupational health and safety at the facility, equal access for people of all abilities, and the condition of the pool’s outbuildings.
To see the report in full, or to make a public comment or question, visit www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au.
