By JESSE GRAHAM
Councillors to hear urgent arguments as pool’s future hangs in the balance…
TWO children are set to make an appeal to save Olinda Pool tonight (Tuesday), just two days before the start of the council’s swimming season.
Faith Everard (16) and Sofia Mikulcic (10) will make a public submission as councillors consider the pool’s future at the Yarra Ranges Council meeting.
The pair aim to talk about the significance of the pool to local kids and teenagers, as a spot to catch up, hang out and relax during the summer months.
“We’d like to let the councillors know just how much the Olinda Pool means to this mountain, and to this community, and that we would appreciate it if they could restore it so we could swim in it again,” Faith said.
The pool was declared closed until further notice in November 2013 when extensive cracks and damage to the pool’s shell were identified by the council.
The community reacted passionately against the closure and lambasted the council for not taking swift action.
An engineer’s report was not presented to the council for more than four months.
The Save the Olinda Pool group formed with the goal of getting the pool open for the 2014-2015 summer season.
“We’re fighting really hard to open it because it means so much to us,” Faith said.
“I’m hoping I can help them to understand why we want the pool open and that there are so many people behind this.”
Residents campaigning for the pool’s reinstatement have posted on social media to try to get as many supporters as possible to the meeting.
“It would be nice if the community could show support and be proud to show their faces and put their name to this campaign,” Faith said.
The council’s community consultation on the Olinda Pool, which included an online survey, community stakeholder meetings and a phone survey run, officially closed on Friday 24 October.
Yarra Ranges Council Mayor Fiona McAllister said that the results of the consultation would be compiled presented to councillors for further action in the next few weeks.
“The process at the moment has been getting feedback from as many people as possible and meeting with as diverse a range of groups as possible,” she said.
“What’s happening is we’re suddenly in a position where summer is approaching, and there is an understandable level of interest in knowing the future of the pool, because, if it’s going to be re-opened, it would be ideal to have it open for summer.”
Cr McAllister urged for community members to keep discussing the matter respectfully after the council posted an update on 13 October, describing some residents attacking council officers on social media.
“I know that it’s frustrating for community groups, how long these processes take – I can empathise with that,” Cr McAllister said, referencing discussions on the future of Healesville’s Indoor Pool earlier this year.
“The sense of urgency has greatly increased and this is an emotional issue – pools always are – and it’s fine for people to be strong and to have strong opinions and to be very emotional, but when it starts to become about individuals rather than the issue, it’s not ideal.”
Members of the public are able to address the council for up to five minutes, as part of the council’s submissions from the public item in each meeting.
Tonight’s council meeting will begin at 7pm at the Yarra Ranges Council Chambers at 15 Anderson Street, Lilydale.
Outdoor pools in the Yarra Ranges open from November to March, with hours varying between facilities.
