A new committee has formed in Tamworth with one common goal – saving the two existing public pools from being sold off to developers.
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But Tamworth Regional Council has already hit back at the group, claiming they are “at risk of being counter-productive”.
The Save The Pools Committee has been formed out of the Tamworth Regional Residents and Ratepayers Association (TRRRA), with vice-president David McKinnon claiming the association have been “inundated with concerned locals who ‘were never asked about the sale of the pools’”.
The STP committee agree that Tamworth does need a new competition grade pool, although would like to see the facility built in stages while the existing pools remain open, rather than spending an estimated $40 to $60 million on the proposed facility on the southern edge of town.
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“Ratepayers do not want the debt involved in a $40 or $60 million pool, instead build the new complex in affordable stages, starting with a simple competitive pool,” Mr McKinnon said.
“The public were asked what they wanted in the new pool, but were never asked about selling off the existing pools – people are generally pretty angry about this, it has caused a lot of energy.
“It is vital to keep the central, convenient and accessible pools open to the public – we hope the swim club get what they want, but just not at the cost of the remainder of the public.”
But TRC general manager Paul Bennett said the “the association have yet to approach council to meet face-to-face and discuss their concerns.”
“Whilst council values and respects the input of all members of our community, the actions of the TRRRA are at risk of being counterproductive to the consultation process,” he said.
“The resounding message council received from the consultation undertaken earlier this year, is that the community wants a multi-purpose all-year-round facility with more than one pool, a ‘splash pad’ and leisure play equipment.
“It would be an injustice if plans were once again shelved because of misinformation and an unwillingness by groups such as the TRRRA to work together with council to get the best possible outcome.”
The Save the Pools Committee have pointed to Gunnedah Council’s new competitive pool, which was recently completed for $11 million.
“Even if they sold off the existing pools they might be looking at $3.5 million – it’s not going to touch the $60 million – that is hard to justify,” Mr McKinnon said.
“Council also claim the pools are costing $250,000 a year to maintain, but that seems quite reasonable, they are a service not a corporate business – I am sure the two pools could be renovated for a fraction of the cost of the proposed facility.”
At the committee’s first meeting last week, other concerns that were voiced included the fact that Scully Park is a registered War Memorial site, that was built and partially paid for by the public, while the sale of both pools would not only remove services from central locations, but also remove two important pieces of green space from the CBD.
“The people who religiously use the two pools feel cheated,” Mr McKinnon said.
“We are in the process of contacting people who frequented the pools to ask them to join the committee.”
Anyone interested can contact Mr McKinnon on 0417029392.