Dear Beagle Editor The Batemans Bay Indoor Aquatic group has definitely been brain washed into believing the council spin doctors if you read their Positive and United media release 1. “The Concept Plan maybe modified to include a 50 m pool when the funding is known”. Hardly . If the 50 m pool is not in the Concept Plan how can it be funded? It’s not even in council’s aquatic strategy . 2.” The inclusion of the 50 m pool is not affordable “. It’s been affordable for more than 50 years . It’s a free gift . Running costs of Eurobodalla’s 3 pool complexes last financial year was less than $300000 the unlikely figure council is spruiking that the extra 25m would cost to change from 25m to 50 m (plus $ 6.5 million to build ?) The savings by joining the Aquatic & Arts buildings into one is listed in Otium 1&2 options presented to Council on 29th August at around $2.5million is sufficient to build the 50 metre pool. Remember the Arts Centre was going to be built on the site of the Batemans Bay Bowling Club. We still don’t know what Council plans are for this site bought for $ 2.7 million without community consultation . Why is the 50 m pool the target ? It’s the other proposed new facilities that are costing extra in running costs. The 50 m pool will not displace any of the other 5 water spaces with their different water temperatures. Maybe it’s these different water temperatures that cost not the 50 m pool temperature? Council needs to rationalise its budget & look to demolitioning a couple of cricket and or hockey ovals to make up any shortfall in running costs of the new facilities . Also Perfex functions could be used to offset any on-going running costs in the Aquatic Centre. We have afforded the 50 for 50 plus years. 3. Narooma is the focus for a new 50 m pool complex because Councillors & council staff have an agreed pact not to deliver a 50 m pool to Batemans Bay to serve the most populous area of Eurobodalla (78% live north of Moruya only 7% live in Narooma) 4. BBIACC is not the representative voice of community 50 m pool users . Council has given an undertaking to consult groups & pool users to date not consulted & they overwhelmingly support the retention of the 50 m pool in the new complex. BBIACC has sold out the Swimming Club , Schools , Surf Clubs , Triathlete Club & lap swimmers totalling thousands of swimmers . BBIACC should be fighting to retain our 50 m pool. Yes stand united to change the Concept Plan based on council’s undemocratic spuriously conceived business case supported by Otium’s report directed to gain a desired outcome ie. to demolish Batemans Bays 50 m pool in favour of Narooma no matter what the community position is . 5. The Sunset Committee is not representative of stakeholders in the proposed combined Mackay Park Aquatic /Arts . In the light of recent developments the Sunset Committee should be dismissed & reformed with a broader brief ensuring that all major stakeholders are represented. 6. BBIACC has been scared even bullied into agreeing to accept an inadequate 25 m pool on the false premis that if they supported a 50 m pool they would get nothing . Is this transparent democracy at work ? 7. People power will be the winner . We need the numbers to show we want a 50 m pool . We ”PackedThePool”with massive support now we need to “Pack Council Chambers” . Come & join us at the last stand of this year & Fight for our 50 metre pool at the Council Chambers in Moruya 9:30 am Tuesday 12th December. Wear a colourful beach towel & goggles to impress our Councillors & Council staff as they are the decision makers who voted to demolish our 50 metre pool. We need to remind them that we live in a democracy. If you would like to speak in support register with Council by 12 midday on Monday . Name and address supplied
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NOTE: Comments were TRIALED - in the end it failed as humans will be humans and it turned into a pile of merde; only contributed to by just a handful who did little to add to the conversation of the issue at hand. Anyone who would like to contribute an opinion are encouraged to send in a Letter to the Editor where it might be considered for publication
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