Dear Beagle Editor,
If I were able to attend the Ordinary Council Meeting on Tuesday 23rd October these are the questions I would have asked in my presentation.
Given Friday’s funding announced of $25m by the Federal Regional Growth Fund bringing a total of $51m for the Batemans Bay Indoor Aquatic/Arts Centre, how will Council make a Full Business Case for spending $51 million without including a 50 metre pool?
Do Councillors understand that Council did NOT ask the community whether they wanted to keep a 50m pool in the redevelopment at Mackay Park?
Do Councillors understand that due process was NOT followed by Council, that significant stakeholders were excluded from any involvement in the planning process, and were TOLD by Council that the 50m pool was being replaced with a 25m pool?
Do Councillors understand the importance of a 50m pool referred to in Brown Consulting’s Site Inspection Report (2014) as a ‘valued community asset’, that the inclusion of a 50 metre pool in the aquatic arts centre would also be a ‘valued community asset’?
Does Council understand that experienced aquatic centre construction company Hutchinsons Builders (Wollongong) provided an Order of Indicative Costs to construct the Aquatic/Arts Centre which differs considerably to the estimate provided by Eurobodalla Council?
Does Council understand the ramifications of not including a 50m pool in the aquatic arts leisure centre for the current population and future generations?
Did Council, in its sports grant application (still pending), advise the Office of Sport that the proposed Aquatic Arts Leisure Centre would result in the demolition of Batemans Bay’s only Olympic length swimming pool?
Whose decision was it to cease plans – costing significant taxpayers money - for the Indoor Aquatic Centre at Hanging Rock, to be moved to the site of the current swimming pool complex at Mackay Park?
Why did Council really buy the Bowling Club?
Again, how can Council justify spending $51 million dollars on an aquatic arts centre without a 50 metre pool AND when you know, that you don’t have broad community support?
Maureen Searson
Fight for Batemans Bays 50m Pool
