A COMMUNITY led campaign to build a multimillion-dollar international standard indoor pool in Albury-Wodonga is closing in on its initial target of 500 online registrations of support.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The figure spiked sharply in recent days to almost 430 people, following a high presence of those behind the push for a FINA-standard facility at the Big Splash fundraiser event at Albury Swim Centre on Wednesday night.
The Fish Out Of Water lobby group is petitioning federal and state politicians and Albury and Wodonga councillors to build the pool which could bring state and national swimming, diving and water polo competitions to the Border.
Former Albury mayor Stuart Baker is part of the push which could spell the end for one of the existing council-owned pools in Albury.
“When the next pool is built in either Albury or Wodonga it should be a combined regional facility which is what we deserve as a community with 100,000 people,” he said.
“The longer you leave it the more the price goes up, but there are options.
“It could be a public-private scenario.”
Mr Baker would not nominate a price tag, but estimates range between $30 to $40 million.
Albury-Wodonga aquatics facility users have limited options when public pools in Albury and WAVES in Wodonga close at the end of the summer season.
Albury has two privately owned 25-metre indoor pools and another at the Wodonga Sports and Leisure Centre.
Mr Baker said the first step was approval of a trial extension of the Albury pool season by 10 weeks.
The council is expected to consider the extension beyond the mid-April closure.
“We won’t know how it is accepted by the public until it actually happens,” he said.
“But generally there is a backlash against the pool operators at the end of the swim season.”
Local swimmers and waterpolo players are still training for competitions when pools close.
Mr Baker said the campaign would intensify after the pools close this year.
“It is not just a local council issue,” he said.
“It is also a federal and state issue because in Albury-Wodonga you expect such a facility.
“They have got them in Canberra and Melbourne, but nothing in between.”
Albury mayor Kevin Mack confirmed the season extension would be considered by the council this month.
“Our strategy moving forward is to commission consultants to provide us with a report regarding aquatics facilities,” he said.
“In the interim we will be working with Fish Out Of Water and any other interested parties to progress.”
