A FORMER pool operator and lifeguard has vowed to keep fighting to reverse Wangaratta Council’s closure of the Yarrunga Pool.
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Yarrunga resident Richard Rhodes fears young people will turn to swimming in the Ovens River.
“Historical research and statistics show it will end in some form of tragedy,” he said.
The pool closed for the last day on Monday.
Council has said the pool is losing tens of thousands of dollars each year due to major leaks and has observed a declining level of users over the past few years.
Mr Rhodes claims attendance levels have been fudged to show lower attendance rates.
He also believes there’s been no public consultation with people in Yarrunga.
Mr Rhodes is on the Save Yarrunga Pool committee that collected 1200 signatures to keep the pool open next summer and beyond.
“There’s a lot of people that want to keep their pool,” he said.
Mr Rhodes said the Golden Square pool in Bendigo and the Chewton outdoor pool in Castlemaine were both saved from closure by their councils at the 11th hour.
“The fight has not stopped, it will continue,” he said.
Mr Rhodes operated a pool for two years in Queensland and believes the assessment of damage and cost of repair work had not been done properly.
“I am told a consulting engineer did a walk through examinations, which does not constitute a proper assessment,” he said.
“It may well work out that the costs involved are not out of line with the tremendous benefits this pool and surrounds provides.
“There’s a lot of issues and we need time to resolve them.”
Council plans to build a 50-metre outdoor pool at Wangaratta’s Indoor Sports and Aquatic Centre, as well as a Splash Park in Mitchell Avenue.
The splash park is another sore point for Mr Rhodes.
“Parents are concerned because there won’t be any supervision at this splash park,” he said.
“You just don’t know who is lurking about.”
Council’s administrator Ailsa Fox, said while the council understood some residents were unhappy the pool was closing, it had deteriorated in recent years and a decision had to be made about a new aquatic strategy.
“This item has been on council’s agenda since 2004 and there’s been long periods of consultation over that period and a decision has now been made,” she said.
“The level of usage has been declining for the past few years.”
