I attended the May Federation Council meeting where the Councillors voted 5-4 against building an indoor/outdoor pool complex to replace the aged three pools on the site currently. This means we will continue to have a cold water, outdoor 50-metre pool and program pool, just like the ones being replaced, which very few people have used over the past few years.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The wonderful toddlers pool will be replaced with a splash park, so we have now lost that asset too. The splash park will be of interest to the children but only during the 15 weeks of the year when the pool complex is open.
All the councilors who voted for the indoor facility have long associations with the Corowa pool. They produced valid arguments in favour of the indoor option ranging from the ability of the new complex to take advantage of all weather conditions, Howlong swimmers and sportspeople travelling to be part of Federation Council region rather than Wodonga, the wellbeing of the Corowa community of all ages, the advantages of promoting the town as an all-year destination for tourists, to the year-round availability of swimming, Learn to Swim and water exercise for people who can’t travel further afield.
The only argument of the councillors who voted for the outdoor pool lay with the idea that we can build the 50m pool and splash park first, then add the indoor complex later. Really? Car pools and mini buses of keen swimmers are travelling to Rutherglen, Wodonga or Wangaratta to swim when our pool isn’t open. They stop for morning tea at cafes. Do they shop there as well because Wangaratta and Wodonga have more retail choice?
The encouragement and enthusiasm of our local retailers and traders to stay and shop locally is being undermined by our very own elected council. There are so many advantages of building an all-weather pool complex that can be used all year. If we have it under the proprietorship of enthusiastic and creative people who make it their business to run an amazing facility, it would go a long way to paying for itself.
Our new indoor/outdoor pool complex would be a focal point for Corowa, and Corowa a focal point for swimming, for locals and tourists alike. What have our council, elected to represent the wishes of the people, done to our town, region/shire and broader community?
They have pushed us back to the time when the current pool was built, 1956. What will our community have to look forward to for the next 50-plus years? Nothing but cold water swimming for 15 weeks each year. Great.
Maryann Herbert, Corowa
Time to say thanks
This week is National Volunteer Week, and we are saying a huge thank you to the people who take action and make our country a happier place.
Volunteering happens in all kinds of ways. At Australian Red Cross, volunteers are a lot like our engine room; they support communities when natural disasters hit, make daily phone calls to isolated people, greet customers to our op shops, donate blood, and fundraise for us. This week we’re celebrating not just our volunteers in Victoria, but everyone who takes action to make our society stronger, more connected and supportive. Thank you for your generosity and making Victoria and Australia a better place. Find out more about volunteering at redcross.org.au/volunteer