TWO Corowa-based councillors have fallen short in a bid to overturn a decision to build another outdoor pool in the town.
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The decision in favour of an outdoor pool and continuing to explore indoor pool options went 5-4 with Cr Paul Miegel and Cr David Longley also opposing the move.
But they are not prepared to support a rescission motion as flagged following a public meeting in Corowa in mid-June.
“I supported them originally, but I’ve accepted the majority decision,” Cr Longley said.
“Whether or not I agree with it, I accept it.”
Cr Miegel has also distanced himself from the move.
“It had been mooted, but I’m not aware of one,” he said.
“It will come down to what tender council puts out, which must include a 50-metre pool the way things stand at present.
“But what other options may or may not be included in the tender is where I am looking so we can just keep moving forward rather than starting again.”
The deadline for lodging a rescission motion to be tabled at the next Federation Council meeting was earlier this week.
The make-up of a pools advisory committee will be presented to council on Tuesday with a tender document for the outdoor pool still being finalised.
Council staff have visited an indoor-outdoor aquatics facility at Junee as part of the investigations.
Maryann Herbert, who helped convene the public meeting and gather 1100 signatures in support of an indoor facility, said she had been told those in favour of the outdoor option weren’t prepared to back-flip.
“The argument just doesn’t hold up for an outdoor pool," she said.
Cr Longmire conceded the rescission motion push was dead in the water.
“I thought it was an opportunity to park the thing until the committee could come up with an outcome which was acceptable to the community,” he said.
“I’ve always believed council members from their own communities should get some extra consideration in the decision making process on really big items.
“If it was at Mulwala we would have very much respected the opinion of the Mulwala representatives.”
Deputy mayor Shaun Whitechurch, Cr Norm Wales (Corowa residents), mayor Pat Bourke, Cr Bronwyn Thomas and Cr Andrew Kennedy voted in favour of an outdoor pool.
