ALBURY and Wodonga councils have backed pool managers Aligned Leisure in the imposition of lane hire fees at public pools in the two cities.
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Council staff and Aligned Leisure representatives met for the second time this week with water polo and swimming clubs on Wednesday night with clubs presented with costings and confirmation lane hire fees will be charged from January 1.
“Lane hire fees are not a new charge, but have been inconsistently applied across facilities in previous years,” a joint statement from the two councils released after the meeting stated.
Albury mayor Kevin Mack said lane hire was standard practice at pools and this change brought Border swim centres into line with industry practice and provided equity and access for all pool users.
“Aligned Leisure will continue to work with all clubs throughout this season with their requested lane allocations and continue to support the clubs and their members in participating and enjoy their sport,” he said.
Wodonga mayor Anna Speedie said sport clubs, organisations and professional groups across the cities paid for the use of the community’s facilities whether it be through leases, licence agreements or hiring fees.
“We have some amazing facilities across our community and they are often used shared by multiple groups as well as members of our community,” she said.
“Our pools are no different and this is about ensuring equity among all our users whether they be organised sport or families,” Cr Speedie said.
The standard lane hire rate is $27.90 per hour for the Wodonga Sports and Leisure Centre and $25.80 per hour for the outdoor pools.
This fee will be subsidised to $10 for swim clubs and $5 for water polo clubs, but the fee will rise each year.
The cost for the five water polo clubs for the remaining 13 weeks of the season for training and the Saturday and Sunday competition days will be a combined estimate of $16,412.50 which is about $39.07 per player or about $3 a week, according to the statement.
For the remaining 13 weeks (and the 24 weeks including the Wodonga Sports and Leisure Centre in winter) of the swim clubs’ season, the combined estimate is $33,595 based on current allocations which is about $70 per member or about $5.40 a week.
To assist with the transition, Aligned Leisure have offered to significantly reduce the costs associated with hiring facilities for events with clubs able to generate income through the gate takings.
Aligned Leisure will also be offering opportunities for fundraising activities such as raffles and barbecues throughout the season.
Many water polo and swimming members previously took out memberships at multiple facilities.
Players will save up to $150 for adults and $350 for families with the new cross-border memberships, but the councils agreed the meeting didn’t end with agreement from the clubs.
Ovens and Murray District Swimming Association president Brendon Shiels described the situation as “very sad days” and the fight was not over.
“While I cannot speak for the clubs affected I will be recommending that they do not sign any Aligned Leisure booking forms that refer to the $10 per lane per hour charge,” he said.
“Look for somewhere else to train or cease training as a club and create individual programs to allow swimmers to swim as the general public where the lane hire fee does not apply.
“I will also be asking the board of the OMDSA to consider scheduling meets away from the Albury-Wodonga pools if possible.
“We have previously asked and continue to ask to meet the elected council officers to discuss the issue.”
Ovens and Murray water polo president Brendon Dickie said his organisation was “extremely disappointed” with the outcome of the meeting.
“To be dumped with this information on the brink of a new season is completely inept by council,” he said.
“We were given verbal assurances from Aligned Leisure and council at a meeting in June meeting that nothing would change for this season.
"Now this back-flip, which council is renowned for.
“Ovens and Murray water polo clubs and Albury-Wodonga swimming clubs will get together on Thursday to weigh up our options.
“Nothing is off the table including striking.
“The figures this year might be workable, but in three to five years when they want to charge water polo alone about $70,000 it won’t matter because there won’t be water polo or swim clubs in Albury-Wodonga.
“Do councils really want to be forcing kids to swim in the weir or river?”