Wodonga mayor Anna Speedie refuses to take questions from media over swimming pool problems and walks off

The exit was in response to an attempt to ask Cr Speedie whether Wodonga and Albury councils had been sneaky in their handling of a pool contract for the Twin Cities’ pools.

Cr Speedie had answered an initial question about the aquatic centres when BM journalist Anthony Bunn began his question.

He started “there’s been a claim...” before the mayor replied: “That’s all I got to say Bunny”.

Asked if she was refusing to answer questions about the matter, Cr Speedie retreated to a group of fellow mayors who had been at Albury’s Noreuil Park for an announcement about a joint regional economic development strategy.

The walk-off on Tuesday follows Cr Speedie and Albury mayor Kevin Mack being criticised by the O&M Aquatics Action Group which is upset at plans by contractor Aligned Leisure to introduce lane hire fees at pools across the two cities.

The group’s spokesman Stuart Baker said at the weekend “council have been sneaky and have lied to our faces about what an Aligned Leisure tender looks like for pool users”.

Wodonga Council chief executive Patience Harrington took the question about being sneaky but refused to respond directly.

“I’m not entering into any discussion because Aligned Leisure are in negotiations with the pool users and we need to let that process happen,” Ms Harrington said.

Mr Baker, a former Albury mayor, was frustrated by Cr Speedie’s behaviour.

“I’m a bit disappointed that she wouldn’t stand up and answer all the questions, because there’s a lot of questions and they (the mayors) were more than happy to stand up to say how wonderful it was when the contract was announced,” Mr Baker said.

Cr Speedie had said the impasse between swimmers and water polo players over the lane fees was being discussed with Aligned Leisure.

Cr Mack produced a similar response and suggested the situation was not unexpected 

“We kid ourselves under the Two Cities, One Community banner if we don’t believe there’s going to be teething issues and this is one of those teething issues and let’s just work it out and get it done,” he said.

Asked if the mayors would meet the aquatic group, Cr Mack was non-committal.

“If we deem it necessary in the near future we will, but right now that’s not on the table because we believe Aligned Leisure have a meeting with them this week and there will be further negotiations,” he said.

Frustration at the councils’ handling of the situation continues to grow with the aquatics group’s Facebook page having more than 5000 members compared to 2000 on Sunday.

Thurgoona water polo player Nathan Johannis, 15, took his concerns about the lane fee to Cr Mack via email.

“I don’t know about you but this seems like a pretty unintelligent decision as the fee that they have dropped on us is way out of reach for the kids I need to compete against here,” Nathan wrote to the mayor.

“When you force clubs into forking out that much cash you cancel the opportunity for any kids in the future to make it to State, Nationals and Pan Pac’s.

“Imagine that, having four perfectly fine public pools in our region and not one swim club or water polo club.

“Just think about that.”

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Cr Mack replied he was a dad to “water polo and swim club kids” and “well aware of the cost….with playing any sport at the highest level”.

“The issue here is accessibility for other users and fairness,” Cr Mack emailed.

“Whilst you pursue your given sport a majority of other users cannot access the water and on a hot day that can be very frustrating.

“The lane charges proposed are indicative of what other regions charge for exclusive access to water.

“The same charges apply to any group using any council facility in both cities.”

Nathan, who has played four seasons of water polo and represented the region, said the reply did not appear to be supportive of water polo.

“He puts it out as if we’re using a lot more pool space than we are,” he said.

“Realistically we’re not using much at all, during training we’re using a quarter of the 50-metre pool.”