O&M Aquatics Action Group requests meeting with Albury and Wodonga councillors to broker solution to deadlock on pool lane fees application

Jack Baker made his comment after the organisation wrote to Albury and Wodonga councillors and top managers to seek an “urgent minuted meeting” to discuss the matter.

Group spokesman Stuart Baker emailed the request to representatives on Thursday evening.

“We are seeking answers and would also like to be part of the solution moving forward,” Mr Baker wrote.

“The swimming and water polo bodies have been left incredibly disappointed with Councils’ non-response to our concerns to date and we are hopeful this meeting will be the beginning of improved relations.”

The Albury Council announced on Monday last week that the lane fees would not be enforced this summer following opposition from swimmers and water polo players.

The council said its pools contractor Aligned Leisure would continue to discuss the issue with clubs.

Both the Bakers, who are father and son, want councillors involved in talks, rather than solely pool managers.

Jack Baker, a water polo player, said despite the fee not being implemented for the 2018-19 season there was still urgency required.

“We need to have it sorted out sooner rather than later because for swimming they need to be planning ahead,” he said.

“Certainly before Christmas we would like a solution because everyone gets caught up with the season and next thing you know we are back where we were.”

Stuart Baker said ideally a meeting would be held within the next week.

“I know they’ve got the local government conference (in Albury) and they don’t want this distraction but we’ve really got to talk it through,” Mr Baker said.

His email stated: “The nature of the meeting would be to discuss fees and charges in general and to determine the needs of all parties; the pool users, Aligned Leisure and Council and how we can best benefit everyone.”

As of Friday afternoon, only two councillors had replied to the email.

Albury councillor Darren Cameron said he would be willing to attend a meeting and his Wodonga counterpart Tim Quilty responded similarly through a Facebook post.

“I’m always available to meet with ratepayers who have an issue, so you can count that as two councillors so far,” Cr Quilty wrote.

Wodonga councillor Ron Mildren told The Border Mail that he believed based on the contractual requirements it was more appropriate for concerned pool users to meet with the aquatic centres contractor rather than councillors.