Pool workshop
Skip to menuThere was an excellent turnout at last Thursday’s stakeholder workshop to discuss options for Oakleigh Pool. Groups in attendance included CLAG, Oakleigh and District Historical Society, Piranha Swim Club, Sacred Hearts Secondary College, Oakleigh Primary School, Oakleigh Kindergarten, Hughesdale Primary School, Monash Ratepayers Association, Oakleigh Traders, Ashwood Basketball Club, Waverley Emergency Adolescent Care, Oakleigh Golf Club, Belgravia Leisure, Sport and Recreation Victoria, the RSL, Charger Football Club, Oakleigh Amateur Football Club, Young Persons Reference Group, as well as many more.
The session went from 3.00 PM to 8.30 PM. The first half was taken up with Don Cameron (Director of City Development, Monash Council) and Ian Swan (head of Recreation and Sport at Monash Council) who gave dismal reports on the state of Oakleigh Pool and an explanation of the options, and how much over budget they all were. Michael King, an independent recreational and leisure consultant (Monash Council contracted him in 2002 to do a report on the future of Oakleigh and Clayton pools) explained how the use and design of pools had changed since the late 1950s and the changes in pool use. His message was that people prefer a pool open all year (an indoor pool) and with other facilities attached—gym, sports centres, et cetera—and that the needs for local pools has decreased because people are prepared to travel long distances by car to use their favourite pool. He illustrated this point by comparing the popularity of indoor shopping centres to older style strip shopping.
At this stage the feeling was negative and disheartened. The group was taken by bus to the pool where Ian Swan explained the layout of the options. At the pool, facilitators from Red Road Consultants (all very helpful and expressing no opinions) organised participants into interest groups. The bulk of people congregated at Option 3 (diving and 50 metre pool) on the understanding that the option could be expanded to include pools for young children. No one was interested in Option 4 (25m outdoor heated pool). A small group to discuss Option 1 (water play and park) was cobbled together. There was also a small group favouring Option 2 (50m pool only).
On returning to the RSL, the six separate groups worked on refining their options, listing five priorities for the pool, and how to achieve them. Here is a combined summary from the groups.
Suggestions
- Addition of a toddler, or shallow pool and/or learners’ size pool.
- Some suggested that the toddlers’ pool be fenced and there was discussion about a hydrotherapy pool attached to the gym at the ORC.
- The group favouring just the retention of the 50 metre pool also decided that the addition of a shallow pool was necessary for both young and elderly people.
- 50 metre pool to be heated.
- The diving pool is an important part of the pool.
- Retention of picnic area, barbecues with the addition of more shade and reinstatement of the volleyball net, or addition of some ball play area.
- Proposed change rooms need to be large enough to accommodate school swimming carnivals, and there should be change facilities for the disabled.
- Increased use of the pool: suggestions included kayak waterpolo, pre-training for local footy teams and even SCUBA diving.
- Use of green technology, especially water-wise practice.
- Have a broad appeal to all age groups, and encourage the 40,000 annual ORC visitors to use the pool.
How this can be achieved
- These included the suggestion that Monash Council borrow the money on a long-term loan.
- Some groups suggested a one-off levy ranging from $10 to $50, along with providing free passes to ratepayers.
- Various grants from the State Government.
- A slight increase in entrance fees.
- Corporate sponsors, notably the businesses on Dandenong Road.
CLAG commends Council on conducting this phase of the consultation process—they are finally hearing what CLAG and the community have been telling them since they took the decision to close the pool.
Remember that the feedback sheets from the first stage of consultation are due on Monday, 26th of February, 2007. The third stage of consultation—the SpeakOut—takes place in March. CLAG will add more details when we have them.
