Pool closure proposal passes
Skip to menuThe Monash Council voted today, unfortunately, to close the Oakleigh Pool for the 2006-2007 season, and its redevelopment proposals have no provision to preserve the pool, after performing needed maintenance. The decision was passed by a 7―4 majority, and we extend our gratitude to those councillors who stood up against the proposal.
Our response
- We are extremely disappointed that Council has chosen to suddenly back-flip on its decision to maintaining aquatic facilities at the Oakleigh swimming pool with little notice and without adequate public consultation.
- We are concerned about the lack of transparency in the Council process to close a significant public asset. It was clear from the Council meeting that the Council's own steering committee had not reported to Council and that there had been little discussion between Councillors or Councillors and Council staff.
- We refute totally the statement (included in the Council recommendations) “after an extensive process of public consultation over four years”. We are not aware of ANY public consultation regarding Oakleigh over the last two years at least.
- We do not believe the costs of refurbishing Oakleigh to a modest modern standard have been properly assessed and challenge the figure of $10M used by Cr McGill several times. An earlier estimate for repair and improvement was in the range $3.5M to $4.2M and even allowing for rising building costs would be no where near the $10M figure.
- We are greatly concerned at the paucity of active recreational facilities for teenagers in Oakleigh. Facilities such as public tennis courts and walls, public basketball rings, skateboard parks and the like are almost non existent. The pool and the diving tower are not only virtually unique facilities, they represent some of the very few active recreational facilities for teenagers and one of the few places that teenagers can go to over the long summer holidays.
Join the discussion on the issue on our forums.
