04-03-2022
BACKGROUND
Up until 2019, Upper Lachlan Shire Council had two pools (one outdoor 33m pool and one toddler’s pool) and adjacent amenities/ change areas at Crookwell. All assets were at the end of their lifespan and no longer complied with legislative requirements. Council was forced to close the pool at the same time pools were being closed more broadly due to Covid in February 2020.
QUESTION 1: What pools did Council have and what are we getting in the MAAC?
Answer 1
(i) Crookwell had a 33m x 6 lane outdoor swimming pool, with no disability access, open 4 months of the year.
- In the new MAAC plan this will be a 25m x 6 lane outdoor pool with a disability ramp, open 4months of the year. The 25m length will allow swimmers to complete official time trials, without having to leave the shire. 33m was an old length in rural areas, that does not meet today’s swimming standards.
(ii) Outdoor Toddlers square pool with a stepped entry, with no disability access.
- In the new MAAC plan this will be a graduated beach-like pool with a disability entry gradient, oval-shaped slightly larger than the old toddler’s pool. The new toddler’s pool will include interactive spouting jets and a water umbrella.
(iii) No other pools existed prior to the MAAC design.
- In the new MAAC plan there will be an indoor heated 16.67m X 9m pool (3 laps =50metres) with constant depth of 1.2 the entire length of the pool.
QUESTION 2: Why doesn’t the MAAC have a hydrotherapy pool?
Answer 2
While hydrotherapy pools are not part of councils core services they are also a single use facility. They are too hot for aquarobics and for lap swimming, thereby limiting their use. The hydrotherapy pool was investigated by Councils s355 committee and the Community “Get Heated Group” some years ago and they recommended changing the indoor facility into a heated pool (not hydrotherapy) because the hydrotherapy pool reduced the multifunctional capacity that a heated pool could provide and the cost of maintaining heat at 30+ degrees in Crookwell’s climate was cost prohibitive. It is worth noting that hydrotherapy pools also have additional staffing requirements that add to the overall running costs and other pool Centres and health care providers in the state have closed their hydrotherapy pools for this reason.
QUESTION 3: Why doesn’t the heated pool have a deep end?
Answer 3
The 1.2m is a standard depth for multi-purpose indoor pools that include learn to swim, aquarobics, sport fitness training and rehabilitation where non-weight bearing is required. But for Crookwell the cost of heating is a factor to consider to make the facility viable. Simply less water in the pool the easier it is to maintain the temperature of the water.
QUESTION 4: Will the heated pool be open 12 months of the year?
Answer 4
The aim is to open all year round but this will be dependent on use of the facility and the operational costs during the extreme winter temperatures.
QUESTION 5: How has the MAAC been funded?
Answer 5
The majority of funding has come from both State and Federal government grants
QUESTION 6: Why is the outdoor pool not heated?
Answer 6
Simply answered it is not sustainable, ULSC has a low population base and often long cold winters which makes it expensive to financially run – Council cannot afford an outdoor heated pool. The pool has to be affordable, accessible and sustainable in the short and long term. When the outdoor pool is built it has to be affordable for residents and visitors and council must maintain the facilities predominantly within existing operational budget, which is already stretched.
QUESTION 7: Why does Council not enclose the outdoor pool?
Answer 7
The answer is twofold, for the young adults they expressed a need for a place outdoors, a place to swim, a summer experience, seeking the sun and enjoying another summer season space with friends outdoors. Some said they did not like to swim in summer in a hot / warm water when the weather was warm or hot. The other difficulty is even if the outdoor pool was fully enclosed inside a very expensive new building, the cost of heating that larger body of water would be cost prohibitive. In summary too expensive to run.
QUESTION 8: Can the outdoor pool design be changed?
Answer 8
No. The outdoor 25m pool has already been renovated, ramped, piped and the pool liner purchased and is in storage ready for installation when the site is fully prepared. This pool has been funded predominantly by grants.
QUESTION 9: Can the outdoor pool be heated in the future?
Answer 9
Yes. During the renovation stage of the outdoor pool pipes were laid to allow the possibility at a later stage in the future of heating if the population expanded and it became affordable to run the pool within existing budget with increased income from visitation. Investigation and costing for that stage 5 – “Heating the outdoor pool” will be prepared in the coming months to review installation costs, running costs and fee for service required in the future to install and run a heated outdoor pool.
Question 10: What consultation occurred before work commenced
Answer 10
User groups were consulted in 2020-2021 such as:
- Crookwell Swim Club
- Mums and Bubs
- Crescent School
- Get Heated Community Group
- s355 Pool Committee
- High School students
- surrounding residents
PLUS
Over a number of weeks Council ran a “Have your Say” survey and asked the community to comment on the concept design that showed: A 25m outdoor pool; a toddlers pool; a heated indoor pool and a visitor and community centre (with café).
The design was altered to accommodate the suggestions made by the community during the 3 month consultation phase. Some example of design alteration include:
- lift for elderly for access to heated pool (ramp was deemed not suitable for the frail)
- increase length of heated pool to make 3 laps equal 50 metres
- other exercise equipment for cooler months including a walking rehabilitation track at the rear also for cooler months
- ramped seating area to accommodate families and school carnivals
- parent/disability toilet in the park area
- community exhibition space in the VICC
- café with service directly to the pool users
- adult disability change space
- pool blankets for all pools
Consultation and information has been ongoing since February 2021. Council has issued media articles (written newspaper articles & radio takes) on a two monthly basis updating the community on the progress of the MAAC and Council had several council reports on the progress of the MAAC in the Council Business papers.
During 2021 Council also received 20 letters of support from local sporting groups, from aged care and other community groups.
QUESTION 11: When will the MAAC open?
Answer 11
Council aims to open the facility in November this year 2022, weather permitting. Council is awaiting approval of a grant application for the heated pool.