The Beagle
Jan 7, 2019
The Beagle Editor,
In deep water?
I see in a SMH report that Sydney councils are struggling to keep swimming pools open and operating.
The NSW Government demolished the Parramatta pool in favour of a Stadium upgrade.
Lane Cove pool has failed and has been closed. Its Mayor, Clr Pam Palmer commented “There is no money for councils to build big outdoor pools”. Another Councillor added "Swimming pools alone will never pay for themselves. Pools always rely on subsidies from council. That subsidy can certainly be aided by construction and inclusion of facilities around the pool such as a gym, a coffee shop, child minding even for parents who want to come and swim for an hour.”
Repairs are also needed to the Dawn Fraser Baths at Balmain, and an upgrade needed to the North Sydney Olympic Pool. But funding is an issue for all of these.
If funding for pools is an issue in hot, densely-packed, well-to-do areas of Sydney, what lesson does it have for us in Bateman's Bay?
I was interested to see comments from Planning Minister Anthony Roberts that the state government was considering more use of developer levies to pay for local infrastructure. I wonder what our local developers might have to say about that?
Terry McGee