Dear Beagle Editor, There has been some recent discussion and concern that the Eurobodalla Council staff directed Otium, the company contracted to draw up plans for the Aquatic/Arts/Cultural centre in Batemans Bay, to only draw up plans for a 25 metre pool. If true this raises questions about vested interests lobbying behind closed doors for a 25 metre pool instead of meeting the needs of the current and growing Eurobodalla shire...a 50 metre pool. Fifty children and their parents are travelling to Ulladulla for year round swimming because Ulladulla has a heated pool. But Ulladulla also has an outdoor 50 metre pool so people can swim outside in summer as well. Batemans Bay users will not have that choice. Moreover neither option 1 or option 2 on the plan appears to provide for a future extension of the 25 metre pool to a 50 metre pool as the Mayor claimed in her answer to a community member at one of the public meetings. The Mayor and Council Staff tell the community that we "cant always have what we want." The Aquatic/Arts/Culture Centre "must be affordable". This goes without saying. The public does get the importance of financial responsibility. Given the secrecy and questionable dealings of the previous Council such as the extension of Huntfest and issues surrounding the General Manager's re appointment in the current Council, it is not difficult to see why people are suspicious. There is an uneasy sense that the community is being deceived. Name and address supplied
