Newly elected president of the Save the Bairnsdale Outdoor Pool Committee, Anne Cross, says preparations for next Saturday’s rally are coming along smoothly.
The outdoor pool rally is shaping up to
be a great event at the rotunda in Main Street on Saturday, November 29, kicking off at 10am.
The committee is encouraging anyone who supports maintaining the outdoor pool to come to the rally and listen to the speakers, who will share why the Bairnsdale Outdoor Pool is important to them, so bring your blowup pool, sunglasses, hat and fun pool attire.
Anne said the committee has walked
into the businesses on the streets of Bairnsdale, with the majority supporting the outdoor pool.
A passionate local citizen on social issues, Anne said she had taken up the role of president of the the Save the Bairnsdale Outdoor Pool Committee to give a voice to the children of Bairnsdale who may be deprived of the opportunity to learn to swim without an outdoor pool.
According to her, it was un-Australian to have the outdoor pool potentially closed.
“Swimming carnivals as the local community have known will be a thing of the past and the prospect of bussing students to Sale or Orbost are not reasonable logistically for schools and their management,” she said.
Councillor of the Wellington Shire
Council and retiring mayor Scott Rossetti said as a ratepayer in East Gippsland, “I recognise the benefit of swimming pools to residence across our shires and the love our residence have in these facilities in the Wellington Shire.
“We have six pool complexes at Yarram, Rosedale, Sale, Heyfield, Maffra and Stratford – while running these pools requires substantial investment, in my mind the community benefit outweighs the cost and I’m sure this view is shared by our communities.
“I wish Anne and the local community well on their journey to find a solution for this challenge.”
Anne said she cannot understand how the East Gippsland Shire Council can continually invest into the Slip Road Maritime Precinct upgrade despite going well over budget, however cannot find the funds to keep the Bairnsdale Outdoor Pool open and operational, which she says would be $700,000-$800,000.
Anne said she’s confident if council land a filtration unit on the pool site now, a community contribution can get the pool surrounds in order for the coming summer season.
“So come along and support restoring our outdoor pool like other shires have, what we don’t need now is a community consultation group to discuss our future as our future is now, simply to keep the pool open,” she said.
