A feasibility study has found that if Collie residents want a heated pool it will come at rate hike.
Shire of Collie council have accepted the feasibility study which outlines four options for the indoor pool which is now out for public comment.
Back in January, the shire received a $150,000 grant from the state government to conduct a feasibility study and investigate the possibility of constructing a 25 metre indoor pool to aim at extending the swimming season.
Collie-Preston MLA Mick Murray and WA Premier Mark McGowan promised $2 million in funding towards building the new pool in January 2017 if WA Labor won the last state election.
However, the study commissioned by sport and recreation planning company Tredwell Management Solutions, working alongside Donovan Payne Architects and Neil Butler Quantity Surveying found that the state government funding would not be enough alone to cover the construction and operation costs of the pool.
Even with the shire hoping to apply for additional grant funding, the study identified four options with three increasing rates from the current 2.482 percent.
The first option is a 25m six lane indoor pool with a capital cost of $4.8 million, with an annual operating subsidy of $332,000, with an estimated 5.4 percent increase per annum for ratepayers.
The second option is for an indoor warm water pool with a capital cost $2.2 million, with an annual operating subsidy of $154,000, with an estimated 2.5 percent increase per annum for ratepayers.
The third option is to go with a 25m indoor three lane pool and program pool with a capital cost of $3.9 million, with an annual operating subsidy of $268,000 and estimated 4.4 percent rate increase.
The final option is to do nothing and to continue operating the existing outdoor pool as is it currently.
At the December 11 council meeting, the council voted unanimously to accept the findings, ask for comment and to call for tenders in 2019 for the replacement of the electric heat pumps for the existing 50m pool.
They also voted to see how much it would cost to replace the current children leisure pool heater.
Consultation is open until February 15, 2019. To view the study, visit www.collie.wa.gov.au, or the Collie Public Library has hard copies.
Feedback can be done on the shire’s website, by emailing colshire@collie.wa.gov.au, or written submission.
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