Collie's plan to put an indoor heated pool in town will not be going ahead after a recent public consultation found ratepayers and the council could not afford it at this point in time.
At Tuesday nights council meeting the Shire of Collie council deliberated on what do to with the results from the feedback on the feasibility options for an indoor pool with the findings from the study and recent community consultation.
Council went through three different motions before finally agreeing not to proceed with the indoor heated pool at this time.
The motion was voted 7/4, with councillor Brett King voting against.
Cr King said the idea for an indoor heated pool had been on the cards for a long time and believed the 25 meter six lane pool was best suited to the community.
The state government promised $2 million in funding towards building the new pool in January 2017. A portion of that funding was allocated for the shire to undertake a feasibility study.
The survey findings found 42 per cent voted to keep things the way they are, 34 per cent voted for the 25m six lane indoor pool, 14 per cent voted for the 25m three lane and program pool, and only 10 per cent voted for the indoor pool.
The option of ‘do nothing’ received the highest proportion of votes due to many residents not being in favour of the additional costs to their rates.
There were 230 visits to the survey website but only 175 verified contributors who filled out the survey.
The three different ideas to have an indoor pool all had a rate increase between 2.5 and 5.4 per cent per annum.
Some other comments received from the survey results suggested that the existing pool be covered and heated.
During the consultation process this option was raised and rejected as expensive to add and problematic in terms of ventilation and humidity control.
The tender for the replacement of the electric heat pumps at the existing pool has been advertised and will be the subject of a separate report to council.
Council also voted for staff to develop a funding strategy for the 25 meter six lane pool and report back to council, request staff investigate options for the increased provision of service at the existing pool for the 2019/2020 pool season, and continue discussions with the Minister for Sport and Recreation regarding holding the balance of the election promise.
