Fears over pool funds

SURF Coast councillors have voiced concerns over political pressure placed on the shire to build a pool using $30 million in pledged government funding, with one labelling the project a potential “Trojan horse”.

Surf Coast Council on Tuesday voted to allocate $50,000 for a feasibility study into an aquatic and health centre in Torquay that could be built using $20 million in federal funding and $10 million from the State Government.

But concerns have been raised around the potential ongoing cost of an aquatic centre on the shire’s bottom line.

Further pressure was added this week when Victorian Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson warned the Commonwealth funding would be sent elsewhere if the project did not include a 50m pool, as spruiked in the Federal Government’s $20 million pledge.

Torquay Ward councillor Brian McKiterick warned there had been “political pressure” on the council to make a decision about the aquatic centre, despite rate-capping creating a “significant lack of income” for the shire.

“We don’t need to have a pool that we’re going to lose money on for this community,” Cr McKiterick said.

“This could be a Trojan horse — you’ve got the gift and then you could be the one paying at the end.”

Deputy Mayor Clive Goldsworthy also said the shire had been placed in a difficult position to conduct another feasibility study into a Torquay pool, just five years after the last study was prepared.

“I hate seeing us spending money on more feasibility studies,” he said.

“Unfortunately we’re damned if we do, damned if we don’t on this one.”

Winchelsea Ward’s Heather Wellington was the only councillor to vote against the feasibility study, suggesting the shire discuss a shared facility with the City of Greater Geelong. Cr Wellington also claimed Senator Henderson’s stipulation about including a 50m pool was the MP’s “personal preference”.

A Monday email from Senator Henderson to the council, seen by the Geelong Advertiser, warned the Government would “seek another proponent which can deliver on the Government’s commitment to Corangamite residents” if a 50m pool was not included.

“Let me reiterate that it is a condition of the $20 million in funding that the aquatic facility includes a 50m pool,” Senator Henderson said.

She also voiced concerns with the council’s apparent “suggestion” it would only examine options that did not involve it making a capital contribution.

A Surf Coast council report noted that budgetary pressures on the council and the possibility of missing out on the funding were risks to be considered.

“Council is focused on its long-term financial challenge and the diminishing discretionary resources at its disposal,” the report said.