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Council On The Path Towards Improved Aquatic Facilities For Traralgon  Traralgon Outdoor Pool After an extensive consultation phase for the proposed new indoor aquatic facility in Traralgon, Latrobe City has decided not to pursue Development Scenario 2C, By Latrobe City - 27th May 2011 - Back to News the option recommended following the completion of a detailed feasibility study.
However, Latrobe City wishes to assure the community that the idea of developing of an indoor aquatic facility in Traralgon will be subject to further consideration by Council in terms of the potential options of developing an improved facility on the site of the current outdoor pool.
Councillor Rohan Fitzgerald, in moving the recommendation, included additional points that require Council to investigate the use of a legal or other instrument over the land at Hubert Osborne Park that would protect it from future sale; that a report be presented to Council on its findings, and that a working party of stakeholders be established. The motion was carried unanimously.
Council asked the community for feedback on the proposal to establish the new indoor facility at Catterick Crescent; co-located with the Traralgon Sports Stadium. To enable this to be funded, it was proposed that the current outdoor pool be decommissioned and the site sold, with all funding (estimated at $10 million) going towards the development of the new facility.
Latrobe City mayor, Councillor Darrell White, said that the decision was a great example of how community engagement worked, with many residents taking a keen interest in the proceedings.
"Council put an idea out there, based on the consulting team’s advice, for the community to consider and debate. The reaction was mixed with some people indicating that they viewed the option put before them as a practical way of finally bringing this project to fruition. Ultimately, however, the opposition to this particular proposal was overwhelming and Council has taken these views on board in making this decision.
"There was a great deal of interest in the proposal with well over 1,000 people providing some form of written submission to Council. Council also held a special council meeting in April to allow residents to address Council in person prior to any decision being made," Cr White explained.
"The complexities of the arguments both for and against various scenarios proposed during the consultation phase made the decision-making process even more challenging for Council. However, there was a high level of public opposition to the adoption of Development Scenario 2C. In particular, there was significant opposition to the proposal to decommission the Traralgon Outdoor Pool and subsequently sell the land to fund a new indoor facility.
"Whilst every care was taken to ensure that the amount of readily accessible open space in this area would not be reduced, residents indicated that the amenity in this area would be severely compromised if the pool and croquet club were to be developed for commercial or residential use.
"Aside from a large section of the community indicating that they are opposed to selling any land in the Hubert Osborne Park precinct, there was also a high level of concern raised about the facility being developed at Catterick Crescent. This opposition came primarily from local residents; however, there were people who did not live in that particular neighbourhood who also indicated their support for the aquatic facility in Traralgon to remain in its current central location.
"It would be pertinent to remind the community that one option from the feasibility study remains on the table – Development Scenario 1 – which proposed the construction of the Traralgon Indoor Aquatic and Leisure
Centre on the current site of the Traralgon Outdoor Pool. Therefore, the outdoor pool would be demolished and not replaced, and Council would assist the Traralgon Croquet Club to find alternative premises. This scenario would not impinge on the open space or park area of Hubert Osborne Park.
"This would be a useful option to explore as we already have an understanding of the ongoing and capital costs for developing an aquatic centre at this site," Cr White explained.
Cr Fitzgerald agreed that the project was by no means finished and the concept of developing an indoor aquatic facility in Traralgon was still very much on the agenda.
"Council has requested officers to undertake further work for future consideration by Council and the community. Part of my alternative motion was that an invitation be extended to the Traralgon Swimming Club, Traralgon Community Development Association, Save Hubert Osborne Park Group and the Traralgon Croquet Club to form a working party to assist in any future investigations.
"As Council has now endorsed the concept that the Hubert Osborne Park site should remain the home of aquatic infrastructure in Traralgon, there are a number of options to investigate.
"We can look at the development of an indoor facility on the site of the current outdoor pool. This is significantly more expensive than the option that was recently suggested to the community so a longer term view would have to be taken if Council decided to go down this path. This would also require another phase of consultation with the community.
"Further, submissions received during the consultation period suggested that a section of the Traralgon community were willing to consider other options regarding the provision of local aquatic facilities and were not necessarily demanding a state-of-the-art, modern facility; but to retrofit the current aquatic facility in Traralgon in an effort to extend the season and increase participation," Cr Fitzgerald explained.
Cr White said that the development of such a facility (retrofitting/upgrade of current Traralgon Outdoor Pool) was not considered in the feasibility study as the original phase of consultation resulted in an assessment being made that the community desired a new indoor facility with features such as a 50 metre indoor pool, gymnasium, spa, sauna, café’, water play area.
"Some preliminary work has been undertaken in respect to options for heating and covering the pool. However a greater level of research would have to be undertaken prior to providing recommendations on the suitability of these options.
"There were also a number of people who indicated that there was no need for any changes to the provision of aquatic infrastructure in Traralgon. Ultimately, maintaining the status quo (outdoor pool only in Traralgon) is an option that Council may have to consider.
Cr White thanked the community for the manner in which the consultation and debate were conducted.
"We hope that we can continue to work with all of these people in moving forward with providing improved aquatic infrastructure for Traralgon," Cr White concluded.
Media Enquiries:
Media Relations Team
Telephone: 5128 5458 or 0407 862 977
Jacinta Kennedy, Manager Community Relations
Telephone: 5128 5421 or 0401 824 195
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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