Greater Bendigo Councillors continue to stand strong on the closure of the Bendigo East Swimming Pool despite large community pushback.
The community held meetings at the pool and gathered over 1000 signatures on a petition.
The hopes of keeping the pool open year-round were quickly crushed in February when the council declared it was too expensive to stay open. Bendigo councillors are expected to discuss the petition on Monday.
The Community Aquatic Facilities Strategy was adopted in August last year with the amendment that Bendigo East Swimming Pool transition to a non-heated, seasonal pool following planned upgrades to Brennan Park Swimming Pool. This is also subject to a Committee of Management being willing and suitably skilled to run the pool.
This petition is unrelated and separate to the recent announcement of the Bendigo East Swimming Pool closure on April 12 as it had become too costly to operate a gas-heated pool year-round.
A council spokesperson says it is recommended Council do not further adjust the Community Aquatic Facilities Strategy. It outlines the future provision of aquatic services in Bendigo and Bendigo East Swimming Pool remaining a year-round, heated aquatic facility was not strategically supported.
The report to the March Council Meeting notes Greater Bendigo’s aquatic facilities have served the community well for decades but need modernisation to support diversity in community users.
The adopted aquatic strategy will guide planning and decision-making on the City’s pools over the next 10 years and sets out priority projects to be delivered, including limiting duplication of services.
