A DECISION by Barossa Council to permanently close Nuriootpa’s outdoor pool and turn it into a park, has been met with backlash from the wider community.
Last week council announced the Nuriootpa War Memorial Swimming Pool is “at the end of its life” and would be shut down in April, at the end of the upcoming swim season.
“Council understands Nuriootpa Pool is a much-loved community asset and this decision will be seen as regrettable by many in the community,” a council statement read.
“However, the estimated minimum $1.6 million expenditure to bring the pool to current standards, ongoing investment to keep the pool functional each summer swim season, together with high levels of ratepayer subsidy per visit, have made it financially unsustainable.
“The pool will be decommissioned, with the open space converted to a public park that recognises its status as a war memorial.”
The announcement has come as a shock to many, with Barossa residents taking to social media to err their frustrations.
A petition to save the pool had attracted well over 2000 signatures as of Monday.
Tanunda mum Heidi Hore said she is disappointed with the planned closure, having attended regularly with her boys Kallen, 11, and Kienan, 8.
“If it was a really hot day, we’d come in the afternoon, have a picnic tea and the kids would swim in there for hours; the youth group had the movie nights there too,” Mrs Hoare said.
“It’s been nine years since the Tanunda pool closed and (council) has put nothing in place to replace Nuri and it’s clearly been ageing for all this time.
“They should have been putting things in place and discussing with the community what is wanted, what is needed, so that when they had to close the pool there was a new option, not just closure and then nothing.
“It’s one less thing for all the young ones to do.”
The decision to close the pool was made by elected members at council’s September 15 meeting, when presented by a staff report detailing the extent of repairs or maintenance needed at the 74-year-old facility.
A medium to long term upgrade, at a cost of $1,770,000, would include the separation of pool filtration systems for the 50m pool and toddler pool (currently non-compliant), upgraded change rooms, $45,000 for a new playground, as well as $550,000 on a complete pool retile.
“The pool is now in a holding pattern with a break fix approach to required reactive repair and maintenance works,” a staff report read.
“The pattern of spend for reactive issues is continuing to increase in the areas of pipework, plumbing and pool shell leaks.”
Just over $41,380 was spent on Nuriootpa pool repairs last swim season, with a combined $127,500 spent in the two seasons prior.
In moving the motion to close the Nuriootpa pool, councillor Leonie Boothby said council had previously proposed to close the Nuriootpa pool in line with the 2011 opening of the indoor Rex facility.
“Since that time… there has been ongoing discussion by this council and the previous council around the timing and trigger points for closing of the Nuriootpa pool,” she said.
“…The fact it’s $1.6 million to make it compliant without improving service levels is a significant investment and I don’t think we can continue on behalf of our ratepayers to invest.”
A motion to first take into account feedback from the community, was lost, but supported by councillors David Haebich, John Angas, Carla Wiese-Smith and Cathy Troup.
Over the next two years council will explore opportunities to generate new revenue streams for the 63-year-old Williamstown outdoor pool that could also increase usage.
It will also consider a ‘Zero Depth Splash Zone’ at Nuriootpa’s Tolley Reserve.
Barossa Council previously closed its outdoor Tanunda pool, in 2011, based on dropping attendance figures and rising maintenance costs, having opened the $15 million Rex aquatic and fitness centre, earlier that year.
Waterslides were removed from the Nuriootpa pool in 2006 and the diving board followed in 2008, unable to be replaced due to revised depth restrictions.