Concerns were raised at the latest Tamworth Ratepayers Association meeting about Tamworth Regional Council’s plans to close and sell-off both Scully Park and Tamworth City swimming pools to make way for a new aquatic facility at the Sports Dome.
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Secretary Bob Murray said that the meeting was split between support for the new facility, and reservations about the social costs of closing two existing facilities.
Vice president of the Ratepayers Association Michelle Bryan was one of those with reservations.
Ms Bryan is concerned that TRC may have made a hasty decision on the back of sustained pressure from the Tamworth Aquatic Group, and that the general public’s voice may not have been sought or heard to the same extent.
“The sporting bodies have been heavily involved but what about the general public, we haven’t been able to have a good look at the proposal but we are losing the two pools in town,” Ms Bryan said. I acknowledge that there are issues with age and maintenance but a lot of the community won’t have access to it at the sports dome, yet it is a community service that promotes a healthy lifestyle.”
Other concerns raised at the meeting were increased travel costs for schools, safety and accessibility for foot and bike access, increased entry costs, congestion with swim clubs and sporting groups all using the one facility, and a fear “that children may swim in the river instead because it is easier to access.”
A TRC spokesperson said that “it is not realistic to ask ratepayers to bear the cost of Council maintaining existing facilities if a new facility is built.”
“We encourage residents to have their say directly to Council, to ensure that all feedback is included,” the spokesperson said.
