Drysdale pool plans

Jane Emerick
A Catholic school yesterday announced plans for a swimming pool open to the public at Drysdale.
St Ignatius College Geelong principal Michael Exton said the Drysdale campus was seeking a company to build the pool and run it outside school hours.
Mr Exton said the model would be a “mutually beneficial partnership”, with the independent operator to have access to a site in Drysdale and the school gaining a modern aquatic centre within the grounds of the college.
The school had yet to find an operator with an “appropriate business model” but would continue looking, he said.
Drysdale and Clifton Springs Community Association member Bernard Filbay said he would believe a pool was coming when he “sees it”.
“We (the community association) had a meeting last night and nothing was said about it,” Mr Filbay he said.
“The latest information is that it’s a nogoer.
“I’m surprised to hear it that it might be coming.”
Mr Filbay said his group had fought long and hard to secure a new pool for the community.
“The town would be very happy to get its own pool,” he said.
“We’ve been waiting a long time.”
Clifton Springs and Drysdale Residents began campaigning for a pool after City Hall closed swimming facilities above The Dell beach area several years ago due to a nearby landslip.
The City demolished the pool last year.
A council decision to build a new pool at Ocean Grove rather than Drysdale or Clifton Springs further angered residents last year.
St Ignatius’s plans would mirror Torquay Primary School where developers will build a pool in exchange for collecting revenue from operating the facility during public hours.