City: too few for pool

KIM WATERS
CLIFTON Springs and Drysdale might never be big enough to justify a public swimming pool, according to a City Hall officer.
Scott Cavanagh said population growth projections fell too short to warrant a new pool.
He confirmed City of Greater Geelong had “no immediate plans” for a pool at Drysdale or Clifton Springs after the Independent reported last week that residents were lobbying council to earmark a future site for a swimming centre.
“Generally public swimming pools are constructed when the catchment population is around 35,000,” Mr Cavanagh said.
“The Drysdale/Clifton Springs population is currently around 12,000 and is expected to reach less than 20,000.”
Mr Cavanagh said the City had designed Ocean Grove’s Bellarine Aquatic and Sports Centre to service residents “right across the Bellarine Peninsula”.
“Its location was determined following extensive consultation and studies.”
Residents told the Independent last week that they shared “a bit of bad blood” with council after it closed their only swimming pool 10 years ago.
Drysdale and Clifton Springs Community Association president Doug Carson said tension increased after council shunned the towns in favour of building the $5.5 million pool in Ocean Grove in 2008.
Mr Carson said residents had difficulty accessing the Ocean Grove facility because it was “always booked up”.
Residents would continue to fight for a potential swimming pool site in the future, he said.
“Over the next five to 10 years we’ll have thousands more people living here.
“If no space is earmarked now it will take council another 10 years to find a spot and it’s just more of a hold up.”