It’s not just the weather that will start to heat up over the coming weeks - the campaign for a year-round pool in Batemans Bay is also creating friction.
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And if there’s one family which knows the struggles of swimming without a local 12-month facility, it would be the Doberers, of Surf Beach.
Daughters Natasha, 13, and Danika, 11, travel up to two hours per session to attend squad training three times a week at Ulladulla Leisure Centre.
The year-round opening of the Ulladulla centre influenced parents Harvey and Emma’s decision.
“You can’t swim six months of the year, with the other six off, and still be competitive,” Mr Doberer said.
Like many families who make the trek, the Doberers are pushing for a new centre in Batemans Bay.
“What we’re campaigning for, as swim families, is a new, 50-metre indoor facility,” Mr Doberer said.
“That’s our preference, straight up, that council look at replacing the existing facility with a new, indoor facility.”
“Swimmers need it for their fitness and competition. Schools need it for carnivals.”
Natasha and Danika have been swimming at Ulladulla for three years, after previously training at Narooma.
You can’t swim six months of the year, with the other six off, and still be competitive.
- Harvey Doberer
“It’s always get home at 7.30/8 o’clock (of an evening), get to bed and then homework in the morning. You don’t really get the time to do the homework in the afternoon,” Danika said.
“(I would) definitely like to see a year-round pool. It would mean getting home earlier.”
The girls train afternoons as the morning sessions would present a major challenge.
“I know of some families that do it (morning training), but for us, and running our business, it just wouldn't work,” Mr Doberer said.
For as long as families continue to make the trip to Ulladulla, the Doberers believe Batemans Bay will continue to miss out financially.
“This council is losing out,” he said.
“We’ve got $380 a term (for squad fees). I swim two nights a week up there, so they lose that as well.”
The Batemans Bay Indoor Aquatic Centre Committee will dive head first into the issue this Sunday, August 28, when they host a dry swim at Hanging Rock rugby oval. People are encouraged to dress up and get involved in the event.
