There was an extraordinarily full gallery at today’s ordinary council meeting, as lobbyists ‘packed the gallery’ in support of Batemans Bay’s 50-metre pool.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Three addressed the council advocating the inclusion of a 50-metre, as opposed to 25-metre, pool in the proposed Mackay Park aquatic centre development.
Mayor Liz Innes and Councillor Maureen Nathan suggested the group was pushing for a 50-metre pool at the expense of other facilities – a charge the group stridently denied.
“We don’t believe anything needs to be sacrificed,” the Fight for Batemans Bay’s 50-metre Pool spokesowman, Maureen Searson, said.
“The current plan is more than adequate in catering to the needs of hydrotherapy and learn to swim.
“Replacing the 50-metre pool with a 25-metre one would be inadequate.”
Cr Innes said including a 50-metre pool would mean sacrifices.
“With the funding available, we are not able to provide everything in the draft plan, plus a 50-metre pool,” Cr Innes said.
The Mackay Park Precinct stayed on the agenda, with further contention regarding the resignation and potential replacement of Sunset Committee member, the Batemans Bay Business and Tourism Chamber president David Maclachlan.
Malua Bay resident Owen Cartledge identified previous mayor Lindsay Brown’s “unexpected purchase” of the former bowling club site in 2016 as the beginning of conflict.
