The council’s decision to exclude members of OTOS from providing input to NBRS Architecture, regarding the need for a 50-metre pool, proves this statement is empty rhetoric. 

Significant input is available, garnered by way of three well-attended meetings in 2018, each with an average of 100 community members.

Why not build what is needed, and what is obviously affordable now, based on strong community feedback over many years, rather than build what ideologically driven executives within council think should be provided?

The “estimate” of $6.5 million extra to build and $300,000 extra per year to run a 50m pool, rather than a 25m pool, can have come from no other source than the OTIUM Planning Group Final Draft Report dated August 2017. In that document, we find that: “....the additional capital cost is substantial (estimated at $6.5m)” and “...it would incur higher operating costs and deficits (estimated at between $260,000 and $305,000pa ...”)

OTOS has seen no evidence that OTIUM’s “estimate” has ever been challenged or analysed by council, yet it has been parroted ever since, as has OTIUM’s statement that: “there is limited market for traditional 50m pools.”

OTOS provided an alternative written “estimate” by experienced pool builders Hutchinson in 2017, suggesting the difference in capital cost would only be in the order of $2m (worst case). Perhaps the true additional cost lies somewhere between? Did council not think a $4m potential saving worth investigating?

The first time the public was made aware of the disappearance of the 50 metre pool was in the set of concept plans drawn up by council's consultants nearly two years ago. Now the mini-golf has disappeared.

The initial plans had everything the latest plans show, plus the mini-golf in the same overall space. Following these initial plans, an alternate plan was drawn up by an independent, qualified pool designer showing that an Olympic size pool could be accommodated in the same space. He also expressed his opinion the costings used by council were over the top and the technology used in the concepts was outdated and inefficient. 

The extra costs used by council to favour a 25 metre pool are for a 50 metre pool with a removable barrier - something unnecessary and overly expensive when all the other facilities can cater for other users simultaneously.

The serious swimming users have unanimously rejected the concept that a 25 metre pool can satisfy their needs. These groups include the swimming clubs, Surf Life Savers (who need winter stamina training venues), and schools.

We should be looking forward to producing Olympic standard swimmers with our own shire-based facility that can be used all year. Many of these serious swimmers are travelling to Ulladulla for the better facilities and coaches available all year round.

Employment opportunities will only occur if the facilities meet the needs of the maximum number of potential users all year round. Several other features of the early concepts seem to have disappeared - the tourist information centre, the long-distance bus interchange and many of the community centre activity spaces. These all would bring paying customers along with employment opportunities - as would an Olympic size pool!

We seek help for the Biloela family - Priya and Nades and their two Australian born daughters.

There have been a number of rallies thoughout Australia to support the Tamil family who have been threatened with deportation on February 1.  Everyone is urged to phone the Minister for Immigration’s Office and ask him to intervene.

We are also seeking help for an Hazara refugee to help his family stuck in Kabul. We had hoped his wife and their three young daughters, and his unaccompanied minor sister,  would have received their visas to Australia by Christmas.  Unfortunately,  if they don't receive their visas by mid-March, they will have to pay for further medicals to be done. If you can help even a little with keeping this family safe until we can get them to Australia, please contact us via our Facebook page.

We are also seeking donations for the amazing Sister Jane Keogh, who is a Brigidine nun based in Canberra. She has been "gifted" a trip to go to Kuttapalong refugee camp in Bangladesh to help Rohingya refugees on the ground. She is departing on February 3.

Even a small donation can add up and means a lot for these people who have fled genocide. Jane says they need warm clothes, blankets and medication, etc. Such a pity we can't collect them and send over, but it’s much easier to donate cash to buy what they need there.

If you haven't already signed a petition seeking the urgent release of Hakeem Al-Araiby (who is a refugee under Australia's care) the matter is now extremely urgent. Bahrain formally requested his extradition from Thailand back to Bahrain, where he will probably be tortured and executed.

Our first meeting for 2019 is on Thursday, February 14, at 10.30am, at St John’s Hall, Moruya.