Staff biggest pool cost (#787)

Issue (#786) invited readers to think about the main cost elements in running an aquatic centre and identify the slices in a pie chart.  If you guessed that the largest, Staff, is the blue slice @37%, then you were right!  Other Operations (red @34%) follows – then comes Energy (yellow @26%), and finally Refurbishment (green @ 3%).  The percentages vary only slightly depending the preferred pool configuration. 

The financial model proposed by the Consultant, CCA, does not deal satisfactorily with either Staff or Energy.  Should Council make a decision using this model alone – rather than wait for the Project Team to complete its task - then it could make an ill-informed decision.

Let’s look at both and search for savings in each (always working with base year figures).

First the Energy.  The CCA model includes $375k in the capital budget for Environmentally Sustainable Design [ESD] but does not identify any consequent savings in the energy budget. Energy costs are stated ($130k for the 6-lane configuration) … but not the actual energy (kWhr) required.  If we assume a unit cost 32¢ it corresponds to 400MWhr (1 Megawatt hour equals 1000kWhr).  A quick calculation suggests that, with achievable building design and off-the-shelf heat pumps, the 6-lane configuration in the CCA Concept Plan should not be this hungry.  Energy savings of up to 100MWhr seem achievable and should certainty be targeted.  Investing roughly $300k in solar PV from the ESD allowance could supply half the remaining balance – reducing Synergy’s bill to about $50k.  Quite a saving!

Nor does the CCA model for Staff allow for inputs from volunteers.  It allows about $180k, half of which is for lifeguards!  In a city, $90k may be reasonable, but for a town like Denmark assistance from volunteers shouldn’t be excluded initially.  Just think of the Surf Club lifeguards, the fire fighters, sea rescue, SES and ‘ambos’ – to mention just a few.  We live in a town that depends on volunteers.  Why not volunteer lifeguards?

Clearly the costs of staff and energy can be reduced.  Just how large the savings may be calls for a more careful analysis – but we should point out that while a saving of, say, $100k looks attractive in an expenditure of $500k, it looks even better when a ‘user-pays’ income of $300k is forecast (by CCA).  The required ratepayer subsidy is halved … falling from $200k to $100k in the base year.  In a future article, we’ll look at how these estimates change with time – particularly the impact of rising electricity costs.

Finally - only four weeks remain to nominate for Council Elections later this year.  Candidates should be asked to declare their position on a pool within their election manifesto.

Cyril Edwards, denmarkpool@gmail.com, DACCI

Caption.  The hydrotherapy pool at Esperance is 11m x 6m and slopes gently from 1.0m to 1.3m deep and operates at 35°C.  Hand rails are fitted to the entry steps and in the pool just below the surface at the deep end and along one side 2/3 the length of the pool to assist patrons. Wet wheel chairs are provided and are lifted into the pool with a battery operated ‘Para mobility’ chair lift. This pool is essential for infants, elderly and injured patrons.