Dr Colin Hughes [Letters - Bulletin #812] captures some of the
key points behind our community’s need for a pool. He identified the therapeutic benefits for
those in need of joint replacement and for cardiac and asthmatic cases. We might add arthritis and multiple sclerosis
to the list.
Two months ago, the Multiple Sclerosis Society of WA received a grant
from the Federal Government for a pilot study to upgrade air conditioning and
pool heating in its Wilson hydrotherapy pool.
Because such pools need to operate at higher temperatures than lap pools
or leisure pools (34±0.5°C) they present a significant challenge both to the
air conditioning system and the pool heating.
The proposers claim to have identified a ground loop geothermal system
as the least expensive to operate and maintain and expects to reduce current energy
expenditure by up to 50%. These ground
loop systems offer a great opportunity for in-kind contributions from a capable
community – and, of course, the dollar value of volunteer work like this serves
as a multiplier in the grant equation.
Dr Hughes also
identified the fitness and community-building value of the other key component
of the aquatic facility – the lap swimming area. While there is some pressure from certain quarters
to settle for a ‘boutique pool’ with perhaps just three lanes, DACCI believes
that anything less than six lanes would fail to accommodate community need. The arguments in favour of a small number of
lanes do not stack up: the marginal
savings in building and running costs are outweighed by the loss of revenue from
a reduced user throughput. It would be a
serious mistake to build a pool which did not meet known current needs and
allow for future growth in both population and the scope of new aquatic
activities. Our primary school children
are already being squeezed out of the Albany facility simply because it is
operating almost at capacity.
Dr Hughes also
suggests an urgent submission to Royalties for Regions and a public fundraising
program. While funds from the RfR may be
relevant to the capital raising exercise they cannot help with the ongoing
running costs of the facility. The
community needs to be able to meet without outside help.
His other
suggestion – the fund raising program - is not far away. As reported elsewhere, the Shire’s Budget for
2012/13 approves the establishment of a Pool Reserve Fund. DACCI will seed this fund with an initial
deposit of $80k and Council has agreed to match this sum in FY 12/13 from its
Lands and Building Reserve. Public donations
will be welcomed.
While the details
of this fund, especially questions of tax deductibility, have yet to be finalised,
there’s no doubt that it’s an important step forward. Council should be congratulated for this
decision – especially in such a difficult year.
Cyril Edwards, DACCI, denmarkpool@gmail.com
and http://www.denmarkpool.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment