May 19, 2015
Sometimes not everything goes to plan at an historic moment, as South Burnett Mayor Wayne Kratzmann found out on Tuesday when he tried to turn the first sod on construction of Murgon’s new swimming pool complex.
The site’s dry soil put up a fight when the Mayor tried to get a spadeful for the cameras.
It took several goes (and a few muttered oaths) to get a respectable-sized sod, but eventually it was done.
And as things turned out, although it may have been the first “official” spadeful it wasn’t really the first Gore Street sod turned on the day.
Eager construction crews had already used a backhoe to dig up some topsoil down one side of the lot in preparation for the $1.1 million development.
The new swimming complex will replace the former Murgon Jubilee Pool, built 50 years ago.
In July last year Council engineers found the site’s ageing buildings were unsafe, and soon afterwards the complex was closed amid concerns about public safety.
The Council, which had been planning to upgrade Murgon’s footpaths in this year’s Budget, voted instead to demolish the old pool complex and build a new, modern aquatic centre in its place.
Councillors also voted an allocation of $650,000 towards the project, and released concept plans for public consultation in November after a temporary home had been found for the Murgon Swimming Club at Wondai.
Then in early December, Council secured an extra $450,000 from the State Government’s “Get Playing Plus” program through the Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing to make the concept plans a reality.
A tender for the work was awarded at Council’s April 1 meeting.
The new complex is expected to open its doors later this year in time for the 2015-16 swimming season.
Mayor Kratzmann announced at the ceremony that the Murgon Swimming Club would be tipping in another $30,000 towards the new complex.
The club recently received a grant to build a grandstand, and Council’s draftsmen will integrate this extra feature into the final design.
The Mayor congratulated Swimming Club secretary Melissa Sippel for the Orcas’ contribution to the facility.
Murgon Business and Development Association president Leo Geraghty said Murgon’s business community supported the project and was keen to see the new complex open in time for summer.
He said the pool was a major drawcard for the town as well as an indispensable community asset.
Sergeant Rod Gelderblom, the new manager of the South Burnett PCYC, shared his enthusiasm.
The PCYC runs many athletic programs, and the new aquatic complex would open up potential new avenues, he said.
The “official” sod turning was also witnessed by fellow South Burnett councillors and Council CEO Gary Wall.
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