May 20, 2016
The South Burnett Regional Council will consider a petition to keep the region’s swimming pools open all year.
The petition, from a number of the region’s swimming groups, was tabled at the Council’s Wednesday meeting.
Council staff will examine the cost implications of the proposal.
At present most pools are closed over the winter months to reduce annual running costs, except for the South Burnett Aquatic Centre in Nanango which is open year-round.
The estimated cost of operating Council’s pool network is about $800,000 per year.
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Property portfolio chair Cr Terry Fleischfresser told the meeting pools in Kingaroy, Wondai, Murgon and Blackbutt are now closed for winter.
Routine maintenance and capital works will be undertaken during the “off season”.
Tenders for the management of the Kingaroy and Proston swimming pools would also be called shortly, Cr Fleischfresser said.
They will be advertised locally, as well as on the Queensland Royal Lifesaving and Swimming Australia websites.
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The SBRC’s property section has drawn up a three year capital works program for the region’s community buildings, recreation and sporting facilities.
Cr Fleischfresser said staff have reviewed, inspected and prioritised project requests to prepare the program, which will cover the period 2016/17 to 2019/20.
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Property section staff are in the design and planning phases of a project to build a new Council records facility at the Kingaroy Works Depot.
When complete, the new facility will house 2, 5, 7 and 10-year retention documents.
The section has also been working with the Lady Bjelke-Petersen Community Hospital Foundation, South Bank Day Hospital and Queensland Health to ensure the facility is compliant prior to commencement of operations later this month.
