June 15, 2016
Heated council swimming pools in Murgon, Wondai and Kingaroy will be staying shut over the winter months because of costs.
A petition from 18 residents asking for the pools to be kept open year-round was discussed at Wednesday’s Council meeting.
Councillors were told the cost of running the three pools for an extra four months would be more than $130,000.
This was because electric heat pumps were fitted at all the pools to keep water temperatures at optimum levels regardless of the weather.
If the pools were kept open in the winter months, officers said, the pumps would need to run all night and some days as well.
They also noted that pool patronage always drops in the cooler months due to winter sport commitments, no school swimming programs and a lack of infrastructure to keep people warm.
If pool operating times were extended, they said, existing contracts with three pool managers would need to be renegotiated and amended.
Officers said a third factor to consider was that council workers used the winter months to carry out major repairs and maintenance on the facilities, in order to minimise disruptions during the swimming season.
This benefit would be lost if the pools were kept open year-round.
Cr Ros Heit said Council’s pool network already cost ratepayers an average $50 per year, and she thought the extra cost of opening during the winter months was unsustainable.
Deputy Mayor Kathy Duff said she’d spoken to a few people who’d signed the petition to get a better insight into their concerns.
A big motivator was the unusually warm autumn the South Burnett had this year, Cr Duff said.
Councillors decided to leave existing pool arrangements in place.
- Related article: SBRC Asked For All-Year Pools
