{"id":75360,"date":"2014-07-23T22:47:06","date_gmt":"2014-07-23T12:47:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=75360"},"modified":"2020-11-27T15:54:31","modified_gmt":"2020-11-27T05:54:31","slug":"multi-visit-pool-ticket-prices-rise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2014\/07\/23\/multi-visit-pool-ticket-prices-rise\/","title":{"rendered":"Multi-Visit Pool Ticket Prices To Rise"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Murgon Swimming Pool … the South Burnett Regional Council is facing a $600,000 repair bill, but pool entry fees remain significantly lower than city pools<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Cr Ros Heit<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

July 23, 2014<\/strong><\/p>\n

The prices of 10 and 20-visit season tickets to the region’s public swimming pools will rise this year after a study found South Burnett pool entry fees were significantly lower than those charged by other councils.<\/p>\n

At today’s monthly general meeting, South Burnett councillors approved season ticket prices at the region’s swimming pools for 2014-15, subject to an amendment moved by Cr Ros Heit that the prices of 10 and 20-visit passes rise.<\/p>\n

Cr Heit said while she agreed with most of suggested season ticket prices, she had issues with the 10-visit and 20-visit passes.<\/p>\n

“I think we need to accept that our pools cost all ratepayers a lot of money,” she said.<\/p>\n

She said about $68 per year from every ratepayer was directed to pools.<\/p>\n

“We have a lot of pools but not many people,” she said.<\/p>\n

There are council swimming pools at Murgon, Wondai, Proston, Kingaroy, Nanango and Blackbutt.<\/p>\n

Cr Heit said Moreton Shire had 12 pools to service a population of about 375,000 residents, ie about one pool per 33,000 people. But the South Burnett had one pool per 5000 people.<\/p>\n

“(This is why the pools) are costing our ratepayers such a lot, and this is increasing,” Cr Heit said.<\/p>\n

She said in Moreton Shire, residents pay $5.20 per pool entry for adults and children, and $4.30 for concession card holders.<\/p>\n

Brisbane charges $5.10 and $3.70 in the summer months, and $5.90 and $3.90 in the winter to cover extra heating costs.<\/p>\n

“While we love to encourage residents to use our pools, we aren’t a charity. And as we know with the Murgon pool, our pools are getting old and cost a lot to maintain,” she said<\/p>\n

“While I also agree we should be subsidising pool entry fees to some extent, the current rate for 10 visits works out at $2.50 for adults and $1.15 for children and concession card holders.”<\/p>\n

Cr Heit said she thought the price of 10 and 20-visit passes should be increased to $3 per visit for adults and $2 per visit for children or concession holders.<\/p>\n

This would still be almost half the price charged by Moreton Shire and in line with prices currently charged by the Gympie and Scenic Rim Regional Councils.<\/p>\n

“We want to maintain services to our community but some element of user pays has to be incorporated,” Cr Heit said.<\/p>\n

Fellow councillors agreed, and carried her amendment on the 10 and 20-visit passes.<\/p>\n

All other season ticket prices remained unchanged from last year.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The South Burnett Regional Council also voted today to temporarily close the Murgon Swimming Pool to construct a new amenities block and kiosk.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Councillors were told at today’s meeting that engineers had reported the current buildings were structurally unsafe.<\/p>\n

Provision for repairs to the pool has been made in the Council’s 2014-15 Budget, which is due to be released on Friday (July 25).<\/p>\n

Mayor Wayne Kratzmann said that many of the pool’s stakeholders – including local schools – had already been consulted about the temporary closure, and were making alternate arrangements.<\/p>\n

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