Placed on public exhibition from July 1 to August 4, the draft plan for 2022-26 was viewed by hundreds of local residents, received two written submissions and was the subject of a detailed report addressing the concerns at council’s latest monthly meeting on August 15.
“Now that the facility is operational, council will be looking to build on the success of the first 12 months of operation, by increasing patronage and improving the financial performance. There are a number of actions in the business plan that will help to achieve this,” council’s director development and environmental services Susan Appleyard commented about the $10.3 million centre officially which opened on April 19, 2021.
“This business plan aims to balance the affordability for patrons while ensuring the centre can be run cost effectively…council resolved to increase fees and charges from the of the 1st July and further increases are planned in future years.
“These increases are considered moderate and are not expected to negatively impact patronage usage.”
As reported in The Free Press of July 6, the centre is expected to lose $740,756 in its first year.
Projected figures for pool usage, which did not eventuate, were seriously questioned by Cr David Longley. Defending the projections, council’s manager environment Angela Reidy reminded all that the figures were contained in the report by consultants before the savage Covid-19 pandemic adversely affected pool attendances.
Acting mayor Shaun Whitechurch endorsed Ms Reidy’s comments, emphasising the pandemic’s effect on tourism to Corowa, including a normally “very active” Ball Park Caravan Park, as well as other places, significantly hurt the financial running of the centre. “And yet to have a thousand leant-to-swim kids go through there is a great achievement in itself,” Cr Whitechurch added.
Answering Cr Longley’s assertion that people from other towns don’t frequent the centre, Cr Gail Law referred to two new instances of a busload of eight ladies from Mulwala are now commuting twice a week and a similar situation is evident from Howlong.
The possibility of leasing the centre was raised by Cr David Fahey OAM. “It’s a future option,” Ms Appleyard responded. Cr Sally Hughes raised energy issues and operational hours which will be closely looked at according to Ms Appleyard, with justified changes as appropriate.
New committee
Establishment of a new Corowa Aquatic Centre Consultative Committee was endorsed at council’s August meeting. This committee was instrumental in assisting council with the new facility’s design.
“However, now that the facility has been built, there is a need to revise the consultative committee and focus on the service delivery and operation aspects of the centre to ensure it meets the needs of the community and is managed in an effective and efficient manner,” Ms Appleyard said.
The committee’s Terms of Reference was endorsed. Two existing councillor-members, Whitechurch and Law, were re-elected to the committee and Cr Hughes added as a third councillor representative. Council will seek nominations for the community representatives.
