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Voters in the Sydney local government area of Cumberland have voted to continue funding the area’s five swimming pools.

With more than 80,000 votes cast during on a specific question on the future of the pools in the September local government election, a resounding 75% voted yes to the pool’s continued operations.

The yes vote means residents want Cumberland Council to continue funding the area’s five swim centres - at Auburn, Granville, Guildford, Merrylands and Wentworthville - and is reportedly also being used to end plans to develop the Holroyd Regional Aquatic and Wellness Centre at the Merrylands pool site.

The plebiscite saw voters asked if they supported the Cumberland Council spending $2.15 million or 2.4% of its rates income on the pools’ upkeep along with agreeing that no further steps be taken to build the Merrylands centre, an idea introduced by the former Holroyd Council.

However, the result is not binding and incoming Cumberland Councillor Greg Cummings said the new council would have to reconsider the issue.

As the former Mayor of Holroyd Mayor, Councillor Cummings’ Council was behind a plan to build the regional aquatic centre at Merrylands.

With Cumberland Council Administrator Viv May having described the project as a “financial fantasy”, Councillor Cummings countered by telling local media “the administrator was very loose with the truth when it came to the Merrylands pool, we were waiting on funding from federal and state government to continue with that.

“Since I was rudely interrupted as the mayor of Holroyd, I’m looking forward to completing the unfinished business I have.”

Local pool advocate Grant Hansen said the results were a reflection of the importance of all five pools in western Sydney, calling on the Council to prioritise upgrades at the existing pools.

The ballot saw voters asked the following question: "Cumberland Council currently operates five public swimming pools in the Local Government Area. Each year the five pools expect to cater for a total of approximately 405,000 visitors. In 2018 it is estimated that the total operational costs of all five pools will exceed total revenues by approximately $2.15 million (which is 2.4% of Council's rates income), and it is expected that the shortfall) will increase in subsequent years. Council subsidises these pools by using other funding sources, such as rates to cover the shortfall.

Since the creation of the Cumberland Council in mid-2016, the NSW Government appointed Administrator, Viv May, repeatedly questioned the Council’s aquatic and recreation facility provision.

Formed in May 2016 by the merger of parts of the former Auburn City, Parramatta City and Holroyd City councils, the new local authority commenced a review of all of its aquatic and recreation facilities in September last year, considering the future of ageing facilities including the Granville Swimming Centre as well as whether to proceed with the former Holroyd Council’s plans to develop a regional aquatic, recreation and sports facility.

Image: The recently redeveloped Ruth Everuss Aquatic Centre in Lidcombe.

6th September 2017 - FUTURE OF FIVE SYDNEY AQUATIC CENTRES TO FEATURE IN COUNCIL BALLOT

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