General News
24 January, 2025
Pool meeting taking place
Community are turning to coming together and working with council to get the outdoor pool across the finish line.
After several years without the outdoor swimming pool, the community is coming together to support council in getting the project over the finish line.
The community driven advocacy group, initially kickstarted by president of the Maryborough Swimming Club Duncan Bates, is set to have their first meeting at The Hub next Wednesday at 6 pm to gauge community interest and how to coordinate everyone.
Mr Bates said this project is more than him or the swimming club, or even Maryborough. He hopes once more of the community gets involved he’ll fade into the background.
“It’s Maryborough and its surroundings that need it. I’m hoping I’ll just disappear behind the noise of lots of people putting their hands up to help, fundraise, or whatever needs to be done,” he said.
“There’s no chance of me achieving this by myself. It needs to be a community led and a community driven campaign to get the pool open.”
According to council’s website, the Maryborough Municipal Outdoor Pool was deemed to be at an ‘end of life stage’ in 2022, meaning it wasn’t safe to reopen until the pool was demolished and rebuilt.
Following an unsuccessful funding application to the Federal Government, council decided to withdraw a funding application to State Government which would require them to co-contribute $4 million to the project in future borrowings.
Due to the cost of the project, councillors said funding from both federal and state governments was required.
Council said they remain committed to restore and re-open the pool including continuing their advocacy to both state and federal governments for funding.
While Mr Bates recognises the project will be difficult he said that doesn’t mean it’s not worthwhile.
“The main message for the community is not to give up hope. Although it’s going to be a huge undertaking that’s not to mean it’s impossible and there’s enough [good]will out there,” he said.
“It’s just a case of finding the right funding to support it and to understand what work’s required.”
Mr Bates also said the advocacy group could offer a point of reference for council.
“If you imagine a football ground [it] has an obvious user which is the football club,” he said.
“There’s so many different users for the outdoor swimming pool there’s no one point of contact. So the council, I think, struggles getting a grasp on who to go to if they have any questions about what’s needed.”
Mr Bates previously spoke to councillors prior to the election and said all who could show support for the pool did. Prior to the group’s first meeting he has already had support shown from across the community including Maryborough Rotary Club and the Maryborough and Carisbrook Lions Clubs.
“I’m surprised at the moment with the amount of interest it’s generating. It’s a little bit overwhelming,” he said.
While the details are still yet to be finalised the group’s positivity is clear.
“My driver is not to undermine the council, my goal is to work with them and hopefully help them get it across the line,” Mr Bates said.