Port Fairy residents demand answers after council abruptly closes only all-abilities pool
Moyne Shire Council says Belfast Aquatics will be permanently closed. (Supplied: Belfast Aquatics)
In short:
Moyne Shire Council says it has permanently closed the Belfast Aquatics Community Pool after saying it would cost $2 million to fix issues.
After an inspection the council says it found mould and other issues inside the community-run facility.
What's next?
Locals say there has been a lack of transparency from the council about the closure and are calling for answers.
Moyne Shire Council has abruptly closed its Belfast Aquatics Community Pool after commissioning an inspection and report that identified the presence of mould throughout the facility and algae in some parts.
Port Fairy resident Jacqui King has three children who have been swimming at the all-abilities pool since they were toddlers.
Her eldest daughter has gone on to compete at Australian swim trials.
"Without the pool she would have never had that opportunity," Ms King said.
She said the pool was important for water safety in the coastal community, with many of the local life savers training at the centre.
"We don't know how many lives have been saved [because children learnt to swim here],"she said.
Jacqui King said the pool has been vital to water safety in the community. (ABC News: Ted O'Connor)
Facility closed
On Thursday night up to 300 residents rallied together at a community meeting to vent their anger and frustration about why the community pool closed.
Residents were also encouraged to attend an upcoming council meeting in large numbers to seek answers about the closure.
"It's not unusual for indoor pools to have mould. Instead of closing them they fix them," Ms King said.
"Here they seem to have just said it's too hard and have just given up without considering the needs of the community."
Many Port Fairy locals expressed bitter disappointment and concern at the decision to close the facility in the lead up to Christmas.
Residents also grimly joked that the town, which more than a decade ago was named "the world's most livable community" under 20,000 people is no longer living up to that mantle.
Longtime local Peter O'Keeffe swims at the pool three times a week and his wife does water aquatics five times a week.
Having suffered a knee injury, Mr O'Keeffe said the community pool was the only facility in the region with a beach pool that allowed users to walk into the water without steps or a ladder.
Peter O'Keeffe says he is concerned about how people with injuries or living with a disability would exercise. (ABC News: Ted O'Connor)
Mr O'Keeffe also said the council had not been transparent with the community.
"The council has [mentioned] a figure of $2 million to repair the pool, but there is no detail on the repairs,"Mr O'Keeffe said.
"[We want to know] whether the $2 million figure has come from a consultant or whether it was from their own internal team, and what actually makes up the $2 million?"
Around 300 Port Fairy locals gathered to demand transparency on the pool's future. (ABC News: Ted O'Connor)
Teresa O'Brien from the Belfast Aquatics committee of management, a community-led organisation which operates the pool, called for more information on the closure.
"The committee has always acknowledged there is work that needs to be done, but that the works are not that significant and definitely not in the millions of dollars,"Ms O'Brien said.
The Port Fairy community met to discuss the future of the pool on Thursday. (ABC News: Ted O'Connor)
Ms O'Brien said the the gym had also closed.
"There is no issues, structural or otherwise with the gym … and we plead with the shire that if it is an option to reopen the gym … that would be a really good starting point," she said.
"The pool and the gym have become the heart of the Port Fairy community and the broader Moyne Shire.
"It was clear tonight — people come from Koroit and further afield to use the facility because it uniquely has all abilities access."
The Moyne Shire Council has been contacted for comment.