Calls to council for extended swimming season and long-requested pool upgrade

Local swimming pools in Australia serve as fitness spaces, well-being centres and social hubs for their locals. The benefit for individuals from regular swimming, water exercise and socialising within their community is unquestionably beneficial. Here on the mountain we Southeast Queenslanders, should be enjoying this easily accessible activity, and enjoying the positive health and well-being benefits it brings. But with our very small, overcrowded pool, heated tempers and the short swimming season, locals don’t always find it as beneficial as they could or as it should be.
There are two main factors affecting the Tamborine Mountain Swimming Pool functionality: it is opened for a very short annual swimming season, and secondly, its limited facilities cause overcrowded swimming conditions. Locals are challenged daily to simply just enjoy a swim. “We love this little pool and it’s all we’ve got. But there’s a few people who make it unpleasant.” says local resident Judy.
Whether you’re there primarily for fitness, (swimming laps), or as a family sharing a relaxing swim after school, the lack of infrastructure and future planning by our local council is clearly evident. “Every swim at the pool, I see disgruntled people, at least one every time.“ shares one local resident. The issues lie within sharing one very, very small and, at times, a very, very overcrowded pool for an array of multipurpose activities. It’s time for change, and information about future upgrade plans to our local pool on Tamborine Mountain.
Back in 2021 it was estimated the pool had over 100,000 visitors. Admission fee to the Tamborine Mountain swimming pool facility is - full paying adult $5.00, child and concession $4.00, (and $2 to sit inside the complex). We question what has and is being invested back into our local pool facility at Tamborine Mountain? Aqua aerobics and swimming schools also generate income and compete for limited pool space. Will the upgrade ever happen? Our mountain population has more than doubled since its opening and in comparison with the pool’s facilities throughout the Scenic Rim, our one shared pool is inadequate.
When you compare the pool entry prices on the mountain to Southport Aquatic Centre – an adult is $6.80, and child / student / concession is $5.00, it doesn’t add up. Looking outside of our region, you see very different attitudes towards councils and community wellbeing and connection. Members of Brisbane council currently are calling for free entry to all Brisbane council community swimming complexes, as a part of current election promises. A very different attitude to that held by these councillors.
Nationally, there are around 1,300 public pools and it’s estimated around 330 million visitors annually, by the RLSA, Royal Life Saving Australia. RLSA General Manager RJ Houston has been quoted also saying councils are finding themselves faced with the choice of closing a pool, replacing the facilities, or finding someone else to foot the bill. Most pools have a life expectancy of 50 years.
Our local public pool is over 40 years old. RLSA in 2022, found 500 pools across Australia would need replacing, or require "significant repairs" to the pool shell, within the next 10 years – at a cost of $8 billion. How does our local pool compare? Has any future thinking or planning been dedicated to address such issues that face our residents?
The present mountain pool dates back to 1981. It measures only 9.15m by 25m, allowing just six lanes for lap swimming, if all lanes are in use. Three lanes are generally left free and allocated to families, children and light exercise, as a shared swimming area. With water aerobics scheduled 3 times a week by council, this leaves just 3x4m for the community of 7500 people to enjoy; smaller than your average backyard pool, possibly spa. And with 15 or more people, this is a pretty close distance for pool patrons.
Local swimming pools don’t only serve a small niche population in our communities, but are for all. A local community swimming pool, or aquatic centre, is a basic community service that isn’t being addressed by current council, say locals. With its $1.1billion dollar in assets, why were plans to develop the complex at Sports Grounds ceased by local council? (And doesn’t it make you question what other public access spaces in our region require maintenance, funding and attention? ) “A redistribution of funds are required. A million-dollar purchase of new library land, railings and paths on Alpine Terrace, the Gallery Walk Carpark debacle and another gallery. What happens in these committee meetings?” asks local swimmer, Andy Carter.
Swimming health benefits cannot be denied. Health professions throughout the world concur that swimming has many benefits and can used as a safe exercise option for most people including those suffering with arthritis, injury, rehabilitation, disability or any conditions that make high impact exercise difficult. As it’s a whole-body workout, swimming and water fitness activities are credited with also building endurance, muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness. Swimming regularly helps you maintain a healthy weight, heart and lungs. It tones muscles and builds strength. And some professionals also believe it assists with overall issues of body aches and pain.
It’s undeniable: swimming promotes health and wellbeing. Local pools create social connection too. I personally have very fond memories of swimming as a child at the local pools with my family, and now as a parent attempting to create and share this with my daughter. Swimming is a basic life skill, and something we can all enjoy. And isn’t it nice just to float and relax in a pool sometimes?
Swimming needs to be accessible to all in our community, and in short, our pool needs upgrading to facilitate this comfortably for all of its patrons, including nursing mothers, toddlers, our less able community members and our elders. Increasing the pool’s swimming season would benefit our community’s overall health, wellbeing and connection. It’s time for transparency of future planning and upgrades. Perhaps with a change in leadership in the next local elections, these requests maybe answered and possibly actioned?
Christey Joh
REPLY FROM TOM SHARP
Thank you for your query, and it is a very important one, as a number of people have raised the same issue.
The key to my campaign and policies is to restore the council to the people, and for council to genuinely engage with those they serve and start listening.
I also intend to restore the authority to the elected councillor for each division, making the most important person to you, as far as local government is concerned, your divisional representative, not the mayor.
Transparency is the best way forward in starting to address the swimming pool and opening times during the year.
A statement relating to cost of running needs to be evidence based i.e. what are the numbers and what would be the shortfall.
Additionally, what is the tendering process, and what financial model does the successful tenderer work under.
Also, is there a user pays rule? Are there avenues via Queensland Health to have a subsidy offered given the health benefits.
From your side of things, we also need to properly quantify the demand: how many is "a lot", always apply the use it or lose it rule as well as acknowledging Kevin Costner – "if you build it they will come".
Having lived in Sydney for a number of years, the Bondi Icebergs was the biggest thing going around the Eastern Suburbs during winter, and I would love nothing more than to see the Mt Tamborine Icebergs established.
For what it is worth, I am also getting the exact same enquiries from Canungra residents with regards to the pool at Moriarty Park, and from Beaudesert residents regarding the Beaudesert Pool. The latter in fewer numbers.
It is time for the "tail to stop wagging the dog" and let's see what can be done with some proper analysis, transparency and engagement with the people in the hope of genuine outcomes for the people where practical.
Addressing a larger and new facility for Tamborine Mountain needs to be addressed in the same manner. Proper analysis of demand, location, costs, funding etc.
Putting this on the council chambers table for proper consideration would be your elected councillor.
I hope this is of some assistance.
Tom Sharp
ELECTION RESULTS
The election results should now be decided. We in Divisions 1, 2 & 3 are sure of who we have, as declared by the ECQ. Amanda Hay in Div. 1 with over 50% of the primary vote, Kerri Cryer in Div. 2 with around 75% and Steve Moriarty in Div. 3 elected unopposed.
Jennifer Sanders is also declared in Div. 4 Beaudesert. Jennifer was on council previously in 2012-2016.
That leaves only two of the original councillors hanging on. Marshall Chalk in Div 5 is holding onto a small lead from Leanne Bartrim and Duncan McInnes in Div 6 has a comfortable lead.
The former Mayor and Deputy Mayor Greg Christensen and Jeff McConnell have been ousted. We were sure to lose one of them, both vying for the same job.
The other fresh face on council will be the man from Beechmont, Mayor-elect Tom Sharp, who campaigned on a promise of bringing council back to the people, with transparency and integrity.
His background in financial management and ancestral connection with the rural community was the complete package.
This bodes well for the geographically Higher side of the Rim with its higher land values, higher rates and in danger of being developed to death.
Greg Christensen, as Mayor for the past eight years, trusted his performance would get him past the post with reference to his legacy.
Jeff McConnell with his lack of credentials, lack of policies and a past four-year term of disunity and unpopular decisions, chose a military style campaign, aimed at blasting his opposition out of the race.
The initial attack of publicly targeting the opposition ran out of ammunition when FB groups across the Rim started blocking the few enlisted supporters from posting, due to unsupported innuendo, and the blanks fell short of the target.
Damaging accusations against a political opponent, during an election, is considered criminal in Australia and can result in reports to the CCC.
The camouflage had completely broken down when Jeff’s military style tactic of aggression became unwelcome with some voters and opposing supporters at the polling booths.
We dodged a bullet there.
Julie Wilkinson