Last days to have your say regarding the Regional Aquatic Facility.
Some Background information
It will be 12 months on the 17th September since the CVC closed the Grafton 50m pool due to its deteriorating condition.
The waterslide did operate on a limited basis until the Grafton Pool closed for the winter months
In the background the CVC Council has put in place plans, specialists reports, tenders, and sold off some memorabilia for the Grafton Memorial Pool.
The pool contractors have submitted their tenders which have been higher than expected and are currently being negotiated.
The Current situation would appear to be that
there are 5 Councillors that wish to put a hold on this process and commence with part options in stages.
The GM of the CVC council has indicated that there is capacity for the council to borrow funds and repay this debt to start stages 1 and 2.
Rate payer and community concerns
The preferred option is still to proceed with all the stages 1,2&3 immediately and have the facility that has been a long time coming.
Alternative motions that may rise with
Completing the Grafton Regional Aquatic Complex in stages. May see additional costs
This could mean contractors will need to be re engaged in the future and retend potentially higher cost and further time delays.
It may have been report that keeping the South Grafton pool complex open comes with additional costs reported to be $400,000 annually and it's all reaching it's end of life in potentially 5 years.
Borrowing funds now may prove less expensive than waiting an additional 3 years for stage construction that may see the current cost double in another 3-5 years time.
Recommendation to CVC Councillors
The CVC Councillors make a decision sooner rather than later and not wait another 12 months before any action is taken.
The preferred option is and has always been completion of the whole complex including stages 1,2 &3 for the Grafton Regional Aquatic Complex.
The CVC Council GM has advised that the Council has the capacity to repay this debit and the Councillors should consider to proceed immediately.
The new Grafton Regional Aquatic Complex will be a Clarence Valley asset to be proud of and a great benefit to the whole community in the Clarence Valley not just Grafton.
The real cost in deferring will look to mean potentially a greater time delay for the community and increased building and construction costs for the rate payers long term for this project.
Please share and show your support.
In the council meeting of March 2023 the meeting minutes starting on page 25. The complete explanation from council as to why the 50m pool won’t be constructed first can be found on council’s website.
Minutes and agendas
Link
https://www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/Council/Council-meetings/Minutes-and-agendas
It was also reported in the news – Clarence Valley Independent
Council explain why 50m pool won’t be built first – Clarence Valley Independent
To my understanding if the current negotiations of tender is not accepted by councillor's and is declined at the September Council meeting the pool project could look to be again be put on hold at a standstill un till who knows when.
Could it possibly be when the next new council is elected in?
How many more years until dig ready is turned in to action ?
The community's voice needs to be hear, we need a commitment now and for the pool project to stop being putting on hold.
Please have your say and show your support via the ppetitionand help share this information in hope it will be submitted to council.
The more people talk about it and indicate there concerns the better.
Please see link below. Share and Sign the Petition, have your say in the comments.