From the Newsroom

‘No budget available’ for repairs

Geoff Helisma

The Grafton pool was due to open on September 17, however, a late item – Grafton Olympic Pool, off season maintenance – tabled at last week’s August 23 Clarence Valley Council (CVC) meeting recommended “not proceed[ing] with any maintenance at the Grafton pool at this stage”.

Meanwhile, the pool’s water bill for the 2021/22 year was $187,235.

Subsequently councillors, without debate, unanimously supported “delaying the opening of the pool for the 2022-2023 pool season until full consideration is given to current issues, costs and risks associated with continued operation”.

These issues will be reported to the September CVC meeting, due to be held on Tuesday September 27.

“The Grafton Olympic Pool requires significant maintenance to continue to be operational,” the report to council stated.

“These works will not address the water leak issues which are concealed under the pavement in the delivery and return lines as well as the pool basin.”

This means the pool “consumed” 39,418 litres of water in the 2021/22 financial year.

The average water consumption over the previous four years was 18,275 litres, which staff reported equates to a “153 per cent increase” in water consumption.

However, the accuracy of these figures is unknown; staff advised councillors that “since a new water meter was installed in April 2022, water loss has been recorded correctly and increasing at a rate to 39,418kL/annum, costing $187,235 in 2021/2022.”

Staff wrote that if the current required maintenance was undertaken – at an estimated cost of “$50,000 to $100,000 and no budget available” – “additional work maybe required if further issues are identified, which was the case in 2020/2021 when patching was completed in the dive pool”.

Staff last advised councillors of the pool’s decline at the October 2021 CVC meeting – in an update of the ‘Grafton Pool Development Project’ – writing, “Action for the redevelopment of the Grafton Olympic pool is needed urgently in order to address increasing safety and maintenance concerns, as well as potential pool failure.

“Additionally, if water loss continues or structures become unstable it may be necessary to shut down some areas of the facility (e.g. dive pool, waterslide etc).

“Results from testing has identified that these structures are declining and require urgent replacement.”

Stage one of the Grafton Pool Development Project remains unfunded, the last estimated cost was $15 million.

Meanwhile, the pool’s “asset management plan has identified that the primary components of the works required, being the pool and filtration equipment, [which] is rated as category 5 … requires replacement as it has reached the end of its useful life”.

Mayor Ian Tiley said councillors were “briefed prior to the meeting about the extent of the water leak and what it was costing us”.

“And it’s about the potential risks and safety concerns; that’s what motivated councillors to agree [with staff’s recommendation],” he said.

The Independent asked CVC, “Why did staff wait until the eve of the pool’s opening (September 17) to advise councillors of the problems given … [that] staff advised councillors in October 2021 that … action for the redevelopment of the Grafton Olympic pool is needed urgently in order to address increasing safety and maintenance concerns, as well as potential pool failure, [etcetera]?”

CVC responded: “Clarence Valley Council is delaying the opening of the Grafton Olympic Pool until a further report goes to Council on 27 September.

“The current councillors were first fully briefed by staff on the issue at a workshop held in March.

“Another briefing was held prior to the 23 August meeting.

“Council understands the delay is an inconvenience to numerous clubs, community groups and residents who utilise the facility every summer.

“Fortunately, people can use the South Grafton Indoor Pool which is less than 5km away and will continue to operate seven days a week.”