There will be no further band-aid remedies for Hay’s 60-year-old John Houston Memorial Pool.
Hay is to get a new swimming pool after Council made the difficult decision last week to borrow up to $4million.
The alternative was coping with a leaking pool and handing back the $3million received under the State Government’s Multi-Sport Community Facility Fund for pool replacement.
General Manager, David Webb said Council had already been given an extended funding timeline of one year to expend the $3million funding.
“They are not prepared to extend beyond 2024/25 year and wish to see by late July (next month) confirmation of co-funding to allow the project to proceed,” Mr Webb said.
“A grant funding application for the swimming pool replacement was submitted under he Growing Regions Program in January, requesting $4.153million. We were advised late last week that Council unfortunately was unsuccessful.
“The total project cost is estimated to be $7million.”
“Council is able to afford the loan without cutting services, however, it will leave things very tight with no discretionary spending nor capacity to borrow in the future for other activities such as flood levee upgrade.
“Council would have to be disciplined in its budgeting.
“This (the loan) is the State Government’s preferred option.”
“The pool has been leaking for 20 years,” Cr Paul Porter added.
“We’ve been throwing good money after bad.
“I move we apply for the loan. This is an investment for our town.”
Mr Webb said tendering for the replacement pool should be deferred to the new Council, to be elected in September.
He expects construction to begin by Christmas which forms part of the funding agreement, but means there will be no pool for part of the next season.
“Best scenario would be to start in February after the school carnivals,” Mr Webb said.
Council resolves to apply for the loan with NSW Treasure Corporation (TCorp) and in the meantime to continue working on other grant applications to repay the loan.
Councillors all voted in favour of a motion by Cr Clarke to borrow the money, with exception of Cr Geoff Chapman who moved against it.
This article appeared in The Riverine Grazier, 5 June 2024.
