Council to consult communities after major pool review and recommendations Myall Coast Myall Coast - popup ad Myall Coast News by News Of The Area - Modern Media - November 1, 2023 The Y’s operating times are updated weekly, via this paper and social media: Closed Sundays and Thursdays, open different hours on different days. MAJOR waves emanated from the recent MidCoast Council-commissioned LGA-wide review into swimming pools, with newly adopted recommendations requiring direct community consultation. MidCoast Council’s nine swimming pools – Forster, Gloucester, Taree, Wingham, Krambach, Tea Gardens, Nabiac, Bulahdelah and Stroud – all received suggested operational changes that Council hopes will make them more sustainable and safer into the future. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au “Pool usage figures, costs, and safety were examined during the review, and the Royal Life Saving Society also conducted independent safety audits of each pool,” a MidCoast Council spokesperson said. Adopted recommendations include opening and closing all outdoor pools in line with Eastern Daylight-Saving Time, rather than with school holiday dates, subject to agreement with pool operators, and fees and charges will be introduced across all pools. Management of pools at Bulahdelah, Nabiac, Stroud, Tea Gardens and Wingham will be offered to either a community group or small operator. Recent community meetings in Tea Gardens have shown widespread displeasure with the pool’s management under The Y NSW (part of an international organisation), most locals citing the Pool’s odd and ever-changing hours, closed most Sundays, and shut during recent busy holiday periods. “The Progress Association welcomes further consultation and greater detail with respect to a community group operator, and issues of concern include operational and insurance costs, risk management, and reliability,” a Hawks Nest Tea Gardens Progress Association spokesperson told NOTA. Invited to comment, The Y’s Trudy McEnearney has declined at this time. Historical lengthy explanations on The Y’s Tea Gardens Pool Facebook page have blamed staffing issues and availability. “We believe that community group managers or small operators will be able to meet the unique needs of their community better than larger operators, in smaller centres,” said Council’s Director of Liveable Communities, Paul De Szell. To this end, Council now seeks to undertake community consultation to understand the community’s preferred opening times at Gloucester, Stroud, Bulahdelah, Nabiac, Tea Gardens and Wingham pools. Community members interested in contributing to the discussion on pool hours are encouraged to go to https://haveyoursay.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/swimming-pool-operations-review to register their interest. By Thomas O’KEEFE Tea Gardens Pool closed mid-afternoon on a Saturday.
