Changes to pool seasons across the former Palerang local government area has left residents of the outlying communities feeling like “second class” citizens.
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Pools at Bungendore, Braidwood and Captains Flat will be open for a reduced season as council tried to recoup costs involved in maintaining the “essential” hubs.
Residents at Captains Flat in particular are furious after council decided to close their pool before the busiest time of year without consulting the community.
Kerenza Brown has lived with her family at Captains Flat for nine years.
She said she felt like it was the council’s first step “on the road to closing down services” in her community.
She said she was devastated to hear the pool would only be open from November 28 to January 29.
“What they’ve done for Captains Flat is effectively cut the season in half,” she said.
“[The council has] no understanding of what we need, and when the pool actually gets used.”
According to council’s website, the last pool season for Palerang pools was from October 31 through to March 13.
Each pool was open from midday to 7pm, and an hour earlier throughout the school holidays.
Ms Brown said the “sledgehammer approach” was appalling.
“It is sending a message to the former Palerang council areas that ‘we don’t care about your communities, about your services and your needs’.”
“It has a huge community impact and there's a lot of suspicion around that this is the beginning of the end for Captains Flat swimming pool,” she said.
A Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council spokesman said council staff looked at a number of options for the three pools.
“To ensure a safe environment for staff and customers, a number of upgrades were recommended, including the increase in staff from one to two. This comes with an additional cost and, mindful of existing budget pressures, staff recommended measures that limited the financial impact,” the spokesman said.
He said having one staff member does not meet council’s operational obligations for providing a safe environment for staff and patrons.
The spokesman said the timing of the review and the impending season meant council needed to make urgent decisions.
