A GRASSROOTS community campaign is under way to revive plans for the construction of a multi-million dollar indoor pool and recreational centre in Mount Gambier.
This follows a small working group – consisting of representatives from different sporting codes – being formed to push the stalled project forward.
It is hoped the fledgling group can broker a provisional agreement between the tennis, netball, basketball and swimming clubs to make an indoor multi-sport centre finally become a reality at Olympic Park.
While talks are only in their infancy, proponents remain optimistic the Pioneers and the Mount Gambier Basketball Association could be lured into being part of a central new state-of-the-art centre.
Although indoor pool proposals have been investigated by Mount Gambier City Council, the project remains in limbo due to its estimated $25m building expenditure and its hefty ongoing operational costs.
Working group spokesperson Nathan Stratford said yesterday he hoped the sporting groups could come together to make an indoor recreational centre a more viable option for council.
Mr Stratford – who has pushed the issue into the spotlight ahead of this month’s state election – said there was an overwhelming need in the community for a first-class recreational centre.
He said the group had representatives from the Mount Gambier Netball Association, the Blue Lake Y Swim Club, Mount Gambier Swim Club, Peter Collins from the Mount Gambier Aquatic Centre, as well as an individual with an association with the basketball sporting sector.
“We want to get all the sporting groups – which have an interest in this area – to start talking together so we can then as a united front approach council,” the centre proponent said.
He said this collective support could help get the project over the line by making the proposition more attractive to council.
“Tennis and both basketball groups have shown some positive intent towards it, but they have not had enough time to consider what we are doing,” Mr Stratford explained.
“This is really just taking the baby steps at this stage.”
Mr Stratford – who is associated with a swimming club – said the project needed to be progressed “sooner rather than later” given multiple sporting sites, management groups and separate costs were not ideal.
“If we can get everyone together to create a world-class or Australia-class facility, that would be in the best interests of everybody.
“Given the size of our city and the population drawcard around the region, we are big enough to have this facility,” he said.
The group is particularly buoyed incumbent Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell has made an election commitment for a $10m sporting fund to get the project off the ground.
Mount Gambier Netball Association secretary Yvette Holmes – who is a member of the working group – said better facilities, including indoor courts, were needed.
“If we have better facilities, we might attract more players and offer more competitions through the season,” Ms Holmes said.
“We might have the potential to run competitions 12 months of the year.”
She explained the association attracted 680 players.
Meanwhile, Mr Collins said an indoor pool was needed due to the school swimming lessons being at capacity and people wanting aquatic rehabilitation not limited to just six months of the year.
Importantly, he said it would also allow the swim clubs to train all year round.
Mr Collins said patrons were continuing to raise the issue of the indoor pool.
Mount Gambier Mayor Andrew Lee said council would welcome talks with the working group on the issue and thanked the committee members for their groundwork.
“This is an issue that has been raised over the past two decades and it will never go away unless it is addressed head on,” Mr Lee said.
But he said council grappled with the issue of the estimated $25m building costs as well as ongoing operating and maintenance costs.
The mayor said the community also had to weigh up whether it could afford the upward pressure on rates due to the facility, similar to the Mount Gambier Library.
Mr Lee said the issue of the indoor pool “may” be raised by council in the future.
