Families in the small Burdekin towns of Dalbeg and Millaroo are up in arms after news that their local swimming pool is set to close.
The community from the remote Burdekin town, as well as neighbouring Dalbeg, met with council representatives on Monday night after a frosty back and forth between residents and officials.
One Dalbeg resident, Jon Petersen, said the plan to close the Millaroo pool had sparked outcry from parents concerned about their children’s safety, as well as other issues.
“Travel time and accessibility are a definite concern, but the other one is we’ve got an open water channel running down the road in front of our houses,” Mr Petersen said.
“For the kids, the pool is their best way to learn to swim safely, with their teachers at that pool.
Frustrated residents have turned out to hear from Burdekin Shire Council on Monday night in Millaroo.
“If it closes down, not everyone’s going to be able to take their child to another town for a lesson.”
At the Millaroo meeting representatives from Burdekin Shire Council, including mayor Lyn McLaughlin, informed a group of residents from Dalbeg, Millaroo and Clare that the pool, which is currently closed for winter, would not be reopening in the summer.
One attendant, Millaroo resident Jody MacDonald, said she’d left the meeting ‘disgusted’ after hearing the news.
“We were told that it wouldn’t be open again due to the standard of the pool. I guess everyone’s a little bit disgusted about how no one’s really been properly consulted about it,” Mrs MacDonald said.
Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Lyn McLaughlin. Picture: Alix Sweeney
“The school hasn’t been told. They still have swimming lessons booked in, which are government mandated. None of that’s actually going to happen now.
“We’re all very upset with how it’s been handled.”
In a response to queries from the Townsville Bulletin before the meeting on Monday, mayor Lyn McLaughlin said that safety concerns identified during an assessment by a third party in the council’s Burdekin Aquatic Facilities Strategy had recommended the pool to be closed.
“The decision to close the pool is a direct result of the risks identified, which necessitated immediate action to ensure the wellbeing of the public,” Ms McLaughlin said.
Millaroo pool now will not open again after closing for winter.
“In addition to the public safety concerns, the Strategy identified that the pool’s pebblecrete finish had reached the end of its useful life, the pool shell is ageing and the chemical dosing equipment needed to be replaced.”
She also said that council had gone to significant lengths to make sure impacted residents were aware.
“Planning for the public meeting has been undertaken with the Millaroo School. Council has also sent personal invitations to residents within the Millaroo pool catchment,” Ms McLaughlin said.
“The meeting has also been promoted via social media and a Facebook poll conducted to confirm the communities’ preferred meeting day and time.”