Published on 04 February 2025
Wednesday night I attended the first meeting of a community driven effort to support the rebuilding of our outdoor Olympic Municipal Pool.
I was not there in my role as Mayor but as a keen community member.
It was a fantastic first community meeting focused on supporting Council efforts to restore our much-loved outdoor pool precinct, particularly the 50-metre Olympic pool. The meeting was admirably led by Duncan Bates and Leonie Lomax, who set a clear and constructive tone from the outset. They emphasized that this will be a long process and called for the formation of an advocacy group to collaborate and advocate alongside Ccouncil for much needed funds.
Five key areas of focus were presented, highlighting the steps needed to achieve our shared goal. It was inspiring to see such high-calibre, highly professional community members eager to contribute, fully aware of the challenges ahead but nonetheless committed to working alongside Ccouncil. The passion and determination in the room was palpable, with many expressing their willingness to aid in numerous ways, including fundraising if necessary.
The professionalism and dedication of everyone in attendance left a lasting impression. It is heartening to see such a strong community-driven resolve to ensure that future generations will have the opportunity to enjoy this much-loved facility.
Forming the focus group is just the beginning, but with this level of ability and commitment to collaborate with Council, we are on the right path toward reopening our cherished outdoor pool complex in its entirety.
I feel immensely proud of our community, and a huge heartfelt thank you to all.
Mayor Cr Grace La Vella