Gunnedah shire mayor Colleen Fuller has described the controversary over the town pool as one of the most unique in her two-decade career with local government.
“In my 22 years on council I’ve never seen anything come to us like this,” mayor Fuller said.
It follows Gunnedah Shire Council’s decision last week to call for expressions of interest from external providers to manage operation of the Gunnedah Memorial Aquatic Complex.
The pool’s operation has faced renewed scrutiny in recent months amid uncooperative behaviour between user groups and million-dollar operating deficits.
Councillors were told the pool has a long history of poor behaviour by some user groups and their associates.
This “toxic culture” had forced council to introduce communication protocols and rosters to separate groups as well as the issue of warnings and bans.
Mayor Fuller said council had sought to resolve the conflict but with little success.
She explained how individual councillors had been approached about the matter who have endured significant emotional toll, as well as financial and reputational repercussions for council attempting to mediate these disputes.
“This is a very serious issue for Gunnedah Shire Council,” she said.
“It’s not pleasant for councillors or staff.
“The pressure on council has been enormous.”
The unresolved issues posed by user groups was in addition to a separate but significant financial burden borne by the pool operating as a community facility.
Council is forecasting the Gunnedah pool will be operating at a loss of up to $1.8 million per annum, over the next four years.
Moving forward, councillors were last week presented with three options to consider – no change to current arrangements, or council assuming full control of pool operation or outsourcing all operations to an external provider.
Following last week’s September ordinary meeting of council, where it was decided that council would call for expressions of interest for the pool operation, it was also agreed these EOIs be considered against the option of council fully managing the facility – including delivering key programs—such as learn to swim and swim coaching—through employment of its own staff.
Under the current arrangement, user groups and external providers deliver these programs independently.
Under the external operator model, it was proposed council would outsource all complex operations and engage an external operator to manage the complex under contract, including directly providing learn to swim and swim coaching provisions.
Councillor Robert Hoddle said the pool, while vital for the community, must be looked at on wholistic terms.
“We need to stop the escalation of loss and look at other options,” he said.
“We should call for expressions of interest as soon as possible.”
He named organisations such as PCYC or Surf Life Saving Australia who provide pool services in other areas and could be considered as potential operators in Gunnedah.
“There’s some merit in looking at this,” Cr Hoddle said.
Councillor Tammey McAllan said council would be “silly” not to consider the option for an external operator but said council’s operation of the facility was “not off the table” either.
Councillor Linda Newell was the only councillor to vote against the EOI proposal due to concern about “people’s capacity to access the pool” under an external provider model.
“I would hope we can keep it operated by council,” she said.
