Residents dedicated to keeping the Glenorchy Pool open and running are furious at the ‘outrageous and disrespectful’ decision to drain it.
The 60-year-old pool was closed indefinitely after safety concerns – including a fault in the pool shell that was causing the pool to leak around 35,000 litres of water per day – were uncovered earlier this year.
Mayor Bec Thomas defended the move, saying that draining the remaining stagnant water, which had also become a haven for wildlife, was essential to eliminate potential risks to anyone entering the facility.
However, former alderman turned ‘independent community advocate,’ Kelly Sims strongly criticised the council’s decision to drain the pool, viewing it as a sign of disrespect.
“There is no evidence of the pool leaking,” Sims said.
Sims also highlighted the potential risks of draining the pool, including structural damage and environmental impacts.
“The risks that come with doing this are structural damage, especially if an in-ground pool. The surrounding ground water can cause collapse during drainage.”
“Draining it quickly or at all weakens the pool shell and accelerates interior cracking and overall facility deterioration due to drying out (especially if done in warmer weather).”
“If the pool really is leaking, which we’ve found absolutely no evidence of, we should be very concerned about the surrounding contamination of soil, the flowing waterway and nearby structures & buildings.”
“Depending on the chemicals, discharging it into our storm drains and waterways, it is likely to have serious environmental impacts.”
She has started a petition asking the government, who recently allocated $200,000 for the council to investigate the possibility of a pool recreation precinct, to provide a timeline for a new pool.
