Peninsula deserves new leisure facilities

I felt I had to respond to the comments made concerning the Peninsula Regional Leisure Centre (Peninsula News, November 18).

Firstly, the only part of the facility that the EPA's Industrial Noise Policy applies to is the plant room and filtration plant and the EPA have confirmed that in writing several times.

The mechanical equipment will comply with the policy, as it should.

The independent assessment of the noise issues agreed that two of the 138 original conditions were excessive.

The change to the building to include an indoor 50 metre pool was made over 12 months ago when it was advertised and the few submissions addressed.

Noteworthy is that the main change was to move the 50 metre pool inside to maximise year-round usage and reduce noise from the outdoor component.

Council's normal planning processes were followed.

This was also after a consultant's report showed the existing outdoor pool required nearly $1.5 million to repair it.

The cost difference between a new 25 metre and 50 metre indoor pool was about the same as the cost to fix the old one.

Let's not forget the old grandstand, which needed $600,000 in repairs to make it safe.

As for delays, this is not about funding. The funds for the centre are secured.

The decision to go ahead was because State Government assistance with the related road works was anticipated It's a state funded road.

The State Government's recent announcement on a further $600,000 for the project shows that it too recognises the benefits to the community from the new centre.

Accusations of ramming the report through are laughable after six years of planning and consultation.

For the comments of not allowing a councillor to have a site inspection.

One must ask where has that councillor been for the last four years, with every meeting open for their attendance and input, yet they were a "no show".

The councillor missed the boat.

Claims that the new centre will cost Council a bomb are ridiculous.

The old pool cost Council over $100,000 a year to run, leaked thousands of litres of water per day and was heated with a coal-fired boiler.

It was past its use-by date and the people of the Peninsula deserve better.

So early in the New Year work will start for the Peninsula to have a 50m indoor heated pool, an indoor heated leisure pool, warm water exercise pool, indoor children's play area, a spa, a sauna and steam room, a gymnasium and exercise room, a cafe, an indoor basketball-netball hall, a creche and easy access throughout for people of all abilities

And all of this 12 months of the year

The centre will be home to a basketball club, netball dub, swimming clubs and the water polo club and will quickly become a focus for the Peninsula community.

If that's not what the Peninsula deserves then I don't know what it does deserve!

Chris Holstein, Councillor