Report justifies pool closure, says Holstein

Cr Chris Holstein has released a report prepared in January 2002 by consultant Geoff Ninnes in response to claims that the Woy Woy Memorial Olympic pool was closed prematurely.

Gosford Council voted at its meeting in April last year to close the pool because of the occupational health and safety requirements.

The pool had been operating in its current state for many years but, when Council took over management of the pool in 2002, the report found a number of problems with the facility.

Cr Holstein said that in 1994 a report found it was leaking 15 000 litres a week, the 2002 report found this had doubled to 30 000 litres a week.

"All pools leak, but this was a large amount of water leaking.

"One side of the pool had settled," he said.

"The pool's system was failing.

"Sand was being fed back into the pool.

"The chemicals were being hand dosed into the pool.

"That is against occupational health and safety requirements.

"It should be done mechanically.

"The concrete had cracks in it.

"The filtration system was seven years past it use by date.

"On hot days, the pool couldn't cope.

"The water literally 'went off'.

"It would have cost $1.1 million to rectify these problems and would have extended the pool's life for only a short term," he said.

Cr Holstein said the site was in a dilapidated state and he wanted something that would have lasted the community 40 to 50 years.

"Some individuals don't want change.

"In a community, you have to have the foresight to bring them the future facility that they deserve," he said.

Cr Debra Wales said that the pool should never have been demolished.

It should have been repaired.

"I remember when the pool was opened," she said.

"The pool has leaked from day one.

"It didn't need to be demolished.

"It's a community facility.

"We could have had that pool all summer," she said.

Cr Wales said that Council had already received a letter of warning from the EPA regarding sound levels at the proposed new pool.

It warned that if complaints were received once the leisure centre was established, council may have to retrofit soundproofing, which would cost more money.

"It's a debacle everywhere they go," she said.

"They've ignored that and put council in an even more embarrassing position."

Cr Holstein said that the first acoustic report only assessed the impact based on an empty block of land, and that further reports concluded that the centre would not generate excess amounts of noise.

"We've moved the whole thing inside to ameliorate that.

"The old pool used to be outside," he said.

Cr Holstein said he did not believe the pool would generate noise beyond EPA guidelines and a subsequent retrofit would not be required.

"There will always be someone who will have a problem with the development."

Alison Branley, February 19