By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Casey Council has announced a stay-of-execution for Doveton Pool in the Park, opting for public consultation before deciding the pool’s fate.
After a wave of public outrage, Casey administrators withdrew a motion on 16 March to replace the 52-year-old Olympic-sized pool with “public open space”.
In an alternate motion, they proposed a round of community engagement on the issue.
The motion noted the council’s commissioned experts’ findings that “an aquatic facility is not a priority” for the site and there was instead a need for more parkland in Doveton.
Administrators chair Noelene Duff told the meeting that “these decisions are difficult decisions for councils”.
She said the council had to look at the infrastructure demands across the “whole of City of Casey” – considering also the “newer parts” of Casey.
Upon visiting the pool, she found “a building in decay, a pool in decay”.
“It’s also an incredibly constrained site physically.”
To consider investing in a pool upgrade, the council had to be “quite convinced of the potential use leveraged off that particular investment”.
Administrator Cameron Boardman, a former competitive swimmer, noted “fondly” a “profoundly similar” situation when an ageing, unheated outdoor pool in Frankston North was on the chopping block.
He said “strong” community feedback led to the pool’s renovation and ongoing survival.
“We do want to hear from everybody.
“And we do want to assure that when we do make a decision that it will be in the longest-term best interests as possible of the community as a whole … with all the information at hand.”
In the lead-up, Doveton Eumemmerring Township Association (DETA) vigorously opposed the proposed pool closure. Local MPs Julian Hill, Luke Donnellan and Gabrielle Williams had also voiced concerns.
In a statement, DETA accused council officers of trying to “blindside” the community and push through the demolition “unchallenged”.
“At short notice the Doveton community has stood up and comprehensively sent a message to Council.
“To achieve more than 2000 petition signatures in a few days is truly an astonishing feat and testament to the importance of our pool.”
It noted the council hadn’t ruled out an option of replacing the pool.
“We are confident that if a genuine community consultation is undertaken it will reiterate that the ‘No Pool’ proposal is not something the community wants or will accept,” DETA stated.
“We hope that we can move beyond this difficult last week and work with Council to find a way forward for the site that incorporates a community pool in some form.”
DETA chair Sean Balfour said support from residents in nearby suburbs showed the outdoor pool was also valued across Casey.
The group had been “overwhelmed” by offers to donate, letterbox and petition for the campaign.
DETA vice-chair Joshua Oostwoud said many schools and community groups used the pool for swim trials and tournaments.
“A well-supported Doveton pool will avoid overcrowding at other pools in the outer southeastern region, benefit the local economy and boost our community’s sense of social cohesion.
“Many people in this region rely on public transport and need amenities and facilities that are close to home; this postcode must retain its community pool.”
According to a Casey Council report, the Doveton outdoor pool was an “over provision of aquatic facilities and services” which lost $190,000 from July 2019-March 2020.
The report stated that Doveton-Eumemmerring’s 12,347 population was too small to justify a $40 million redevelopment including an indoor pool.
It instead recommended a $4 million option for free water-play equipment in a park and social gathering space.
This would address an undersupply of “district level” parkland in Doveton, including potentially dog off-leash areas, vegetation, barbecues and play space.
The report also rejected a proposal from Doveton College and Our Place to relocate Doveton Library to the site, with a new 25-metre ‘indoor-outdoor’ pool, fitness centre, kitchen, allied health offices and meeting rooms.
There were sufficient council community facilities in Doveton, as well as “accessible” aquatic alternatives such as Dandenong Oasis, Casey ARC and several learn-to-swim programs, the report stated.
An outdoor pool at Noble Park Aquatic Centre was within 7 kilometres away.
The report noted that Doveton’s pools were only open during days of or above 30 degrees Celsius in December-March.
It attracted 3717 casual visitors and 15,190 during swimming carnivals in the 2019-’20 season.
By 2026, a further $1.94 million would be required to maintain the pool, let alone upgrade it, the report stated.
The Doveton Pool in the Park – the only outdoor pool in Casey – is listed as a locally significant heritage site.
It was built in 1968 after a spate of drownings in Eumemmerring Creek. Residents reportedly raised funds and lobbied Shire of Berwick for the pool.
The council raised extra funds for the project with a charge on industrial ratepayers.
