These are a public asset, and should be maintained just like any other public area. 

For example the Hargreaves Mall, Bull Street precinct and the Botanical Gardens. None of these make any attendance income and yet there is no question about keeping these areas open.

 Unfortunately the council suggested that the committee of management at the Golden Square pool fold several years ago, and the running of the Golden Square pool has been tendered to the YMCA.

 Over the past few years, there has been a clear lack of commitment at the pool, as it was run by paid employees who didn’t have the same compassion for the facilities as the local community did. 

It seems Golden Square and Long Gully pools may have been closed due to “lack of attendance”. The daily opening hours were steadily reduced over the years.

 Local residents have reported the pools were not being opened on time, or at all on some days, turning families away. 

The Long Gully pool season was only one month last summer, and the Golden Square season was shortened due to poor water quality at the start of its season.

 Therefore why has the attendance at these pools been compared to other Bendigo pools by just the number of people through the gate? 

I would have thought that also comparing the number of hours open should have been taken into consideration? 

The Save Our Golden Square Pool group will be asking for expressions of interest for committee members at the community meeting on Monday, February 18, at 7.30pm upstairs at the Golden Square Football club rooms.

Hopefully we can follow the footsteps of White Hills Pool and Chewton Pool.

Linda Howell,

Golden Square