Furthermore, more than three years ago (February 2012) a majority vote by the (then) council voted in favour of installing the desired and necessary 50-metre pool for this futuristic health investment for the rapidly expanding City of Greater Bendigo. 

Given that a partially changed council has now reneged on the former decision and is mistakenly looking at reducing the favoured and necessary pool size to cater for the expectations of the patronising public, it raised the question of how much credibility Bendigo residents should now give to any decisions and voting power of the council at any given time.

Once a major project has been fully discussed, the public listened to, followed by a majority vote taken and it is on the council books, should the project not remain a valid decision to be proceeded with?

With respect to the “saving” of $4 million on a proposed $30-million-dollar project by installing a less-than-optimum sized pool, this a clear demonstration of being “penny-wise, pound foolish”.

The $4 million would probably not be saved, but could be expected to exacerbate a greater loss of revenue, as a discerning public and schools refuse to patronise the less desirable centre.

At present, there is $15 million dollars on the state government table.

This funding is understood to be on a dollar-for-dollar basis. Any proposed $4 million “saving” by the council, therefore, could be expected to incur a similar reduction from the government grant, resulting in an overall $8 million shortfall. 

In the meantime, a concerned public would undoubtedly appreciate being given an explanation by the council as to the validity, or otherwise, of an earlier majority decision by the then council in 2012 to proceed with the desired 50-metre pool at the proposed Aquatic and Wellness Centre.

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