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GOLDEN Square Pool's volunteers and committee of management has welcomed the possibility of operating for another four years.
But pool president Sam Kane said the organisation was still seeking advice and clarification on aspects of the recommendations to council.
Proposals for financial and maintenance support were among things he said the pool's management committee wanted to know more about.
Mr Kane said the recommendation the pool's lease be extended was affirmation of almost 10 years of tireless work and campaigning.
"We feel we have passed every test that the City of Greater Bendigo has placed upon us and proven we have the capacity to operate, and have a viable model for this space that is sustainable for the future," he said.
He said the Golden Square Pool was committed, had a plan, and had community support.
"Now, we just need the certainty," Mr Kane said.
"We would welcome councillors putting their faith in us as an organisation and show that they, too, appreciate the community hub we have spent countless hours building."
Earlier
THE City of Greater Bendigo has recommended the Golden Square Swimming Pool remain open for a further four years.
Councillors will decide whether to pursue that path during Wednesday's meeting in the Bendigo Town Hall.
It comes as Golden Square Pool seeks to repair staff and store rooms damaged by a fire in January.
A report to councillors, included in this month's meeting agenda, put the estimated cost of repairs between $70,000 - $80,000.
City staffers have recommended councillors enable an insurance claim to be processed.
Golden Square Pool would have to cover the $20,000 excess.
The pool received a two-year reprieve in February 2018, following community outrage at suggestions it be closed when the Gurri Wanyarra Wellbeing Centre opened.
Council was due to revisit the decision in April 2020, after monitoring the success of the outdoor pool seasons from 2018 - 2020.
Some of the information the council would have needed to bring the decision forward a month was not available, city staff noted.
They recommended the pool continue to be managed by Golden Square Pool Incorporated for the next four years.
City staff suggested council take on responsibility for asset maintenance and provide $35,000 a year in annual funding.
It was recommended the pool be closed earlier than four years in the event of asset failure resulting in more than $20,000 worth of repairs or replacement.
Master planning for the reserve and designs for "alternative community facilities to support community needs" ought to be finalised within four years.
The Golden Square Pool already has a four-year strategy for the pool's future.
The Golden Square Football Netball Club has already expressed frustration at the time taken to decide the pool's future, which it said was affecting its ability to plan for upgrades.
Story continues below meeting agenda
City of Greater Bendigo staffers noted in their report that some of the pool's infrastructure was approaching or past the end of its expected design life, necessitating "increasing maintenance or ultimately replacement".
"In addition to the asset condition, standards of construction have changed with some pool infrastructure no longer meeting industry expectations," the report said.
It acknowledged $31,300 worth of works Golden Square Pool had undertaken to allow the facility to continue operating and "improve the aesthetic appearance of the facility".
However, city staff said some long-term concerns had not been addressed, many of which "involve significant cost and are likely to go beyond the capacity of a volunteer group to fund or deliver".
They included concerns for the ongoing integrity of the pool shell.
"Golden Square Pool is approaching the end of this theoretical asset life," the report said.
However, they said the Golden Square Swimming Pool was not alone in that respect.
"Many of the city's aquatic facilities are approaching end of life, do not meet legislative requirements such as the Disability Discrimination Act and have water turnover rates of more than four hours," the report said.
"Rectifying these issues will have a significant impact on the council's long-term financial plan."