A draft aquatic facilities strategy will be released for community feedback.

8.01pm

The council is now discussing a draft community aquatic facilities strategy.

The alternative motion on the Golden Square Recreation Reserve master plan was:

7.57pm

Cr Alden is summing up.

"I agree we are not conducting a popularity contest," she says.

She says the council is looking to achieve a collaborative response.

"Let's leave the politics aside and get the outcome that works for everyone," Cr alden says.

The alternative motion is carried

For: Councillors Alden, Flack, Fyffe, Metcalf, Pethybridge and Williams

Against: Councillors Emond, Hawke and O'Rourke against

7.41pm

An alternative motion has been put to council.

"The decision to be made is momentous," Cr Alden says.

She says the motion this evening is the way to address the flaws in the information and processes which shaped the previous recommendation, and to address what the community said it wanted.

Cr Metcalf says she hopes the user groups actually work together.

She believes the recommendation allows for the work to be done.

Cr Pethybridge is supportive of the alternative recommendation.

Cr Williams will be supporting the alternative motion and has congratulated Cr Alden on putting it forward.

"It's important this doesn't become a divisive issue," he says.

"Once this decision's made it's important that community come together."

Cr Flack is supportive of the motion, particularly retaining the pool.

"I've supported sport for well over 50 years. It's a pleasure to ensure Golden Square people are accommodated in retention of this pool," Cr Flack says.

Cr Emond says the concern he has is when it's run out of steam, it's gone.

He believes it's still like hitting a pause button.

"Out of all the retained and existing arrangements, I'd just like a definition of what that means," Cr Emond says.

He's raised uncertainty about what he'd be committing the community to. Cr Emond feels like it still results in a delay and holding the community back from reaching its full potential.

He won't support the alternative recommendation.

Cr Fyffe will support the alternative recommendation.

"It allows us to move forward by bringing people together," he says.

Cr Hawke still can't support the motion.

"It's still too many ifs, it's still too many buts," she says.

She says it would be great to bring everybody along with the journey, but there are going to be people that are unhappy.

"I just can't agree with it, sorry. I just don't think it's equitable when we've got pools either side," Cr Hawke said.

She believes the advantages of the pool can be maintained without the pool itself.

Cr O'Rourke says maybe there should be a master plan to maintain the pool.

"For me it's about risk," she says.

She says she cannot, "all good governance", agree to it.

Cr O'Rourke says she needs certainty about whether there is a need for a full master plan of a pool.

She can't support the motion without an amendment.

7.38pm

Cr Matt Emond is summing up.

"We fear another delay. We can avoid another delay," he says.

The motion is defeated.

In favour: Councillors Emond, Hawke, O'Rourke, Williams.

Against: Councillors Alden, Flack, Fyffe, Metcalf, Pethybridge.

7.27pm

Cr George Flack is not supportive of the recommendation. Nor is Cr Rod Fyffe, who spoke next.

We've come to the mayor's vote.

"The item before us has come to council on eight occasions in 10 years," Cr O'Rourke said.

It had been described to her as "the perpetual deferment."

Cr O'Rourke has acknowledged there will be disappointment no matter the outcome, and emotions are high.

Very clearly she heard option five - do nothing - was not an option.

"I will not be suggesting a deferral occur and it disappoints me this was put forward by the Member for Bendigo West," Cr O'Rourke says.

"More recently the precinct has developed into a community hub. It makes us realise how important a sense of community can be, if developed."

Cr O'Rourke says her role as a councillor is to make decisions for the whole community.

"In two options, I see the greatest merit - option 1 and option 3," she says.

She says neither is perfect, and there is significant risk in both options. That includes the Golden Square Pool remaining open for three years, as it would be able to, if Option 3 prevailed.

"On balance I feel the risks are too high," Cr O'Rourke says.

She is backing the recommendation to councillors.

7.25pm

Cr Williams says he came to the council meeting unsure how he would vote.

He was present for the first vote and has conceded the process that had transpired to date had some flaws.

He intends to vote for the recommendation.

"Basically a brand new facility" would be required, Cr Williams says.

He believes the responsible thing to do would be to put some certainty around it and move on.

7.21pm

Cr Alden is up now.

She says none of the discussion yet has acknowledged the changing needs of community during COVID-19.

The process of our decision making tonight is flawed, Cr Alden tells councillors.

She was concerned the recommendation before council pitted community against community.

"Is that what we want? I certainly don't want that for my community and I believe we can do better," Cr Alden says.

She believes Option 1 is a win-win option and says the achievements of the Golden Square Pool mean something to the community.

7.18pm

Cr Pethybridge says he will not support the recommendation on the grounds of the bowls and croquet club going to Backhaus Oval, which the city has not yet acquired.

He believes the oval is not affordable at the price last provided to the city.

"We don't belt the willing horse," Cr Pethybridge says.

"Wait until we find somewhere for the Golden Square bowls club or another football oval."

He believes the community should advocate for somewhere else.

"If everyone works together you'll get some outcome. This recommendation is a farce, as far as I'm concerned, so I won't back it."

7.11pm

Cr Metcalf is up now.

She believes what's before us tonight is "a mess", criticising the process since March.

Cr Metcalf has highlighted issues with the recommendation before the council, such as not knowing where the bowls club will be relocated to, the involvement of a parcel of land the city has yet to acquire, and an aquatic strategy coming before the council on the same night as this decision.

She says the relocation of the bowls and croquet club is where the council will need to focus its attentions.

Cr Metcalf is speaking to some of the Golden Square Pool's achievements.

"That is why I believe this pool deserves to be retained ongoing," she says.

She believes further work is required.

"I do support the retention of the pool in option 1," Cr Metcalf says.

7.05pm

Cr Susie Hawke believes many people have forgotten to look at the bigger picture in the community discussion about the future of the pool.

She has spoken in support of the aspects of the development proposed for the space.

"I know this option also means removing or finding other areas for the bowling and the croquet club but with the time that is factored into this whole plan I'm sure another facility will be found for those," Cr Hawke says.

"A really clear decision needs to be made tonight for all involved."

She says she thinks she's some fresh eyes and thinks she's very pragmatic in the way she makes her decisions.

Cr Hawke is responding to comments in Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards's letter.

She says she sees overwhelming benefits to the development outlined in Option 3.

Cr Hawke says there is a need to consider equity across the whole community.

"How long would these upgrades actually last?" she says.

She has questioned the wisdom of spending on the Golden Square pool when Gurri Wanyarra is nearby.

Cr Hawke has highlighted there are still three more seasons for the pool, if option three proceeds.

6.56pm

Golden Square Recreation Reserve discussion is starting.

Cr Emond says much of the discussion leading up to this meeting is about what is proposed to be removed, and not a lot about what the community will gain.

"So let's look at the facts," he says.

"The fact is a strong campaign has been run by the pool committee."

But he says that doesn't mean the pool's continuation ought to be prioritised.

Cr Emond is talking about the costs.

"The ambition of the pool is admirable, no-one can doubt that. But is it fair to keep it open?"

He is asking if the pool committee's ambitions are achievable and fair, and who would have to miss out.

Cr Emond says he has concerns about governance and community safety and a potential conflict of interest involving the pool's president, Sam Kane.

He says the recommendation to councillors is in line with other work the local government has done.

"We're here to make the hard decisions, at times," Cr Emond says.

"A decision that is substantial has not yet been made."

Cr Emond says the feasibility of the pool's continued operation remains in doubt.

"The fact is the result still comes out the same. Equity is not about having an oversubscription of swimming pools in one area at the expense of others," he says.

He's speaking to the benefits of what has been proposed for the space, if the recommended option eventuates.

"It is not a reflection on the passion and commitment of the community campaign," Cr Emond says.

He's critical of Maree Edwards for weighing in on the debate.

"Equity is not about the loudest voice," Cr Emond says.

"How long does the Golden Square community have to wait before these developments begin?"

Cr Emond has reiterated there are questions about equity and fairness and governance, and has put it to the council.

6.49pm

The proposed introduction of a 500 metre buffer along the boundary of the Eaglehawk Landfill is up next.

The proposed buffer would take the form of a design and development overlay.

More than 270 properties would be affected by the proposed buffer, Cr Metcalf said.

Cr Pethybridge says the buffer wouldn't make things worse. He agrees with Cr Metcalf on this one.

"It's not as bad as it looks, it's pretty good," Cr Pethybridge says.

Cr Williams has thanked everyone involved.

It's been unanimously carried.

6.44pm

Cr Matt Emond says the city needs a nimble budget, and that's what he believes this budget is.

He, too, has remarked that Bendigo is different to other regional Victorian cities, harkening back to Cr Metcalf's comparison.

He says a vote against the budget is a vote against the local projects it contains.

"There's a lot more to a budget than just one component," Cr Emond says.

He says it's a time when all levels of governments need to work together.

The state and federal governments have yet to release their budgets.

Cr O'Rourke is summing up.

"I think we need the flexibility of this budget - we will have to go deeper, I am sure," she says.

"We also have to be very open minded this could be a very different discussions in a number of months' time."

She believes the budget on the table is the fairest possible.

Cr Flack and Cr Metcalf are the only two councillors who voted against the budget.

The motion has passed.

6.37pm

Cr Malcolm Pethybridge is defending Bendigo's budget, especially in comparison with other regional cities.

Cr James Williams is also speaking in favour of the budget.

"I think we've got to be careful about how we actually deal with this," he says, talking about setting a precedent.

He's particularly addressing criticism of rates.

"The challenges lay ahead of us," Cr Williams says.

He believes it's a responsible budget, and one that will leave a new council in good stead.

6.31pm

Cr Jennifer Alden says a budget is telling about a council's priorities. She is supportive of the document proposed.

Cr Andrea Metcalf is not. She is comparing Bendigo's COVID-19 supports and guidance for residents to those of Geelong.

She's criticised Bendigo council for claiming the state government's supports as part of its own investment in assisting residents in the pandemic's aftermath.

Cr Metcalf has also criticised Bendigo council for its rate rise and questioned whether this was the right year to introduce new fees.

"I leave it up to the community to decide if we can do more," she says.

6.28pm

Cr Fyffe says it is important council keeps spending on the community.

"That's why I think we have done the right thing remaining with our two per cent rate increase," he says.

He says the community expects the council to provide services to support a fit, healthy life.

Cr Fyffe has commended the budget to his fellow councillors.

6.21pm

The 2020/21 budget is the first item on the agenda.

Cr O'Rourke says it is a flexible budget that will adapt, as needed, to the impact of COVID-19 on the community.

"We need to first fix people's health before we can fix the economy," she says.

She's running through elements of the support package, as well as capital works.

"The true, long-term impacts of COVID-19 are unknown and it is possible future budgets will have to make provisions for what we are experiencing," Cr O'Rourke says.

Related: Proposed Bendigo budget confirms deficit, rate rise, and support measures

She says council looks forward to a new normal, like everyone, and believes the budget on the table will support the community.

The city is forecasting a deficit, like other tiers of government.

It has also proposed a two per cent rate rise.

6.18pm

Declarations of conflict of interest: Cr Susie Hawke is declaring no direct or indirect conflict, but says she is mindful some might believe she has a personal interest due to her association with Bendigo East Swimming Club. She has sworn to make an objective decision, regarding the Golden Square Recreation Reserve master plan and the aquatic strategy.

Cr Rod Fyffe is making a similar statement, regarding being an idea of him being a life member of one of the user groups. He says he is not, and has sworn to make an objective decision.

6.17pm

Cr Fyffe is providing his councillor report.

He's encouraged people to keep hanging in and supporting each other through the pandemic, echoing the mayor's words.

6.10pm

We've moved to public question time.

The first question relates to the Golden Square Swimming Pool. Cr O'Rourke is discussing the costs associated with retaining the swimming pool.

She says it would be difficult to provide strategic justification for a bid for funding for something like the replacement of the pool shell.

The next two questions are from members of the executive committee of the Golden Square Senior Football Netball Club, regarding the Golden Square Recreation Reserve master plan.

There's been a further question regarding the provision of pools throughout Bendigo.

Cr O'Rourke's response to the query about pool provision pointed to the draft aquatic strategy that's also set to come before council this evening.

6.04pm

Bendigo mayor Margaret O'Rourke is speaking to the coronavirus pandemic.

She is urging people to be vigilant about testing and restrictions.

Cr O'Rourke says she had a COVID-19 test, herself, about a week ago. It came back negative.

"It also reminds me because it's negative it doesn't mean I'm immune from this," she says.

She has urged people to stay connected to doing what they love and the people that they love in a way that adheres to restrictions and makes them feel most comfortable.

"Caring for people and knowing we're cared for will help to provide great reassurance at this time," Cr O'Rourke says.

She's also spoken about the global pandemic's impact on local industries, taking the opportunity to assure hoteliers and moteliers the city will continue to advocate for the relaxation of restrictions when safe.

6.02pm

All nine councillors are present for this evening's meeting.

The opening motion is underway.

6pm

BENDIGO council has the opportunity to end 10 years of uncertainty about the future of the Golden Square Pool at this evening's meeting.

Councillors have been tasked with deciding the direction of a master plan for the broader recreation reserve.

The recommendation to councillors is to decommission the pool at the end of the 2022/23 season.

But an option that would allow for the pool to remain was the clear favourite among more than 1500 respondents to a survey conducted as part of the community consultation process.

Story continues below draft Golden Square Recreation Reserve master plan

Interest in the outcome of tonight's vote is high, but COVID-19 restrictions mean the public gallery will be empty.

The meeting is being broadcast online and via community radio.

A draft aquatic strategy is also on the agenda this evening, as well as the city's 2020/21 budget.

Tonight's council agenda

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