Ranges
5 Tuesday, 11 November, 2014
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â– Report on Olinda icon overrides community interest ...
Pool packs up By MELISSA MEEHAN THE Olinda pool could be permanently closed with the pool structure, buildings and facilities demolished and removed early next year. The fate of the Olinda Pool is set to be decided tonight (Tuesday), with the community hopeful of a positive outcome despite all signs pointing at the closure. Council officers have recommended that the Yarra Ranges close the pool, and replace it with a district playground, half basketball court and barbecue facilities as well as a number of other proposals.
But the final decision will rest with councillors at tonight’s meeting. The pool has been closed since late last year, with the council citing irreparable cracks in the ageing pool. A report was prepared by council officers and found that a facility with declining public use, high subsidy costs and the minimum cost of $750,000 to repair the pool for future seasonal use was too high. Tonight’s recommendation also identifies new facilities being built in the area would affect the development of the Olinda Pool - including Ringwood Aquatic Centre, in the municipality of Maroondah.
It concedes that there is significant community interest in the project and a strong level of support for reopening the pool, but cites mixed local response. It says that Friends of the Olinda Pool and Save the Olinda Pool Group support the repair of the pool, but Dandenong Ranges Tourism and business leaders identified that the pool had reached the end of its life after serving the community for 50 years. Save the Olinda Pool spokesman Tim Moore said his group was obviously unhappy with the recommendation they were not surprised. “There is a pretty clear message
from the community that we want the pool re-opened,� Mr Moore said. “It doesn’t make sense that they would make that recommendation after community consultation, to be honest, we’re quite surprised.� He said the community support to keep the pool was evident from the recent community meeting held at the Olinda Hall. “We had 300 people come to the meeting, and we think we had consensus that the pool should be saved,� he said. “It’s not our fault the pool has been neglected by council for the past 10 years.�
But all hope is not lost; Mr Moore said that investigations were underway to see how the community could take over management of the pool. “There is a town called Chewton, near Castlemaine, that had the same fight as us to save their pool,� he said. “And as a community they took over the management of their pool, and have seen an increase visitation to the pool.� While it’s another option, Mr Moore said a number of councillors had been supportive of their fight to save the pool, and hoped they would vote against the recommendation.
Budding gardeners are beaming award winners dents attending a specialist environment class every week. The garden program has been running since 2009 and has already received several awards, including a prize for outstanding continuous achievement last year. The school has progressed to the state finals, which will be held at the Royal Botanic Gardens on 26 November. No matter what the result, Michelle says the environmental education program at the school will remain strong. “We’re teaching that the garden is a continuous and sustained effort. It needs constant care and attention and the kids really take pride in that.�
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From left, Dylan, 12, Angus, 12, Sage, 12, and Lachie, 12 from The Patch Primary School are all-smiles after their garden was selected a finalist. 129798
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BUDDING gardeners at The Patch Primary School are bloomin’ excited about their awardwinning garden program. The primary school is a finalist for the Eastern Metropolitan Region in the School Garden Awards, presented by the Nursery and Garden Industry of Victoria and the education department. The award recognises a garden that was designed, built, planted and is now cared for by Grade 5 and 6 students. The project attracts wildlife, facilitates outdoor learning and includes a meditation space and soundscape. Assistant principal and en-
vironmental educator Michelle Rayner said that students were involved in the entire process, which focused on sustainability in gardening. “They completely designed the garden and chose what features they wanted. They learn Japanese and decided to incorporate an element of that into the design. “The Grade 5s and 6s have taken extraordinary ownership of the garden and show a great amount of pride in their work. There are multiple learning outcomes with a project like this.� Environmental studies take a significant role in the school’s curriculum, with stu-
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By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM