Diary of a Flood Survivor Grafton forced to wait for 50m pool

By TIM HOWARD

A move to build a 25m pool and splash pool ahead of the 50m pool has dismayed members of the Grafton swimming community.

It was quite the experience turning up to the launch of the film Tinny Heroes at the local hall. I’d say more than the population of the town was there, although I know a few people who weren’t because they still feel the rawness of the flood.

The film was very cathartic. While it was a poignant reminder of what happened 12 months ago and the risk many people took to save others, there were some very light-hearted moments which gave release to the audience as they laughed at some of the circumstances that had happened.

Let me just say I will never look at a meat cleaver in the same way.

For a town to go through what my town has been through and come out laughing, almost makes me cry with pride.

Despite the commemorations of the 12 months taking place, life still goes on and hubby and I were up on the Gold Coast for his back surgery.

For the last couple of years he has suffered from back pain due to spurs on his vertebrae. One of the biggest issues he had during the floods was dealing with the pain, while lifting and throwing out our sodden furniture and belongings.

Then, as rebuilding took place, he was always being told (by me) to leave the heavy stuff alone because I could see the pain he was in.

Finally, he has been able to get the surgery we have waited so long for. Now it’s on to rehab.

Little steps.

Plans to build a new Grafton Aquatic Centre after the shock permanent closure of the Grafton Olympic Pool last September rocked the community, hit a further setback in January.

The Department of Regional NSW, rejected a proposal from the Clarence Valley Council to transfer an $11.1 million Bushfire Local Economic Recovery grant from the Treelands Drive Community Centre to the aquatic centre.

The council had been confident the proposal would succeed and had included the transferred grant in the pool funding strategy, which totalled $24 million.

The rejection forced radical changes in the funding strategy, which included a change in the timeline for the project, which came to last Tuesday’s Clarence Valley Council meeting for approval.

Not all councillors were happy with the decision and questions were asked about the need to delay construction of the 50m pool, when it was the structure the community most wanted to see built first.

Cr Peter Johnstone, who has always advocated a staged development, beginning with construction of the 50m pool, was the most vocal in debate.

He said the Grafton community wanted a 50m pool first and not a 25m pool or splash pool.

Cr Johnstone was also concerned borrowing for the aquatic centre would require council to pay big interest bills, bringing up a figure of $17 million in borrowings should the council be unable to find grants for the project.

But Cr Karen Toms said such figures were just “scaremongering” and the council staff had adequately explained the need for changes in the construction timeline.

The council’s director Works and Civil, Jamie Fleeting, said one of the key issues was the safety on the worksite.

He said the 50m pool was proposed for the site of the current waterslide and the instability of the ground around the current 50m pool would create safety hazards for workers.

After councillors endorsed the updated project timeline and funding strategy, council general manager Laura Black explained what would happen.

She said it was important for the community to know there are a number of reasons why staff recommended the adopted staging of the project, including being the scenario that returns services to the community as early as possible.

“The indoor facility as part of Stage One will be located on the site of the existing pool infrastructure. It can be opened while construction of the outdoor pool is underway because construction access from Turf Street can be separated from public access to other facilities,” Ms Black said.

“If the outdoor pool was constructed first, for safety reasons it could not be opened to the public while the Stage One works including preconstruction earthworks took place adjacent to it. In addition, there would be no access to amenities.

“The indoor facility includes two heated pools that once opened can stay open all year round.”

Mr Fleeting said the staged approach would allow a contractor to deliver Stage One and Stage Two in a seamless fashion.

“This recommendation maximises council’s opportunity to secure grant funding for Stage Two - being the 50m pool and grandstand,” Mr Fleeting said.

“The contract facilitates sufficient time to secure potential grant opportunities for a period of up to three months after the contract is awarded.

“Progress on Stage Two and Three will be subject to either forthcoming grants, Council loans or a combination of both, and this will be reported to Council for confirmation before August 2023.”