No joy for small town pool users

DIMBULAH Pool users have had no joy in getting opening times extended or entry fees reduced after Mareeba Shire Council opted to stay with the status quo while it considers expressions of interest from four companies to manage its public pools and the Dimbulah Caravan Park.

A petition signed by more than 200 people called on council to reconsider a 65 per cent increase in entry fees which came into effect on 1 January. They also wanted extended operating hours and better facilities at Dimbulah, similar to those enjoyed at other pool complexes in Mareeba and Kuranda.

But a report to council advised that the entry fees of the three pools in the shire were reviewed in 2021 after a request by the contractor managing the facilities, and a decision was then made to standardise the fee structure across all of the three complexes.

“The operational cost of operating the Dimbulah pool is considerably higher than the Mareeba and Kuranda pools,” the report stated.

“Over the last three years, the average cost per swim for Dimbulah pool compared with Mareeba and Kuranda is 9 and 3.3 times respectively.”

Council was also advised that the Dimbulah pool had always had limited hours of operation, in large part due to the “very small patronage numbers and the associated cost of keeping the pool open”.

Figures showing use at all pools reveal that Dimbulah only had around 3000 users in 202122, compared to more than 10,000 for Kuranda and more than 20,000 at Mareeba.

In relation to opening hours, council was told a trial, proposed by the current leasee, for increasing those times had been underway since February.

“The trial hours of operation took effect 27 February 2023 and will deliver additional hours with an improved ‘spread’ to account for the various types of pool user. This trial should provide a measure of the Dimbulah community’s appetite for increased access to the pool facility,” the report stated.

Chief executive officer Peter Franks said that with the Expression of Interest (EOI) process underway, the operating methods of all the pools were under consideration.

“That may mean we can change things as well but it’s going through this process. We will see what happens once this new EOI has been dealt with and we go out to tender,” he said, adding that would determine what the management arrangements would be.

“But again, it gets down to the cost factor and the arrangements with the leasee.”

Deputy Mayor Cr Kevin Davies said he believed any consideration of extended opening hours should come down to “cost versus usage”.

“You can have a cost there as long as the usage is there – there’s no use having someone sitting there from 10am to say 3pm and not one single person turns up,” he said.

Cr Davies said it was important to ascertain what hours would attract the most usage, suggesting it could be blocks such as 6am-10am and 3pm-6pm.

Officers said that was the driving factor behind the trial and recommended no changes to hours of operation be made until after the EOI process had been completed.

Council has received four responses to its EOI request to manage the three pool facilities and the Dimbulah Caravan Park, with interim managers, Marlin Coast Swimming & Fitness, due to end its contract on 30 June.

Mr Franks will now short-list the EOIs, consult councillors, then invite them to provide a written tender. The winning tender will then be determined by the full council.

Students shoot for stars at NASA visit

STUDENTS at Mareeba State High School had the opportunity recently to be inspired by Vanessa Zepeda, who is currently working with NASA on the Perseverance rover searching for evidence of life on Mars.

Vanessa has worked with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory where she looked for evidence of life preserved in rocks and meteorites and is currently a junior scientist on the Mars Perseverance Rover mission that is looking for signs of life on Mars.

Organised by the Business Liaison Association, the 30 minute presentation by Ms Zepeda allowed STEM students in grade 9, 10 and 11 to get insight into STEM in university and the pathways it can take you on.

“Vanessa was visiting a number of schools to share her story about her journey from high school, to University and to working with NASA on the Perseverance rover searching for evidence of life on Mars,” head of department for science Jason Richardson said.

“She also explained to the students the science concepts behind her work and gave students advice about STEM pathways after high school.

“Giving regional students the opportunity to hear from working Scientists about the really interesting careers possible in STEM is really important to inform and inspire students to pursue their talents and interests.

“Students were really engaged by Vanessa’s story of growing up and how she ended up working with NASA on the Mars rover.”

Mareeba’s much-loved Bicentennial Lakes will receive a long-awaited face lift under Mareeba Shire Council’s Parks and Open Spaces Action Plan.

About the project

The Bicentennial Lakes Project will completely revitalise the Lakes, starting in the southern section between Rankin Street and Keeble Street, with some minor work in the northern section between Keeble Street and Granite Creek to improve the movement of water

In the southern section, the weirs will be removed, and the lakes will be filled to allow for more parkland A watercourse will remain, although it will be narrower to encourage seasonal rains to flow through into the northern section Water will no longer stagnate in a series of weirs The increased parkland will allow for the addition of a playground and outdoor facilities

Concept design

Community engagement

Council would like to invite residents, businesses and stakeholders to take part in the upcoming community engagement planned for the project The engagement will consist of on-site meetings and a survey seeking resident input to help prioritise the play and outdoor elements in the park.

We can't do it all, but with your help we will build a wonderful modern space for Mareeba families and visitors to enjoy For more information, visit Council's website and search, Bicentennial Lakes

Project benefits

Scan the QR Code for more information.