Liam McNally
As the Moorabool community continues to wait on federal funding to provide an indoor pool for the area, some residents have expressed frustration at the opening times of the current outdoor pools.
Moorabool council has two outdoor pools – one in Ballan and one in Bacchus Marsh. They are open from December 2 to March 10 each year, but their opening hours heavily favour families with school-age children. The operating hours for the pools are 3.30pm to 7pm on weekdays, and 11am to 7pm on weekends and school holidays. The pools only open if the weather is forecast above 23 degrees, and open an hour later if forecast above 35 degrees.
Lauren Crotty is a Darley mum of a toddler who said the pool times are “boxing out certain members of the community who would otherwise use the facilities”.
“In the last couple of weeks there were a few days where we could have gone to the pool and they had something to do locally but because of the opening hours we were stuck at home,” she said.
Ms Crotty said she also has another family member with an acquired brain injury and part of his therapy is to go swimming every day.
“During the summer, he could actually do that here instead of having to travel to Melton every single day,” she said.
“Some days, he can feel a little bit dizzy, and so he’ll have to miss out. If he was local, I could easily pick him up, drop him off and then pick him up again.
“Also with the cost of fuel, it does end up being more expensive, but also for people who don’t have cars and then also elderly people… who still want to be able to go for a swim on a hot day.”
One resident took to Facebook to express frustration at the current set-up, encouraging residents to write to council to encourage it to consider extending the hours.
“How does the pool in Bacchus Marsh not open on a 35 degree day until 3:30pm?” she said.
“Don’t mums and dads with small children have the right to take their kids swimming, older people that would like to cool down?
“We pay enough rates for them to open a pool.”
The post garnered 230 comments, with many people venting similar sentiments.
Moorabool Council was contacted for comment.
