Wingecarribee Shire Council Administrator, Viv May, has issued a strong call for realism in the Shire’s future planning, criticising past approaches to infrastructure development.
Mr May has dismissed claims that existing facilities, such as the Bowral Swimming Centre, can be upgraded to meet the Shire’s needs, including suggestions to simply reopen Mittagong Pool.
Council has invested $84,000 in developing a business case for potential solutions and Mr. May suggested those putting forward populist solutions should read the report.
“Whilst the business case recommends the closure of the Bundanoon and Bowral Pools (basically because they are nearing the end of their useful life) he noted that further consideration of this was at least a decade away”, said Mr May.
Mr May conceded that the $100M plus price tag for a new Regional Aquatic Centre and Multipurpose Indoor Sports Facility would be a challenge but suggested that over the years, Council had lost far greater sums through unfulfilled promises of developer
contributions, which should have funded essential community facilities years ago.
He emphasised the Shire’s historical lack of strategic planning and the need for a realistic and future-focused approach to ensuring that the community has the infrastructure it deserves now and into the future.
“For too long, this Shire has operated in a strategic planning void,” Mr. May said. “It’s time to be realistic about our community’s needs.
Landowners, developers and builders have benefited at the expense of community infrastructure”.
Council is currently seeking public input on a business case for a new Regional Aquatic Centre and Multipurpose Indoor Sports Facility. This follows concerns about the age and condition of existing facilities and the growing demand for contemporary recreational spaces.
The Administrator urged residents to carefully consider the business case and the challenges facing Council in providing essential infrastructure while meeting the demands of increased housing development.
“We cannot repeat the populist mistakes of the past,” Mr. May warned. “No development should occur without appropriate infrastructure planning.”
The public exhibition period for the Aquatics Plan, Business Case for a Regional Aquatic Facility and Business Case for a Multipurpose Indoor Sports Facility runs until September 29, 2024.
