For many years there has been agreement that the Otway Shire and now the Colac Otway Shire would contribute 20% of the cost of major maintenance of the Lavers Hill swimming pool.  The pool at the Lavers Hill P-12 College is available for the use of students and for other members at times outside school hours. 

There is a similar agreement in respect of the Apollo Bay Pool but the relevant Council contribution is 40% rather than 20%.

In June 2003, when I was previously a Councillor, there was sufficient support for the contribution to be increased to 40% for the Lavers Hill Pool until 30 June 2005 with a cap of $5,000 per annum.  This was to be reviewed after 31/3/’05 in preparation for the period from 1 July 2005.

The review was not conducted until now.  As a result, Council’s contribution to the Lavers Hill Pool reduced back to 20% from 1 July 2005.

After being re-elected to Council in November 2008 I was appointed as the Councillor Representative to the Pool Committee.  With the support of the Committee and the Council, the contribution from the Council will be 40%, up from 20%, from 1/7/’10 with a cap of $10,000 per annum.  The cap will be indexed to keep up with inflation.  It is pleasing that this matter has now been resolved.

Please feel free to contact me on 5237-3196 if you would like to discuss this or any other Council matter.

To comply with the Councillor Code of Conduct I need to make it clear that these comments are my personal report. I am not speaking on behalf of the Council.