By Ruza Zivkusic
BRIMBANK residents are prepared to once again dig deep into their pockets to ensure that Sunshine’s promised 25-metre outdoor pool is deep enough, according to Sunshine Residents and Ratepayers Association (SunRRA) president Darlene Reilly.
A feasibility study, recently completed by Brimbank City Council, is before the Sports Minister, James Merlino, who is yet to decide whether the State Government will fully support the pool, part of the one used during the recent FINA World Swimming Championships at Rod Laver Arena.
Ms Reilly said SunRRA would set up a trust fund to raise financial pledges from the community and local businesses if the Government decides to make the pool six feet (1.82 metres) deep.
She said the community wanted the pool to be at least nine feet (2.74 metres) deep.
“We don’t want to sound like we want more, we’re very happy to get a 25-metre pool, but it’s not going to serve the purpose that it was supposed to serve if it’s not deep enough,” Ms Reilly said.
The recently destroyed 50-metre outdoor pool in Sunshine was built in the 1960s thanks to residents raising 14,000 pounds for its establishment.
“We did it before and we can do it again,” Ms Reilly said.
“The fact is that we’re not appearing to get what we require.
“We have got this far and if we have to raise that extra bit of money to make it a deep water space and to get what we want, then that’s what we’ll do, “she added.
Brimbank mayor Margaret Giudice said council would welcome residents’ efforts but Councillor Miles Dymott said the Government or council should fund the project, not the residents.
“I don’t think that community fundraising should be necessary, and hopefully it won’t be,” Cr Dymott said.
Cr Giudice said: “We did have a council resolution at the budget time last year where we said that any further works at the pool site we would be looking for 100 per cent State Government funding.”
