More details on hire fees for the public pool will go on exhibition, with the aim of giving user groups "further clarity" on the matter.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Gunnedah shire councillors agreed at their last meeting to put the extra information out to the public for 28 days.
It comes after the council's 2019/2020 fees and charges document was deemed "not specific enough" when it comes to open pool space that can't be roped off.
That document details the charges to hire a lane, a pool or the entire complex.
Read also:
However, infrastructure services director Jeremy Bartlett told the recent meeting, "it's been identified that further clarity [is needed]; in particular, relating to open pool space and whether or not this is for exclusive or non-exclusive use".
The new document breaks the cost down into cents per square metre per hour, billed in 30-minute increments.
According to council papers, "there will be no increase in cost to any party that currently books pool space" and the aim was simply "to provide clarity to those hiring space in the pool".
Mr Bartlett said: "The charge that essentially is being recommended here in this space is for the equivalent areas of how these user groups are actually booking the space right now."
The more detailed hire charges range from 1 cent/sqm/hr for non-exclusive use of an area in the 50m pool, to 4.7 cents/sqm/hr for exclusive use of an area in the 25m pool.
'It's pretty sad'
Councillor Gai Swain said the issue had been "the subject of several comments by people being quite irate about how much specific area they've got, and how much specific area the other users or particular industry has got".
"So I congratulate staff on actually putting it down on paper so ... we know what size we're talking about, but it's pretty sad when it comes down to discussion like this, isn't it, where people can't work together?" she said.
Councillor Ann Luke said she thought there had been "some lack of flexibility to meet [user groups'] needs".
"It's good that we're seen to get this issue resolved to have a maximum use of the pool for a wider group of people, which is great for our pool and great for the community," Cr Luke said.
All councillors voted in favour of putting the new costs breakdown on display.
Carolyn Millet
Based at The Northern Daily Leader, Tamworth, and Namoi Valley Independent, Gunnedah. Covering general news and features on community, council, arts, business, health, education, entertainment and rural matters.
Based at The Northern Daily Leader, Tamworth, and Namoi Valley Independent, Gunnedah. Covering general news and features on community, council, arts, business, health, education, entertainment and rural matters.
