No crystal balls?
She's a bit of a 'conundrum' herself.
You’ve got to hand it to Alpine council’s deputy Mayor Cr Jan Vonarx, she certainly says what she thinks. I just have an issue with the way she seems to think on a lot of issues – and the rather hilarious way she expresses herself and barely disguises her anger.
Take her quote from today’s Bright Observer on the, er, complex issue of the Bright swimming pool. I think it suggests the very pro-Myrtleford councillor doesn’t haven’t much regard for those in Bright wanting a new indoor pool:
“I can’t see into the future if you’ll get your new pool or not, and there’s the conundrum.”
Comment:
Conundrum: (noun) riddle, especially with punning answer; hard question ~ source Oxford Dictionary.
Hmm, that seems to sum Jan up. I would suggest a councillor should be able to “see into the future” by at least telling us their opinion and what they hope to do. Otherwise it’s just speaking in “riddles” – and that’s a real conundrum!
I’ll take a wild guess though, and say that I think Cr Vonarx is against the idea of a new pool for Bright. So am I, but I’d like to think I explain myself better than that and don’t speak in riddles.
Promoting 'Beautiful Bright'.
Click 
The cost of the pool is one issue, but I believe the ongoing cost of running and maintaining the pool is the most important issue. Most pools run at a large loss (couple hundred thousand dollars) – thats if we build an indoor pool.
Perhaps the Shire is more concerned with the loss and how to fund it – given every rate payer complains about their rate charges at the moment.
I know – sack some of the over paid shire staff that only complicate things for people wanting to develop the town. That should save about $500,000 in salaries and benefits!
There’s been talk of a ‘levy’ on everyone’s rates to cover the annual costs, Andrew. As wrong as it sounds, that’s the level of thinking in there.
This next week or two is going to be very interesting. I think it’s building up to an imminent announcement and obviously Vonarx is outnumbered now that we’ve got the real retrogrades in control of council numbers.
You watch, I’m predicting they’ll get the big Govt grant that they wrongly applied for and, if they do, what do they do then? Well they have to go ahead with it of course.
Talk about the cart pulling the horse.
Just to qualify my last statement, my ‘guess’ on the councillors’ positions on the over-the-top pool proposal for Bright is as follows:
Pearce: All for it. Daryl’s a ‘nice guy’ but he basically supports the community bleeding the tourist industry dry and, of course, it’s for the kids!
Steven: All for it. He probably thinks it’ll boost tourism!
Cain : Yep. As long as it doesn’t affect her she’ll support it.
Keeble : He’s a school principal so, er, I guess he’d say ‘yes please’!
Roper : Probably against it, even though I’m sure he’d like one in Mt Beauty.
Vonarx : Clearly opposed to ANYTHING for Bright. But if it were in Myrtleford … ?
Mautone : Blows with the wind.
didn’t Mt Beauty upgrade their pool not so long ago? albeit outdoor pool. I have never been to their pool, but from all reports its fantastic.
Also – didn’t the Myrtleford pool receive an upgrade?
Yes, on both counts. But the annual net operating costs to council are only about $65,000 each. A heated indoor pool would have an annual shortfall of oh, at least $250,000.
Look, what annoys me about this issue is that not once have we seen or heard any commitment, or even suggestion, from those who want it that they are prepared to fundraise and/or contribute to the running costs themselves.
Perhaps they should have a ‘levy’ put on their entry fees, like about 300%? That might bring it home to them that we live in a user-pay world and they should not be expecting a multi-million $ indoor centre to be provided for their use when they live in such a small community.
How about volunteers running the pool – the same way the tourist centres are run in Myrtleford and Mt Beauty.
I know this does not impact on the major costs – but it is something.
The main costs of an indoor pool are in the services like gas & electricity, I believe. Staffing is not a huge cost factor, although I agree that volunteers are a good idea.
Ray,
Do you know where the proposed sites are for the indoor pool? (Perhaps your place)
Well, believe it or not, I think they’re seriously considering putting it in the school grounds. I suppose that makes sense in one respect but hey, it kind of proves that the idea is in no way related to encouraging visitors to use it. It sort of makes it a ‘community only’ facility, which is what it’s always been. I hate it when they try to justify this indulgence by saying it’ll attract tourists to Bright. That’s just rubbish.
My place? Sorry, I’ve earmarked my front yard for an outdoor steak & wine attraction. I’m getting 50 tables on that lawn this Spring and I’m charging $50 per ‘Ray Porterhouse & glass of shiraz’. Good idea?
Wine – sorry mate don’t drink! I’ll come to eat though.
The school site will only benefit locals and the school.
what about these sites:
1. Old Hospital site
2. Land next to Brewery
3. Land next to Shire offices
4. Football ground – as other sporting activites are there and expanding with horses, tennis, soccer
5. The existing centre, revamped by the private owner with contribution from those who use it.
The current building needs some major work – not just around the pool area and I am not talking cosmetic. Structurally, the building is damaged and needs a lot of works.
I know this as I confess, that I did look at the building before “fast eddie” went broke to see if the thing was viable.
I would hate to see good money thrown at a bad site that the new owners may not be able to afford to maintain or repair in the future.
For the record – when I looked at the buidling it has nothing to do with the pool issues now or even back then. It was for other reasons.
Well, with a $100,000 per year subsidy the new owner should be able to get the work done and remain viable. Mind you, I still say that the users should pay one third of that subsidy, as I put in my submission.
Andrew, I just think it’s screamingly obvious that the best solution is to make the existing private facility stand on its own two feet. I think it can be done. It just needs the right owner prepared to bring it up to date and to add some more tourist friendly features to it.
And that should be ALL the users are entitled to in a town of barely 3,000 people. Otherwise maybe they should just move to a bigger town, like Wang.
They want the best of both worlds without putting in, Andrew. Well, frankly, stuff ‘em.
Your right.
Whislt the shire are at it – why not do this:
Charge residents one fee/rate that incorporates the current facilities provided by the shire, pool usage and tip useage. ie – we pay once and it is then up to you/them to use the facilities. businesses already pay the tourist levy so don’t increase the rates for them.
In this way, this should stop people dumping their rubbish in the bush as they do not want to pay tips fees (and meet the “friendly” staff at the site).
Whole new set of issues there, Andrew.
I don’t think the rates should be tampered with in order to cover the pool costs. Not one little bit. Make them pay at the door is the best way. Somehow the pool users need to get the simple message: You want? You use? You pay.
An alternate would be to heat the Ovens River at the park, the duck poo can be used to mark the white swimming lanes and the empty beer cans can be used to reflect the street lights onto the river. Perfect!
The two slides are in place for children activities, seating completed and grassed areas.
No, the river pool is primarily for tourists. It’s an attraction and shouldn’t even be viewed in the same context as a community pool. I’ve said about all I can say about it, Andrew. Let’s see what happens with this ‘survey’ and with the $3.5 million funding application.
It makes me wonder why the council bothered to form a Framework committee to ‘advise on key projects’ if they’re not prepared to listen to them, or even consult them, before going ahead and applying for this funding.
Heating the river was a joke!
Of course, I realised that. Unfortunately, this issue isn’t a joke and what the council has done – by applying for funding for an indoor pool instead of for something more productive – is a very serious matter that could have far reaching consequences for this town and the whole shire.
Eg: Did you read the post about Nagambie? That’s what we should be doing.