Emerald waterslides to reopen
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Posted on August 15, 2019
The waterslides at the Emerald Aquatic Centre are set to reopen ready for the start of the September school holiday season on Saturday 21 September 2019.
Central Highlands Regional Council and a representative of Bobtrac Pty Ltd, the lessee of the Emerald Aquatic Centre, issued a joint statement today in response to an outpouring of community comment on social media recently.
Council’s Chief Executive Officer Scott Mason said the council and the lessee have worked together to reach an outcome that will see the slides fully operational for the swimming season.
Mr Mason said it became clear that, generally, there is confusion in the community as to how the aquatic centres operate throughout the region.
‘The Emerald Aquatic Centre is run under a lease agreement with Bobtrac Pty Ltd. All aquatic centre leases are determined from a competitive tender process.
‘Over the 17 years that Bobtrac has leased the centre, the company has made significant investment in the facility that includes pool heating, the kitchen and café facilities, four barbecues, two shade structures, and the waterslides, which will open for the third season this summer,’ he explained.
Irate community members also used social media to question the cost of using the Emerald Aquatic Centre.
A Bobtrac representative said the company was happy to have the opportunity to ‘set the record straight’ and stated:
‘We would certainly like to thank the community for sharing their concerns about using the facility. The pool entry fees are set in consultation with council, and the company sets the fees for the use of the waterslides.
‘The costs of operating the pool and the waterslides has risen considerably, which is why the opportunity to sit down with council and work through a mutually acceptable agreement within the boundaries of the lease and the legislation is welcome.’
Scott Mason added that council intends to examine the community feedback about the pool, the statistics on pool users, and the fee structure.
‘The effort of Bobtrac and its employees in their care of the Emerald facility, and the service that all the pool lessees in the region offer to the community, is much-valued, he said.’