As I gaze in to my crystal ball and try to work out the my own next move in the real extate market of Canberra I am again overwhelmed by this incredible feeling of deja vu.
Another public pool in Canberra has been closed. In my reverie I am whisked back to 2001 to the closing of the Kippax Pool at Holt. I switch on the radio to the planning minister side stepping the questions like only a true leader can, where will he lead us next?
In the case of Kippax pool the problem was that the owner had a development application in front of the ACT government for 3 years and would not maintain the building while they were waiting for a decision in relation to the development. If we are to believe the business owner , Deakin Swimming Limited, on ABC radio last week there are some parallels with the Kippax closure.
The building was allowed to become run down despite desperate attempts by the lessee to try to force the owners to honour their obligations to maintain the building under the lease. Just like Kippax the roof leaked. Last Thursday rather than have the leak fixed and maintain the facility to the community, the Administrator RSM Bird Cameron made the call, electrical danger, close it immediatley. The land owners must have been unhappy about that, they would be hoping that they don’t have to re-zone the land and build a block of flats.
Just like Kippax the pumps of the pool had failed through normal wear and tear and the owner did not maintain the building. It’s their building, what possible reason could they possibly have for not maintaining it? What will they do with the building now? Just like Kippax the Government line is that it is not their role to make businesses viable. The governemnts role should be to ensure that the community have access to adequate facilities for their needs. The government role should be to ensure that lease agreements are not breached by either party? One can only wonder if the business would still be viable if they were not pressured into forking out half the cost to replace the pool’s pumps. the governemnt has a role in ensuring that existing land use zonings are up held now and into the future.Currently the land is zoned as a public simming pool. Will government step in and make sure the zoning is maintained? The community can only watch can only watch as the Deakin closure plays out.
[ED – Sunny also posted the following on Deakin Pool which I thought would work well added in here]
- When Deakin Pool closed earlier than planned it was a bit of a shock. I have two kids who did swimming lessons there and while the sate of the pool wasn’t brilliant the teachers were nice.
I was in there the day before it closed and was told the pool was going to remain open until the 9th of April. The next day shop shut.
Like many parents and regular pool goers we have paid for lessons until the end of term. I am still owed four lessons and even though it is only $56 I want to get my money back on principal.
Since it was a privately owned pool and no one is answering the phone there what recourse do I have??
Any input would be appreciated,
Sunny
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