AT the first meeting of the new Southern Grampians Shire Council (SGSC), Cr Katrina Rainsford took the opportunity to again raise the closure of the Glenthompson War Memorial Swimming Pool.

Council voted four to three to close the pool in April earlier this year much to the consternation of Glenthompson community members who voiced their opposition sending delegations to subsequent council meetings.

The community has a strong sense of ownership of the pool given it was built by the community’s farmers, labourers, shearers and returned servicemen in the early 1970s.

It was managed by the community for over 30 years before being reluctantly handed over to the Southern Grampians Shire Council in 2012 due to spiralling government regulation.

When the closure was announced, there were criticisms made by the Glenthompson Pool Committee who expressed disappointment about what they said was a “lack of consultation”.

At the time, Glenthompson Pool Committee chair, Leigh Heard said the pool was in great condition.

“It doesn’t make sense to close it – there’s no leakages in the Glenthompson pool – it’s in the best condition of any of the pools.”

Cr Rainsford was joined by councillor, Albert Calvano and former councillor, Fran Malone who opposed the pool closure.

At Wednesday night’s meeting, Cr Rainsford’s motion for council officers to present a report at the February 2025 Scheduled Council Meeting, which considers financial implications and options to reopen the Glenthompson Memorial Swimming Pool, was passed.

“I’m very pleased,” she said.

Mr Heard said he was very hopeful after hearing from others who attended the meeting.

Committee member, Jenny Rankin, who was in attendance, said it was “a pretty good meeting”.

“I’m really quite thrilled,” she said.

“First time I’ve come out of a meeting like that and felt happy.

“Now the Glenthompson community has got a bit of work to do in the next three months to get a community plan and group put together – that’s going to replace the Glenthompson part of the Small Town Strategy.”

“It will be something for the community to use when it talks to council.”

Ms Rankin was equally pleased that new councillor, Jayne Manning from Glenthompson was voted to be chair of that working group along with Cr Rainsford and Cr Barber appointed to the committee.

“I don’t think we’ll have any trouble working with those councillors.

“Most importantly it is to get the pool up and running again in the short term.”

Also on the agenda affecting Glenthompson was the announcement of funding for a new toilet block facility.

In its executive summary, Council said it was embarking on a project to replace the existing public toilet facility in Lions Park, Glenthompson, with a new, modern, and accessible structure.

This initiative aims to enhance public amenities and improve the overall user experience within Lions Park Glenthompson.

The project includes demolition of the existing toilet facility and the design and construction of a new facility.

The new facility will include four cubicles comprising three ambulant and one accessible unisex, essential utilities and fixtures and an external shelter area with a basin for general use.

Following a Request for Tender (RFT) process for the contract, seven responses were received and following the evaluation, the panel recommended awarding the tender to Envirodomes Pty Ltd and Construct for a lump sum price of $212,000.

Cr Rainsford moved a motion that the awarding of the contract be delayed until further consultation had been undertaken with the community before February 2025.

“I think we should actually give the Glenthompson community the opportunity to (have) a closer look at what’s being built here,” she said.

SGSC chief executive, Tony Doyle said the contract would not be able to be awarded in February because it would mean going through the tender process again.

SGSC infrastructure and sustainability director, Marg Scanlon said there had been consultation with the Glenthompson Progress Association “specifically in relation to the look and presentation of the facility but also the functional needs”.

She said the location was also discussed and that through the design phase starting early in the new year there would be another touch point with the community for consultation.

Cr Calvano said, “why are we bloody going through this again?”

“We’ve had community engagement – they told us where they want the toilets. Now all of a sudden someone puts up a motion. Why didn’t we do this before?”

Cr Rainsford responded and said the last 12 months had not been the best example of community consultation.

“While we had community consultation about the swimming pool – there was not consultation about the toilet block,” she said.

“That’s why there’s a couple of car loads of people here tonight.”

Cr Manning supported the motion and said “we could have a small delay and keep the $212,000 to see if we could put it into improving the existing pool.”

Cr Afton Barber spoke against the motion.

“The main reason being there’s going to be a further delay to a facility that needs to be upgraded at an entrance to our shire,” he said.

“You remember the nice facilities as you go through towns and I think this is going to be a beautiful facility.

“My concern is that if this is delayed, the $212,000 that is currently on the table … could blow out to who knows … $300,000 to $350,000.  Prices fluctuate a lot in the construction industry. I think the community needs to see movement, not another decision (that) is delayed. The final design is going to be presented back to the community for feedback.”

Cr Manning reiterated she thought the “community should have more of a say”.

Cr Adam Campbell said he didn’t think it was a “negative to have a few months to see what we can do with the community.

“I don’t see it as a harm to go a few more months.”

Cr Rainsford’s motion was carried.

A third item on the agenda for the township included the replacement of the footbridge in Glenthompson which was included within SGSC’s 2024/2025 Capital Works Program.

After issuing a Request for Tender (RFT) for the contract for the Glenthompson Footbridge Replacement, five tenders were received and evaluated with the tender awarded to D&M Composites Pty Ltd for $75,945.82.

D&M Composite have also been awarded the tender for new stairs and viewing platform at the Nigretta Falls Reserve.