Horsham Aquatic Centre committee review prompts concern from users

This comes as Horsham Rural City Council conducts a review into its internal committees, which includes the advisory committee of the aquatic centre.

Under the current contract arrangement, YMCA Victoria is contracted to manage the Aquatic Centre until at least June 30, 2022.

The review has proposed that the Aquatic Centre Advisory Committee becomes a user group which reports directly to YMCA.

Horsham resident and former aquatic centre advisory committee member Faye Smith has raised concerns about the proposal, penning an open letter to councillors to explain the decision making behind the move.

READ MORE:

"This is regrettable action could result in loss of control of yet another community facility," she said.

Ms Smith, who was on the committee for 10 years and has continued involvement with the centre's water workout program, said she was concerned on many levels.

"It was very difficult to get action on issues of concern when it was a council-run committee," she said.

"There were many things. The timetables were incorrect, the website in some cases would have two entries in different places with different times.

"We would show up for waterwork sessions and be told by the office that they were happening, but when we got there, there would be no instructor. The published holiday schedule was rarely accurate.

"There were just a whole host of minor issues that were never addressed by management.

"There is a great disconnect between the management and the instructors. They are poorly informed, there are no meetings.

OTHER NEWS:

"There is a disconnect and that continues - management has not addressed this."

The news of the proposal prompted concern from Ms Smith, who believed service and facilities at the centre could drop-off if managed by the Melbourne-based YMCA.

"I am concerned if Horsham Rural City Council let Melbourne take over, there will be problems," she said.

"YMCA Victoria won't care about what happens in Horsham, they will just look at the bottom line and my concern is that service and programs will fall off and prices will increase.

"Why haven't members been told about these possible changes? The public has not been consulted."

Horsham Rural City Council director of Communities and Place Kevin O'Brien said the council would still own the aquatic centre facility - however YMCA would manage operations and day-to-day management.

"Operational matters at the Aquatic Centre are managed by the YMCA currently and this will not change. The role of the Advisory Committee will be determined by the outcome of the current HRCC review," he said.

"Council's role as owners of the facility is to undertake ongoing strategic planning with the community around the development of facilities at the Aquatic Centre."

He said feedback could be given to the YMCA on issues of centre management.

"It will be the responsibility of the contractor to have a user reference group where members and users of the facility meet and discuss aquatic centre issues.

"Community members can provide feedback directly to the YMCA at any time regarding the operations of the Aquatic Centre."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:

Did you know you can receive updates straight to your inbox? To make sure you're up-to-date with news from across the region, sign up here.