Pool set for repairs

By Kath Gannaway
PIPES will be replaced at the Healesville outdoor pool to ensure it opens this summer.
The Shire of Yarra Ranges has committed to replacing the leaking pipes following an ultimatum from Yarra Valley Water that leaking pools would not be given permission to fill or top up with water.
Yarra Valley Water advised the Shire of Yarra Ranges it would be enforcing its Stage 3a restrictions which allow existing pools to be topped up only in accordance with an approved Water Conservation Plan.
The plan for Yarra Ranges pools is contingent on there being no leaks in the pool structure or pipework.
Other pools which will need to be leak-proofed include Warburton and Seville.
A report into the shire’s pools as part of the Shire’s Aquatic Facilities Strategic Plan 2007-2017 recognised that environmental concerns were of increasing importance.
“Several of the outdoor pools leak considerable volumes of water above an acceptable standard,” the report said.
It stated that while all pools leak to a certain extent, the rate of loss can rise as they age.
“Several pools, notably Warburton and Lilydale pools, leak at a high rate…” it stated.
Yarra Valley Water spokeswoman Emma Hiller said the council would also need to regularly monitor the pools to ensure there were no further leaks and put in other water saving initiatives such as water efficient showerheads, dual flush toilets and sweep pool surrounds instead of hosing.
“We understand the value to the community of council pools and have been working with council to balance community expectations and use, with the loss of water form the aging pools.”
Putting the onus firmly back on the shire, Ms Hiller said keeping all of the pools open was not tenable if the council was unable to rectify the current loss of water from many of the older pools.
“It is a council decision as to whether or not the repairs are warranted,” she said.
The shire says it plans to have all of its nine pools open for the coming season.
“The council will be working towards having all its outdoor pools open in time for summer,” community relations manager James Martin said.
Mr Martin said work to be undertaken included replacement of some pipes at Healesville and the filtration system and some pipes at Seville.
Work was also needed at Warburton.
“We will be writing to Yarra Valley Water to notify them of the work to be undertaken with the expectation that we will receive approval to fill the pools,” he said.