Pool Site divides town …

Council proposes Regional Aquatic Centre development in centre of historic village of Oatlands …

Despite Southern Midlands Councils’ own first choice for the development of a Regional
Aquatic and Recreation centre being a greenfields site adjacent to the existing Oatlands’
Recreation Ground at the southern end of the town, since their negotiations fell through to
purchase this land, Council have instead chosen a small, tight site, in the centre of the
village, surrounded by seventeen buildings many of which are heritage buildings and private
residences.

To impose an industrial style and scale building in the centre of this Georgian village will
completely disrupt the heritage townscape in this part of Oatlands, a town known and
widely promoted for, its heritage buildings and values.

Council has chosen its own Works Depot site as the ideal place for the Aquatic & Recreation
centre – but now because of cost & space considerations just an Aquatic centre. Vehicle
access will be via quiet country residential streets (South Parade & Gay Street), creating
traffic congestion, noise and parking issues and negative impacts on the living amenity of
the many surrounding residents.

Building the Aquatic centre on an undeveloped greenfields site away from the centre of the
historic precinct, would be the best, most cost-effective option, providing easier access for
vehicles, regional users, ample parking, and allowing for future development of other
recreational facilities on the site.

The Council is holding a forum at Oatlands District High School gymnasium Monday March
27, 2017 at 6.30 pm.
Rowena McDougall for ‘Alternative Midlands Aquatic and Recreation Centre Oatlands’ group (see us on Facebook)