By Corey Everitt
With winter on the horizon the Pakenham Arthritis Self Help Group is concerned their needs at Cardinia Life may not be met for another year, as reportedly ‘nothing’s been changed’ in the ongoing issues of warm water and cleanliness.
The Gazette reported in June 2023 on the group and their call for improvement to the maintenance of Cardinia’s largest recreational centre where they expressed their frustration at the inconsistent temperature of the warm water pool, resulting in multiple cancellations of their exercise sessions.
Furthermore, issues with cold showers and cleanliness were raised.
Almost a year on, members Lynette McCullough and Anne Dunn say ‘nothing has changed.’
“In fact it probably could of got a bit worse, especially in the cleaning,” McCullough said.
“We’ve had six or seven cancellations because we have to have the temperature at 30 and sometimes it hasn’t been anywhere near that.
“Winter is coming on so I guess we’re going to have the same trouble again.”
The warm water exercise is at the core of the group, running multiple sessions a week for sometimes up to 30 people in each.
In their contract with Cardinia Life, the warm water pool must be at a minimum temperature of 30 degrees celsius for a session to occur and be effective for participants.
Multiple sessions were cancelled in the months prior to June 2023 prompting the call to address the recurring problem, but in the time since several sessions are still being cancelled according to the group.
In their experience, the problem came from a lack of attention from Cardinia Shire Council on the pool’s maintenance. Dunn recalls a previous example of when the pump for the warm water pool failed.
“The council kept having maintenance come in and patch up until the pump was taken away and fixed, in other words they kept trying to patch, patch, patch until they ended up having to pull the pump out and take it away,” she said.
On the matters of cleanliness, they say not much has improved either and the responsibility lies with management.
“What the YMCA used to do before Richmond took over, they were cleaned at night and then at around 10 to 11 o’clock the cleaners would come in again,” McCullough said.
“That was good, it was really kept clean.
“But now, they only come in at night, the floors in the showers are dreadful.”
“Since they’ve taken over it just has not been the same, the waters cold, the showers are filthy and we have had to cancel sessions which is no good for us.”
Cardinia Life is managed by Aligned Leisure, a subsidiary of Richmond Football Club which provides operating services to 29 different recreational facilities across the State.
Aligned has operated Cardinia Life since 2016.
“The population growth in this area is enormous and we deserve better facilities,” Dunn said.
“You don’t have to look far to see what is needed, in Casey Shire there are better areas, bigger pools.”
Council’s general manager Liveable Communities, Lili Rosic said works have been completed in the last year to address issues of cleanliness and the warm water pool.
“To ensure that the community facility continues to be a clean, safe, and accessible space for all, a regular maintenance and cleaning schedule is being undertaken, including; having a cleaner onsite from 11am-3pm every day, completing a full deep clean of the centre every night, including high pressure washing the pool deck every night and completing regular change room checks.
“Extensive works were undertaken on the plumbing and heating hardware for the showers in July 2023, and additional maintenance has since been completed to address faults after power outages.
“We’re committed to ensuring that our pools meet a high standard, and appreciate when visitors let us know of any issues as soon as possible.
“Independent annual audits are completed on all of Cardinia Shire’s aquatic facilities, in addition to the preventative maintenance and reactive maintenance programs at each site. “
The council in March 2022 surveyed the community on the Cardinia Life Redevelopment, a major upgrade to the pool that would develop including the existing lap pools turned into a warm water pool and a new indoor 50m pool with eight lanes.
The group supports the plan and the wider upgrade, but it’s a long-term solution to problems that could be addressed in the short term.
The cost of the upgrade is projected at $114 million. The council has set aside $20 million and is appealing to Federal and State Governments to fund the rest. Two years since the plan was revealed, no further funding has been secured.
“Everyone got excited until we found out that the council had not acquired funding for this upgrade,” Dunn said.
Rosic said the council is still trying to secure funding for the upgrade.
“Cardinia Shire Council is continuing to advocate for the redevelopment of Cardinia Life, and a feasibility study, community consultation and a business case have all been completed,“ Rosic said.
“Council is seeking funding from both state and federal governments, and has made it clear that without additional funding, Council will be unable to progress with the major upgrades planned for the facility.“
