Cr Paul Funnell is calling on council to consider outsourcing the facility to a private operator to ensure ratepayers are not being slugged by inflated entry fees every year. I

t follows council conducting an independent review of the aquatic centre in January last year, after posting about a $1 million deficit for at least the three financial years prior.

“Pools never make a profit,” Cr Funnell said. 

“We need to look at the private sector and the possibility of a public and private arrangement. We’ve got to think outside the square and it has to be viable.”

Cr Funnell said a shared arrangement would allow council to still maintain an element of control over the multi-pool facility, but a private operator would prove more viable.

“The private sector can run it far more effectively and efficiently than we can,” he said.

Cr Funnell believed ratepayers were unfairly forced to pay “ridiculous” entry fees to use the “human petri dish”.

But councillors resolved last year to maintain an in-house management arrangement. 

“In January, 2015, council resolved to manage the Oasis Regional Aquatic Centre for a minimum of three years, as recommended by a service review at the time,” general manager Alan Eldridge said.

“Any changes to the current adopted position will be considered by staff should the elected body wish to do so.”

As per the report, council at the time hiked entry fees, approved a $25,000 budget variation, and endorsed a recommendation that the Oasis continue under an in-house management arrangement.

While Cr Funnell calls on immediate changes to ensure ratepayers continue to use the facility, the report reveals more people are using the Oasis compared to six other regional towns of similar size – 282,549 people visit the Oasis each year, compared to a benchmark average of 246,845.