ROCKDALE residents have started an online petition calling on Rockdale Council to go ahead with plans to build Rockdale City Aquatic Centre.
The new centre was expected to replace the ageing Bexley Pool which closed in May.
Construction was expected to start in September and be completed by May 2016.
However, the project is now in doubt after the Liberal councillors and an independent failed to attend at least six council meetings including a confidential session on the tender for the pool. They also voted to remove the sale of Chapel Street from the October 15 meeting.
The State Government has also warned the council about its inability to make decisions when not enough councillors turn up for a quorum.
The council received a $48 million offer for the site — $16.7 million of which would be used towards funding the aquatic centre.
Cr Nagi (independent) has said he supported the pool but the $30 million price tag was excessive.
"I'm not against fixing the pool but you could spend $10-15 million and turn it into a beautiful facility," he said.
Cr Petros Kalligas (Liberal) said Rockdale Liberals would not be partisan.
‘‘Rockdale Council Liberals have sought to protect community assets from liquidation, consistent with our election platform to oppose the fire sale of key strategic assets,’’ he said.
Stephen Le Bas, of Rockdale, signed the petition and said he hoped it raised community awareness.
He disagrees that the pool could be completed for $15 million.
‘‘I can’t see how that would be possible, it would be a second rate solution,’’ he said.
‘‘They should be investing money for the long term, not for the short term.’’
The new centre has strong support in the community.
When it went to public exhibition in 2012, the council received 1651 submissions, 96 per cent of which were in support.
The petition is at Build Bexley Pool
Do you support construction of Rockdale City Aquatic Centre?
