Georges River Council mayor Kevin Greene used his casting vote to knock back a request from the RSL to jointly fund a study into the historical significance of the Kogarah War Memorial Pool, popularly known as Carss Park Pool.
The application would have been made under the NSW Community War Memorial Fund.
Councillor Kathryn Landsberry lodged a Notice of Motion at this week's council meeting. She called for the pausing of the demolition of the Kogarah War Memorial Pool until the outcome of the study.
But this was dealt with under a separate Notice of Motion by Councillor Vince Badalati calling for the delay of any demolition pending a feasibility study into the Carss Park and Todd Park sites as suitable for an aquatic centre. Councillors supported this.
Cr Landsberry said all the RSL was asking for was the council's support for a joint application for funding to document the historical significance of the pool as a war memorial.
"There seems to be an indecent haste to demolish the pool," Cr Landsberry said.
"These facilities were created to commemorate our servicemen men and women. It's not just a building. It's a legacy to returned service people and it is heartbreaking to me that certain areas have been pushing for the demolition of this building before we know what the cultural and significance of it may be.
"It is well known to many of us that communities decided to honour servicemen and women and the fallen by having memorial pools built. Some of them still stand today.
"The thing about a war memorial pool is it's like a living memorial.
"It's not just a static obelisk or cenotaph which is visited on Anzac Day or Remembrance Day.
"Carss Park Pool, otherwise known as Kogarah War Memorial Pool, was well-known as a venue where returned service people had access for free when it was under the management of Dick Caine.
"I'm just asking the council to do what the RSL and our residents want us to do, not just demolish something that has cultural significance. Our residents have overwhelmingly told us about the cultural significance and the heritage.
"If we were to proceed with indecent haste - and I use those words very deliberately - to demolish something before we know exactly what is that is culturally significant that we should be preserving for future generations.
"It pains me that we had to have this discussion. It is absolutely no skin off the council's nose to support this motion."
General Manager Gail Connolly said that a heritage impact assessment would need to be prepared as part of the DA for the pool's demolition.
Mayor Kevin Greene spoke against the motion.
"The RSL contributed £150. They were part of the fund-raising committee that raised £2500 which was five per cent of the total value of the pool that was built. That is the research that has already been done," he said.
"I do not wish to take away from the contribution of those of our society who have given their lives to the defence of this country.
"Any contribution is important, but it is hardly a significant one.
"Kogarah War Memorial Pool was put on the register (of war memorials) within the last six months. It was not added to the register in 1965. It was not added to the register by Kogarah RSL. A resident added it in the last six months. That does not take away from the sacrifice of those men and women who have given themselves to the service of this nation.
"We have been required to do heritage studies as part of the DA on this site.
"We have discussed an appropriate memorial at the Carss park site to recognise the contribution of servicemen and women from our community.
"All the necessary work that is required to recognise the service of the RSL Sub-branch members and the history of those swimmers and athletes in the Carss Park precinct has already been undertaken.
"This motion is superfluous as far as I'm concerned."
Cr Landsberry replied, "You may think it is superfluous. I, for one, don't."
She noted that the cost of the demolition of the pool, as outlined in the DA lodged by Georges River Council this week, would be $7.4 million.
"We are just asking for a few thousand dollars for a report which could be used for historical accuracy," Cr Landsberry said.
"It's about the historical significance of this particular location. It's not just a building. It was so much more than that. The RSL contribution can't be dismissed so lightly. The RSL has come to us to support them."
But Cr Landberry's Notice of Motion was lost,
Voting in support of it was Councillors Vince Badalati, Rita Kastanias, Nick Katris, Kathryn Landsberry, Leesha Payor, Colleen Symington and Con Hindi.
Voting against were Councilors Kevin Greene, Stephen Aguis, Sam Elmir, Sandy Grekas, Lou Konjarski, Nancy Liu and Warren Tegg.
Mayor Kevin Greene used his casting vote against the motion, declaring it lost.
