Ballarat Gold Swimming Club president Anthony Hoffmann said it was time for the people of Ballarat to “grow up and fund the infrastructure that is taken for granted in other communities”.

“I take exception to the label that an indoor 50-metre pool is a luxury,” Mr Hoffmann said.

“This is an essential piece of infrastructure for any community that is serious about lowering obesity rates, improving water safety and community wellbeing.”

The comments come before the Ballarat City Council meets tomorrow night to consider the city’s biggest spending budget in history, including plans for $17 million funding for a new pool at the Ballarat Aquatic Centre. 

Mr Hoffmann said a petition in support of the proposed pool had gained almost 1000 signatures and would be presented to the council today.

He denounced comments reported in The Courier by the former president of the Ballarat Residents and Ratepayers Association Elisa Backer, who said draft budget plans for new sporting facilities would occur at the expense of basic lifestyle and viability. 

“These comments trivialise the vital role that sporting infrastructure plays in community health,” Mr Hoffmann said. 

“As a community, will we accept that in the next few years children may not have the opportunity to learn to swim?”

Mr Hoffmann said it would be a “regional embarrassment” if Ballarat was to squander the opportunity of a new indoor 50-metre pool.

“A new flexible-use 50-metre pool will enable Ballarat to finally host competitive swim events,” he said. 

“These events bring with them competitors, families and support crews, which in turn support the very businesses former mayor James Coghlan says won’t survive if the rate rises are adopted.”

Councillors met last night to discuss the draft budget and will determine at tomorrow night’s council meeting if it is to be adopted.

patrick.byrne@fairfaxmedia.com.au