A decent aquatic facility is noticeably absent in the eastern parts of the city. A drive to a far off pool is about the best option.

It's really quite surprising really. What with canoeing on the river, windsurfing nearby, swimming at the beach and boating over in the harbour, there's water everywhere.

Our luck seemed to be changing in 2006, with a reference to a new pool on our side of town in the City Plan. That was back then. Now, the money to pay for our pool has been left out of the current draft. This has led to considerable concern in our community who feel the whole project is now in doubt.

As anybody knows, it's no good making plans and then not having the money to pay for them. In recognition of this, our councillor moved that funding of $15 million over three years from 2017 be provided for an eastern aquatic facility.

The motion got no further however, and was voted against. Given the ten year time scale under consideration, the no from these councillors in effect rules out a swimming pool on our side of the city for the foreseeable future.

The City Plan is still only at a draft stage, which means that there is still some opportunity to change it. Maybe if enough people let the council know what we think on this issue, we might be enjoying a new aquatic facility, possibly just down the road?

[Electronic submissions can be made by going to the page on the council's web site and by then clicking on the "Have your say" button near the top. The closing date is soon.]