Mudgee swimming pool operator given six months to meet standards

Mid-Western Regional Council has given a swimming school in the NSW town of Mudgee another extension to fix its facilities.

Mick Sullivan's Swimming School in Mudgee has been given several extensions to upgrade facilities and resolve a property dispute, and the Council has now given owner Mick O’Sullivan a further six months to meet building and safety standards.

The move follows O’Sullivan having lodged documents with the Council showing that work is ready to begin.

In October last year, the Council gave Mick’s Swimming School six months to meet standards as part of a deferred development consent that would allow the indoor pool to continue operating with up to 20 students.

In November, Mid-Western Regional Council ordered the swimming school to restrict numbers to six, the number permitted under the original 2001 development consent, after it found  more than 50 people were regularly attending the centre. As a result, O’Sullivan closed the swimming school.

In April, the Council extended permission for a further three months after O’Sullivan failed to meet a deadline for providing a building certificate.

A report to a recent extraordinary meeting of the Council recommended that Mick’s Swim School be ordered to cease use of the building from 21st July until they obtained a building certificate, as no work had been carried out on the building.

According to a report in the Mudgee Guardian, O’Sullivan told Councillors that he had been unable to begin work because of protracted negotiations over the purchase of a neighbour’s land onto which a wall on his building encroaches.

O’Sullivan presented a letter from his solicitor confirming that the plans for a boundary adjustment and a structural engineers’ report for consideration had been lodged, and that builders expected to begin work at the indoor swimming centre within 21 days.

O’Sullivan said the swim school had ceased in April and members of a small elite training squad were now the only people who used the building.

Nancy Chapman, who described herself as a “very enthusiastic” client of the indoor swimming centre, told the Cuncil that the swimming centre was a comfortable, safe and hygienic place for seniors to exercise.

The Mudgee Guardian quoted Chapman as stating “it’s a unique facility and provides a terrific service for the town.

“The PCYC is too hot, the town pool is too cold and exposed.”

Mid-Western Regional Council acting General Manager Brad Cam added "Council are keen to see the pool remain open and keen to see Mick to actually get all of the outstanding matters resolved."