Council's decision to drain the One Tree Hill reservoir in to the Scully Park Memorial Pool has been labelled "a positive sign" by local swim clubs, who are desperate to have at least one facility open this summer.
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On Tuesday night council passed an urgent motion to immediately transfer the remaining 500,000 litres to the Scully Park facility, so repairs could be carried out.
In a statement TRC said "once removed from the reservoir the water becomes non-potable, meaning the available options for use of this water are limited."
"It was agreed....that filling Scully Pool was the best option."
It is estimated the 500,000 litres would fill approximately one third of the pool, and is equivalent to just three per cent of the city's daily use of 16 megalitres.
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The decision was music to the ears of both Scully 360 and City Sharks swim clubs, the Water Polo Association, and the general community, who are facing the prospect of neither public pools opening under TRC's Drought Management Plan (DMP).
In recent weeks all three clubs have been lobbying council to override the DMP, and open one facility, most likely to be the Scully Park facility.
Council will make that decision at a workshop meeting on August 20.
Scully 360 president Peter Ryan was unaware of council's decision to empty the reservoir, but said "it looks very positive."
"If it wasn't looking positive I doubt they (TRC) would be putting water in there," he said.
"We have had some good meetings with council, and I believe they are working hard to try and keep one pool open."
City Sharks president Grant Simm echoed that sentiment, as did the Water Polo Association's Libby Magann, who said the association is "in limbo" until that August 20 decision.
"It would be great to have one pool open, but it is just talk until we hear it from council," she said.
"There will be a lot of disappointment if neither pool opens, and not just from clubs, people need to swim for recreation, and physical and mental health.
"This is an interesting move, and very exciting."
Council said if the pool does not open this season "the water will remain in Scully until it is able to open."