Aspiring councillors will be required to sign a public pledge in front of the community and the media to make their commitment. This comes after years of frustration, empty promises and unfulfilled commitments by councillors and general managers of the past, said a group spokesman.

Any councillor who wants to be supported by the swimming groups of Cessnock will need to be at Cessnock Rugby League and Supporters Club on Saturday, August 18 at 9.30am  to sign the pledge. The pledge will be calling on five key commitments with minimal cost to council:

That a new Pool Strategy will be part of the 2013-14 Operating Plan of council and that local council staff and the Cessnock Pool Users Group, not consultants, will be used to identify the new Pool Strategy. (Monthly meetings beginning July 2013).

That the 2014-15 Operating Plan of council will include staff to be tasked to ensure any necessary re-zoning of land currently owned by council, or if necessary the purchase of new land (as identified by the new Pool Strategy), is completed. (Quarterly meetings beginning July 2014).

Beginning 2014-15, identified in councils Operating Plan, staff will be tasked to ensure that the new Pool Strategy construction is costed, suitable funding sources are identified, the new Pool Strategy included into all relevant Section 94 Plans, and where timely and appropriate, funding applications are submitted to various government and non-government bodies.

That the 2015-16 Operating Plan of council task staff to ensure that all costings for construction are finalised, further grants are pursued, other funding sources are identified and considered, and a shovel ready project with funding sources is complete by June 2016. (Quarterly meetings beginning July 2015).

That this entire strategy and process be developed with one to three internal council staff (including at least one manager or higher), six to seven from Cessnock Pool Users Group (one from each user body), two community representatives and one to two councillors.

The Cessnock Pool Users Group formed more than 10 years ago, to stand side by side with council, as a new Strategy for Cessnock Pool was formed. The group represents Monday and Friday night swimming clubs, Water Polo, Masters Swimming, Lap Swimmers, Disability Swimmers, Aqua-Aerobics and those requiring hydro-therapy healing. It is estimated that the Pool Users Group represents 1600 to 2000 people.

In 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 the Cessnock Council Operating Plan included a commitment to develop a new Pool Strategy. This was never done – a failing over four consecutive years. The new Pool Strategy then suddenly disappeared from 2010-11 and 2011-12 Operating Plans, said the spokesman.

Ellena Morris has given her life to swimming and recalls conversations that she had with Council 35 years ago regarding the need for improved swimming facilities. “There is so much potential for swimming in people’s lives all year round. The Kurri Kurri Pool has proven this. The biggest problem at Kurri Kurri is how popular it is and space,” said Mrs. Morris. She was also a foundation member of this new Pool Users Group formed 10 years ago.

Phil Murray has also given the bulk of his life to swimming in the Cessnock area and regularly swims at centres all over the State. He recognises that “It is time to fight politicians with politics.”

“This signing of a public Pledge will give our councillors no room to move. You are either in, or you are out! We will use media, word of mouth and social media to make sure that those that sign are promoted and those that don’’t are named,” he said.

Pat McCarthy also swims all year round and travels across the State for swimming. She also participates in the Aqua-Aerobics at Kurri Pool. “The Kurri Pool has shown a great community need for year round swimming and people travel to Kurri from towns all over the Hunter. We don’’t need the Taj Mahal of pools, we just need a good modern facility that fits the 21st century,” she said.

The focus of the group is to have all of the planning done in the next four years of local government and to make sure that the planning is done locally, by local people and with no money spent on expensive consultants. The Pool Users Group believe that they have the knowledge of dozens of swim centres and will be urging council staff to talk to some of their peers across the State to develop the strategy and costings.