REGION - The public consultation period on a site for a regional aquatic facility has so far attracted little response from the community.
The lack of comment received since public consultation began on June 29 has thrown doubt on whether the community wants a pool in the region and if it cares.
However, much of the feedback that has been received is in favour of the preferred site at Beyond Development at the corner of Waterport and Ocean roads, Hayborough.
The land has been gifted to the City of Victor Harbor and Alexandrina councils by the Beyond owners, for the purposes of the joint project.
Information given to The Times on Tuesday, July 17 from Alexandrina Council showed that of the 50 surveys completed on the council's mysay website, 38 submissions supported the preferred site.
The City of Victor Harbor at this stage has only received two written responses and three hits on the council's web page.
The Times asked Facebook users if they cared about a pool in the region.
Joanne White said:?"We need a pool, just build it!"
Shane Porteous said, "I don't think it's a lack of caring, but a lack of the City of Victor Harbor actually doing what they say. How many councillors/mayors have been elected because they said they were all for a community swimming pool? It has been over 15 years since the last pool was pulled down and we as a town and community are no closer now then what we were then to getting a good heated pool."
Meanwhile, Mathew Stuart was none the wiser that a proposed pool location had been decided, saying: "Is there a proposed pool site?!? Where can I get the details?"
Jules Wagner wrote: "From what I am hearing it sounds like some locals are tired of hearing about all these grand plans and nothing is ever done about them."
Sue G Smith-Allen said: "Yes people care about the pool and want a pool but even when the land is promised, they still haggle about it!"
Earlier this year Alexandrina Council and the City of Victor Harbor formed a Joint Regional Aquatic Centre Working Party to revisit and finalise a preferred site option for an Aquatic Centre.
The preferred location on the Beyond Development, corner of Ocean and Waterport roads, Hayborough, has been offered by its owners as a gift to the councils.
Alexandrina chief executive officer, Peter Dinning said the councils have shown leadership by selecting a preferred site after undertaking a site assessment process and are now seeking the community's endorsement for the site selection.
On Alexandrina Council's web page there have been 275 separate visitors as part of the consultation, and 134 document downloads concerning the pool location have been counted.
City of Victor Harbor, city manager Graeme Maxwell said, "We want the community to get their thoughts in front of both councils so we can analyse the responses."
"If people do not want to be part of the online survey they can write into council or come to the office and get a submission form or alternatively email response to localgov@victor.sa.gov.au," he said.
"There will be documentation of the pool site in the rate notices that will be sent to ratepayers over the next fortnight," he said.
Public consultation will close on August 10 and both councils will then collate and analyse consultation feedback during August.
Have you say on the pool location by visiting mysay.alexandrina.sa.gov.au.