The Bathurst Amateur Swimming Club must pay to hire lanes for training sessions at Bathurst Aquatic Centre, even in the depths of winter when other lanes remain empty.

It’s a situation that prompted parent Leonard Grout to address council seeking its support to strike a new deal with the private operators of the pool.

Mr Grout spoke during public question time at council’s last monthly meeting, saying the cost of hiring the lanes was working against the club’s efforts to increase sporting participation among local children.

“Our club pays fees of around $8000 a year at the aquatic centre and parents also have to pay entry fees to get into the pool,” Mr Grout told councillors.

“We do a lot of work in the community locally and and do a lot to promote the aquatic centre. I would ask council to look at supporting us to eliminate some of these costs.”

Mr Grout said the club had already started holding morning training at The Scots School during summer to reduce costs for parents but had no option but to train indoors during winter.

He said local children were at a disadvantage when competing against swimmers from better resourced and supported clubs.

“Kids in our squad swim at NSW Country and state championships where they compete against kids from Sydney clubs, along with Newcastle and Gosford rep. teams, and they’re doing it pretty tough,” Mr Grout said.

“We have 10 kids training at the moment but we’re looking to increase our squad and get more kids swimming and training.

“We would ask that council look into why we, as a Bathurst club, have to pay lane fees to train when other people who pay their entry fee can just dive in and train next to us for nothing.”

Mayor Gary Rush thanked Mr Grout  for bringing the issue to councillors’ attention.

“I would ask that the club send something in writing outlining your proposal and I’m sure councillors will give it due consideration,” Cr Rush said.

The Bathurst Aquatic Centre opened in September 2007 after a long local campaign to replace the original baths on Elizabeth Street. Council funded the construction of the facility but has always put the operations of the centre out to private tender.