Bombala pool, along with Cooma pool, has been closed for several months for upgrades. Photo: Bombala Swimming Pool/Facebook.
Snowy Monaro Regional Council (SMRC) has terminated its main pool upgrade contract amid repeated delays and allegedly missed payments.
The council had been carrying out upgrades to the Cooma and Bombala public pools.
Those works have included refurbishing the main pools, new filtration systems and plant room upgrades.
In its latest update on the works, from 12 February, the council said it wasn’t able to provide a reopening date, due to the “contractual matters, payments, construction issues, equipment delays, and weather” affecting project delivery.
“We will continue to work with the contractor through a series of issues which have delayed the pools’ reopening past the dates we previously announced,” its statement said.
But during a recent meeting, SMRC announced it was terminating its contract with the principal contractor.
Although the issue was discussed during the section of the meeting that is closed to the public, CEO Noreen Vu gave a short update afterwards.
She said SMRC would notify the contractor of the termination due to its “failure to remedy the issues in the show cause notice”.
During the earlier public forum section of the meeting, currently suspended councillor Andrew Thaler alleged that contractor Dalski “has not paid its bills”.
He also claimed that subcontractors had walked off the job after not being paid, with some invoices allegedly outstanding since September and November 2025.
“[There] hasn’t even been a shovel stuck in the ground since January,” Cr Thaler said.
He called for further transparency around the status of the projects.
“The council owes it to the community to give a clear account of what’s happening.”
Cr Andrew Thaler is serving a suspension from SMRC until late May. Photo: Claire Fenwicke.
Another speaker called for an independent assessment of Bombala’s pool.
“We need a clear, objective understanding of what has been built, whether it meets the intent and best practice and what the real scope of rectification or completion is,” he said.
He pointed to a public meeting, held earlier this month, where fellow residents considered whether they wanted an internal gutter design or a wet-edge style.
He said those present “overwhelmingly” supported the latter.
“I outlined the safety concerns around the current design (equally around access, visibility and rescue capability), but I also made it clear that moving to a wet edge design would likely delay the pool reopening by at least another season, possibly two.”
In its statement after the meeting, SMRC said it was moving to terminate the contract with the principal contractor.
This means it can assume “direct control” of the projects, with work expected to continue.
“Work will resume on the two projects as soon as possible,” the statement says.
“Approximately four months’ worth of work is required to complete the upgrades and renovations at each site.”
No reopening dates were given.
The spokesperson also said a meeting was organised on Friday afternoon (17 April) so project subcontractors and suppliers could discuss the matter with SMRC.
“Discussions will focus on a range of unresolved matters concerning their work on the project and how the changes being announced today will affect them going forward.”
Region contacted the council with further questions and was directed to its statement following the meeting.
Dalski was also contacted for comment.
Anyone with concerns can phone SMRC on 1300 345 345 or email [email protected].
