Swimming coaches and affiliated clubs are to be approached
for their views on the independence of a panel to review
professional competitive swim coaching contracts at Moana
Pool in Dunedin.
The Dunedin City Council's community development committee
was asked this week to agree to the appointment of the panel
- sports administrator Dave Gerrard, Auckland swim coach Mark
Bone and Sport Otago chief executive John Brimble.
The panel would review the council's two contracts, which
both expire this year, following various claims made about
the fairness and consistency of swim coaching at Moana Pool.
Crs Jinty MacTavish and Richard Thomson said it was desirable
to ensure the panel was viewed as truly independent before
the process started, rather than learn of something after the
review was completed.
Opinions on who should be on the panel were not sought, just
views on the panel members' independence, Cr Thomson said.
Aquatic services manager Steve Prescott said he had tried to
pick people who had no affiliation to people running or using
the service.
He was confident coaches and clubs could be canvassed and
enough time left for the panel to complete its review before
the first of the two contracts expired in July.
He is to report back to the council general manager
operations Tony Avery and committee chairman Cr Bill Acklin,
regarding the panel's independence, before it progresses its
work.
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