HAVE YOUR SAY: The Yenda Progress Association raised $17,000 to develop an aquatic centre but has now decided to let residents have their say on where the money should be spent in the wake of the March flood.
THOUSANDS of dollars raised to build an aquatic centre in Yenda will be poured into a project of the community's choice.
Yenda Progress Association (YPA) had planned to ask residents for their input on how the $17,000 should be spent early this year but the March floods interrupted all plans.
The money was raised by the Yenda Pool Committee through community fundraisers in 2006 and 2007.
It was initially put into a council trust fund but was later handed to YPA for safekeeping.
At last week's council meeting, Councillor Christine Stead suggested using the funds to establish a new recreation facility in Yenda, an initiative proposed by Cr Anne Napoli.
Council would otherwise aim to source the money through government grants.
"The money raised through the pool committee should go toward something the community needs," Cr Stead said.
"The parks there do get used and at a time like this it's important to give the little ones a place to meet with their friends to reconnect after the floods."
The pool committee held family fun days, raffles and "gut and golf" days to raise the funds.
The project was put on hold when the committee folded, with the intention of reviving the push for a 50-metre pool in future.
Former president and YPA member Dolf Murwood was adamant the money should be held onto and used as planned.
"There is a lack of swimming pools in the Griffith area only the 25-metre pool and there's a lot of concern about people swimming in channels, which is dangerous and illegal," Mr Murwood said.
"There's no room for a 50-metre pool in Griffith but we've got plenty of room out here."
YPA secretary John Bianchini said the money would stay in trust until there was a "major consensus" from the community on how it should be used.
"It was raised for the community, for a pool, and I think it should be spent in the community," Mr Bianchini said.
"I think a recreation facility is a perfect example of something it can be used for - even if it's just improvements to the equipment in the main park and putting up a nice shade sail."