The opponents of the closure of Wangaratta’s Yarrunga outdoor pool say they have not given up hope of saving the north-east Victorian facility.

The administrators of the Wangaratta council were shutting the pool and another one which they said were too expensive to maintain, and were pushing ahead with plans for a multimillion dollar aquatic centre and a splash pool.

The Save Yarrunga Pool Group warned it could take legal action to save the pool but it was still hoping to persuade the administrators to take another look at possible ways of retaining it.

Group spokeswoman Jenny Hart said the group was convinced the concerns over the cost of maintaining and repairing the pool were unjustified.

“If proper effort is put into this pool and it’s well programmed and it’s utilised year-round for various purposes other than just aquatic purposes, in the off-season as well, it can be a real potential asset for the community and we think it should be preserved,” she said.

She said it may have to resort to taking its case to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal but it was still hoping the administrators would respond to constructive negotiations instead.

“We’ll keep our approach of trying to persuade the council that there are viable alternatives,” she said.

“There are so many other great examples out there in other shires where their outdoor pools have been success stories and we think, why not create that opportunity for Wangaratta?”

A 22-YEAR-OLD man has died after a single-vehicle crash on the Hume Highway at Gundagai on Sunday morning.

Emergency services were called to the scene of the accident, near Jessops Lagoon Road, but the man died at the scene.

Initial investigations by police suggest his Hyundai Elantra veered off the road and hit a railing.

No one else was injured as a result of the accident.

The Gundagai crash was one of four separate fatal accidents around NSW on Sunday.

Two men and a woman have been charged after a 210km police pursuit in southern NSW.

About 12.20am today (Monday 2 March 2015), Gundagai Highway Patrol detected a black Mitsubishi Lancer travelling at an alleged speed of 183km/h in a 110km/h speed zone, on the Hume Highway Tumblong.

A pursuit was initiated after the vehicle failed to stop for police.

The Mitsubishi travelled along the Hume Highway at Tumblong, then onto Cootamundra Road at Cootamundra, where officers deployed road spikes.

The vehicle drove over them and continued travelling along the Olympic Highway to Wallendbeen, before returning to Cootamundra.

At Cootamundra, a 24-year-old woman got out of the vehicle and was arrested by police. She was later charged for breach of bail.

Police continued to follow the vehicle, over a distance of 210km, on Gundagai Road to Muttama then on the Hume highway to Jugiong – where police deployed a third set of road spikes.

The vehicle stopped on the Hume Highway, south of Bookham, where two men were arrested by police and taken to Goulburn Police Station.

A 33-year-old man, who was the driver, was charged with police pursuit not stop (Skye’s Law), drive in a manner dangerous, exceed speed by more than 45km/h, and never licensed person drive vehicle.

He was refused bail and is due to appear in Goulburn Local Court today (Monday 2 March 2015).

A 23-year-old man was charged with breach AVO and was refused bail. He is due to appear in Goulburn Local Court today (Monday 2 March 2015).

CONSIDERABLE progress has been made at Motorcycling Victoria’s State Motorcycle Sports Complex at Broadford since the Victorian Government announced a $550,000 grant last October.

MV’s CEO, Mr Wayne Holdsworth, has since set-up a specially-dedicated Project Control Group that will oversee the upgrades which includes representatives of Sport & Recreation Victoria, the Mitchell Shire Council and Motorcycling Victoria.

The upgrades will include improvements to the entrance of the facility, a new car park, a new administration office and community centre building, improved toilet facilities, as well as a new unique viewing area of the motocross track above the pits shed.

“The selection of a project management company is in the final stages and that group will work closely with all key stakeholders to drive the project through to completion,” Mr Holdsworth said.

MV staff from Melbourne have already started to relocate to Broadford, including Ms Peta Thomas, MV’s Committees & Inclusion Manager, from the beginning of the year.

Staff structural changes at Broadford, to help manage the upgrades, have also occurred.

Mitchell Shire Mayor, Councillor Rodney Parker said the Council is very pleased to be working closely with Motorcycling Victoria to see their vision become a reality.

“We’ve always felt that the State Motorcycle Sports Complex was an under-utilised asset, and it will be great to see the stimulation to our local economy. Hopefully this is just the beginning of great things to come for Broadford,” Cr Parker said.

Mr Holdsworth added: “It’s really exciting to see the wheels of change start to turn at Broadford.”