A public meeting held on Sunday August 19 launched a campaign to save Mayfield public swimming pool. This follows a leaked report, commissioned by Newcastle City Council, recommending the pool be replaced with a water slide.
Around 150 people attended the meeting, made up of babies and shool-age children, their parents and grandparents. These local residents, and representatives of community groups, opposed the logic of "user pays" for community services like Mayfield's public swimming pool, and called on Council to enhance the pool with additional services rather than remove it.
Proposals included an upgrade of the cafe facilities, more shade covered areas, solar heating for the pool as part of a broader ecologically sustainable project, learn to swim classes, community involvement in the pool's management, and improved adjoining playground facilities for children.
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6 comments:
Yeah, lets get those letters and phone calls to radio stations happening everyone! We need to keep this on people's minds.Don't let them do this to us.
I was so inspired when I attended this meeting. It is great to live in a community where people have the drive and energy to make their community better. Attending the meeting made me proud to live in Mayfield and I think we need to fight to make sure this community keeps developing and improving.
Mrs Sanderson? Is that you?
But I totally agree, we can't let them get rid of OUR pool,given to US by BHP.
Everybody go to;poolsfeedback@ncc.nsw.gov.au and leave your comments on the Pool Service Delivery Model or else we'll have their idea of a pool delivered to us in concrete ..filled in and smoothed over!
I love living in Newcastle, especially because of the fabulous facilities available to everyone here. It would be incredibly sad if the only suburbs to retain their facilities are those most able to pay high entry fees to use them. If such facilities as the art gallery, museum and the ocean baths can be provided for free to all the community (and I'm not disputing that these are not important), then why can't Mayfield Swimming pool also be provided (even if subsidised) to the community. If the council decides to upgrade Mayfield pool with a new cafe and play equipment, while maintaining the current entry fee, then patronage will substantially increase, thus improving the amount of monies raised from admission charges. Closing the existing pool is a no- win solution for all!!
Like Maggie and others have said in various comments, part the attraction for us moving into Ingall Street 7 years ago was the pool and park walking distance away. Now with an almost 3 year old, and still resisting the lure of air conditioning, the pool is our saviour in summer, just as it is for the hundreds / thousands of others who make good use of the pool in the summer.
Mayfield deserves not just to keep the pool, but have it upgraded to increase its attraction to all residents, all year round.
Tom.
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