Community gathers to show support for Mayfield Swimming Pool: “Improve it don’t remove it”
This evening (Tuesday 28th) residents of Mayfield, Tighes Hill, Islington and Carrington wearing goggles, snorkels, flippers and other swimming gear will gather at City Hall to show support for Mayfield Swimming Pool. The protest will coincide with the formal tabling of a recently leaked and controversial consultants’ report proposing the closure of the much loved Pool.
“Mayfield Swimming Pool is an important part of our community life”, said Brian Gaffney, spokesperson for Save Mayfield Swimming Pool. At a hastily organised meeting in Mayfield last Sunday week ago, more than 150 adults and children attended and unanimously condemned the proposal to close the pool. Also represented were numerous community organisations including Mayfield Mainstreet, Mayfield Community Forum and the Coaltion of Schools to Save Mayfield Pool, comprising all local schools as well as the unions representing teachers in public, Catholic and private schools.
“Many speakers shared stories of the importance of the pool in their lives, and the life of our community. Older residents remember the last time, 10 or so years ago, when Council tried to close the pool. Mayfield Swimming Pool needs Council to recognise its community value, not neglect it or close it.
“We want to ensure our treasured Mayfield Swimming Pool is retained and enhanced. We want to work with Council to improve both the facilities and swimmer numbers. We say ‘Improve it don’t remove it’.
“Residents honour the pool’s history, acknowledge the pool’s current social value and anticipate the important role the pool will play in our community’s future. The proposal before Council does none of these things.” concluded Mr Gaffney.
Photo Opportunity:
When: 6.30pm today (Tuesday 28 August)
Where: Steps of City Hall
What: Residents of Mayfield, Tighes Hill, Islington & Carrington wearing goggles snorkels, flippers and other swimming gear.
1 comment:
I applaud all your efforts to save this community asset for the people of Mayfield.
Let me make this clear, the swimming pool was certainly more than a gift from BHP, it was compensation for the removal of the last piece of riverfront recreational land Mayfield was left.
It was Shelley Beach, or Shell Beach Park, and was a coastline recreation area for the people of Mayfield, the last area of waterfront land from Newcastle to Sandgate that formed part of the Platt's Channel. It was filled in by B.H.P. in 1950 after a deal with the Local and State Governments that saw the channel being given to the company in exchange for land located at Shortland, upon which the University of Newcastle now rests. The machinations began on the 13th November 1941 and ended with the first shovel of fill being thrown on 21st April 1950.
For more information please see my website located here:
http://www.newcastle.edu.au/service/archives/mayfield/shelleybeach.html
Gionni
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