Petition making a splash

Plans to introduce a turnstyle and vending machine to Corrimal Pool will victimise struggling families and older residents – according to a growing number of local residents.

A public meeting held last week saw between 70 and 80 residents turn up to express their concern about the plans and a petition has already attracted a hoarde of signatures.

Concerned local swimmer David Grubb said that, with interest rate hikes and the rising cost of living, pool use could be placed out of reach for many families if a turnstyle system of payment goes ahead.

“They whinge about obesity in our kids – but then they make it harder for them to get out and go swimming,” he said.

“For example if your child wanted to train with the swim squad and swim a morning session and then an afternoon session they would have to pay entry for a morning swim and then again for the afternoon swim, multiply that by five days then make it two or three kids plus the swim coach fees for the month – why should it cost so much to have healthy kids and healthy adults?”

“If you consider someone like Dawn Fraser – who didn’t have the most well-off childhood – what would have happened if she could not afford to swim?”

Following last Wednesday’s meeting, a committee was formed and a plan will be structured to fight for the current pool employees to retain their positions and keep the human face of the popular local amenity.

Concerns expressed at the meeting included the questionable capability of a machine turnstyle to charge different fees for different people – such as pensioners or children who would traditionally receive a discounted entry rate.

Another fear was that a single inspector at the pool would not be sufficient to ensure the safety of both swimmers and those out of the water.

The land the pool was built on was originally donated by the Ziems family for public use – and part of the cost of building the pool and swim club came from local fundraising – including lamington drives.

A spokesperson for Wollongong City Council said they were investigating alternative methods of fee collection at Corrimal and Dapto Pools and that by installing automated collections council had identified a saving of $200,000.