Page 1442 - Week 04 - Thursday, 26 March 2009
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The Deakin swimming pool has been in operation for more than 35 years. Generations of families have learned to swim in this valuable sporting facility. The pool at Deakin is the only 50-metre indoor facility in Canberra to operate year round, without support of any kind from the ACT government. Sadly, the building and the equipment are in such disrepair that profitability has been affected, almost to the point of no return for the current operators, Deakin Swimming Ltd. Indeed, without an about-face from the minister in giving some government support to this community-based group, their survival is questionable.
The facility attracts more than 1,000 children to the learn to swim program. As of 9 April, these children will have to make alternative arrangements. Patrons of swim clubs, the elderly, residents of aged-care facilities and office workers alike will be sorely affected by this closure. The closure of this facility would mean that there was not an indoor pool available anywhere other than in the regions of Belconnen, Tuggeranong and the city, and travel to use an indoor pool will be a major issue for some.
As a very real example of the general concern, I quote the following email from one of numerous such messages from the community, urging us to save this much-needed community facility:
I read with alarm and despondence in the Canberra Times of 25 March 2009 that the Oasis pool at Deakin is to close for lack of funds.
This pool is home to a large group of elderly women who do aquarobics there on a regular basis.
We are constantly encouraged, nay nagged, by government to exercise regularly and stay fit and healthy. At our age, with a variety of knee, hip, leg and other frailties, aquarobics is the only way that we can exercise vigorously and regularly.
The closure of this facility, following the closure of the Deakin Pool a few years ago, leaves the residents of the Southside with no easy access to our exercise. The options open to us are either economically or environmentally unsound:
The charges for aquarobics classes at the Hyatt are beyond the means of most pensioners. Classes held at Erindale and Tuggeranong pools would—
in most cases—
involve a 12-15K drive each way; not desirable particularly from a pollution perspective.
The pool operators describe conditions at the pool in their recent media release as follows:
As a not for profit organization, Deakin Swimming Limited has paid rent and contributions to the owner for his capital costs since October 2002. During that time, improvements to pool surrounds, change rooms, toilets, pumps, the boiler,
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