Nearly 1500 people have signed the online petition to save the 50m swimming pool in Bomaderry, due to be closed when the indoor sports centre is complete.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bomaderry is home to 50m and 25m outdoor pools, pools that are run down, and will be closed in the upcoming three to five years.
These facilities are due to be replaced with a 25m indoor pool.
Shoalhaven Councillor Mitchell Pakes believes that will do the community a great disservice.
At council’s ordinary meeting on Tuesday, Cr Pakes will put forward a motion that will see council investigate costs of incorporating a 50m pool into the design of the Bomaderry Indoor Sporting Complex.
“The community is cranky at the fact council’s removing both pools replacing it with a 25m indoor pool, and then investing over $60 million to an indoor sporting complex,” Cr Pakes said.
“I’ll be advocating very strongly for the 50m pool to be replaced.
“I can understand the residents’ frustrations.
“They’ve been told they can travel and use the Olympic pool in Nowra.”
Bomaderry residents don’t accept the pool over the bridge as an option.
The petition states the Nowra pool is already filled to capacity, crossing the bridge is an obstacle that will not be fixed for many years and it is certainly not suitable for young children to cycle or walk across to get to the local pool.
The Bay and Basin Leisure Centre has been popular and busy since it was open in September, 2001.
“Considering the Bay and Basin centre, it’s clear how popular the venue is, going on how often it’s booked out, it seems a bit silly to replace it (Bomaderry pool) with just a 25m pool,” Cr Pakes said.
“We can’t reduce services, if anything we need to increase services.”
Cr Pakes isn’t sure if he has the numbers to pass the motion, but he would like his peers to support the review.
If you would like to sign the petition, visit the Change.org page.