Sawtell residents unhappy with proposed closure of pool

CITY of Coffs Harbour councillors will decide next Thursday whether to publicly release the draft Aquatic Facilities Strategy for the Local Government Area.

Sawtell residents are already unhappy with an expected recommendation to turn their pool into a “water-play facility”.

The proposal is to: “maintain Sawtell Pool as a local-level facility until Coffs Harbour War Memorial Pool is established as a regional-level facility… [then] redevelop [Sawtell pool] as a destination water-play facility”.

Locals argue that closing the pool is not in the community’s interest.

They also say they pay high rates for little in return.

Ongoing infrastructure issues include the incomplete footpath between First Avenue and the railway station; no safe cycle path out of the village; and the Murrays Beach steps still being wired off.

Lyn Hastings has been a member of the Sawtell community since 2018 and swims at the pool at 6am alongside a coach who not only uses the facilities but, “creates and develops strong swimming skills and valuable water safety skills, and prepares children from Sawtell and the southern towns to be strong, confident people”.

“When I swim laps at Sawtell Pool, I see mothers chatting by the wading pool, young families bonding, and learn-to-swim classes running every morning in the old portable pool (which has now been removed).”

Learn-to-swim can no longer be run at Sawtell Pool.

“I have watched, season after season, the gradual erosion of these features at our pool.

“Is the Council expecting lifesavers to drive to Coffs regularly so they can maintain fitness?

“Are we really okay with making children learn to swim at least 12km away?”

Other residents pointed out that an $8m upgrade promised by Cowper MP Pat Conaghan and then former Mayor Denise Knight, did not eventuate.

Current Mayor Nikki Williams also stood with Mr Conaghan before the last election to announce a grant for the pool if the Coalition was voted into government.

Councillor Paul Amos said the earlier grant was returned because Council’s anticipated contribution blew out to more than double.

A recent report by Royal Life Saving Australia found that high costs are a national problem and that 40 percent of pools in Australia will be obsolete by 2030.

Sawtell resident Madeline Fussell said she would love to use the local pool more but finds the hours very constricted.

“Given the melanoma statistics in Australia, I prefer to take my toddler grandson later in the afternoon but the pool closes at 1 or 2pm.

“I have other grandchildren who are loving the swimming club at Sawtell and it would be so sad to see this community activity lost.

“A water park sounds great but not at the cost of the pool.”

Greg Hackfath ran the Council’s Lifeguard Service for 27-years and his wife Sharen still coaches children and adults.

He said the lifeguards frequently did their assessments and training there.

“They allowed the facilities to get more run down by not keeping up maintenance.

“The community needs this pool; the community needs “learn to swim” services.

“The community wants afternoon squads and Swim Club to continue.

“Closing Sawtell Pool is not in the best interests of our community, we must stop the Council from doing this.”

By Andrew VIVIAN