Letter to the Editor: Sawtell Pool changes

DEAR News Of The Area,

There is a long-term plan to redevelop the Sawtell Pool used for recreation/exercise/aerobics into a “water play facility” and to maintain Coffs Memorial as the “go to” main pool.

Shame on you all if those who decided to turn our library/art gallery into a heartless jolly green giant, take Sawtell Pool from those who use it on a daily basis.

The pool offers aerobics for those who wish to remain fit and mobile; Mums with bubs can socialise quietly and safely in a controlled space; people like me can conscientiously do our laps so we don’t end up in nursing homes; and the elderly can float, kick and exercise (many do so on a daily basis).

The pool is visited by 6am lappers before work, caravan park visitors who simply just want to cool off and hundreds of school kids – all learning to swim.

This is a message from all these patrons of our beloved space, who are always lovingly looked after by the wonderful pool attendants there.

Council, are you going to tell us we don’t matter by the stroke of a pen and some economic, money-saving plan?

Many of the patrons are not well enough to travel to Coffs or Baringa for therapy.

Sawtell is safe, quiet and a convenient place for its regular users.

For weeks now the pool has been booked out daily for school students to learn to swim.

Are you also saying learning to swim is not as useful to our constantly drowning youth and that a “play area” could be more useful and productive?

How many of you, who are developing the new plan, have actually ever swam there?

Not many, if any, I’m sure.

So please Council, don’t create another area bungle.

Just leave us taxpayers to our simple pleasures and get on with fixing things that are broken and stop breaking things that are working.

In fact, let the pool be open longer as the trading hours are not always suitable.

For once, stop and think about what really matters to the residents of Sawtell and its surrounds.

This plan for a play water area only caters for a small group in the community, not the range of patronage related to in this letter of total disbelief.

Regards,
Liz PHILPOTT,
Boambee East.