Wave of anger at pool cutbacks

A WAVE of discontent is building as Mackay Regional Council prepares to close the Memorial Swim Centre at weekends from October 1.

Jane Conlon.

A WAVE of discontent is building as Mackay Regional Council prepares to close the Memorial Swim Centre at weekends from October 1.

The council says its decision will save ratepayers $60,000 a year, however, some swimmers fear it is the first step towards a permanent closure of the Milton St pool. Many of those who regularly use the pool, including Jane Conlon are disappointed to see it close at weekends.

"I think it should be kept open," Ms Conlon, who has disabilities and uses the pool regularly to keep mobile, said.

"They're discriminating against people who live on this side of town."

Ms Conlon said she couldn't get out of the pool using the steps at the Pioneer Swim Centre and found it too cold. She said other swimmers she had spoken to were also "extremely upset" about the closure.

Earlier this year, the council's Open Space, Sport and Recreation Strategy, which was put together by an independent consultant, suggested the future of the Memorial Swim Centre be considered as it could be "reaching the end of its useful life".

However, community services director Gerard Carlyon yesterday said a permanent closure had not been considered "at all".

The swimming pool saw a decline in visitor numbers after the Bluewater Lagoon opened in 2008, with single admissions dropping from 10,000 to about 4000, he said.

With each weekend's wages costing about $1500, it was expensive to keep the pool open when swimmers could use the nearby Pioneer Swim Centre, he said.

Ms Conlon said this was frustrating for paying pool users when entry to the Bluewater Lagoon, which cost about $1 million a year to run, was free.

"If they just had a dollar coin (entry) and $5 for a family they would make $20,000 easily in a month - or more," she said.

Fellow swimmer Carol Single wanted more people encouraged to use the pool so it could stay open at weekends.

Originally published as Wave of anger at pool cutbacks