Swimmers sacrifice togs in protest over pool closure
A “TOGS on the Fence” protest saw swimmers hang their old bathers and bikinis on the fence around the Parramatta Memorial Pool in another display of unhappiness about its imminent closure.
Parramatta
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TEMPERATURES are rising at Parramatta’s Memorial Pool and this time it has got little to do with the weather.
On Saturday, Togs on the Fence saw protesting swimmers hang their old swimming trunks and bikinis on the fence around the pool in another display of unhappiness at the planned end-of-March pool closure to make way for a new and bigger sports stadium.
“Togs on the Fence campaign is a way for community to show the state government how important this pool to is to people of western Sydney,” North Parramatta Residents Action Group president Suzette Meade said.
More than 200 signatures were added to a petition organised by NPRAG on the weekend.
“While gathering more than 200 signatures in less than two hours, we heard from school age boys catching trains from Guildford to come here because it’s the best pool and grounds in the west,” Ms Meade said.
“We witnessed a mother and daughter hang up three generations of togs because her grandad used to come and swim at Parra pool.
“The closing of the pool for this particular family will be even more devastating because the granddaughter is now wheelchair bound and Parra pool represented affordable, accessible and regular hydro therapy.”
Parramatta Council is also facing potential action by the United Services Union (USU) who say over 50 full and part-time staff at the pool may lose their jobs.
A union spokesman said staff had been approached individually by council officers but the union wanted to represent all staff and would ask for talks with the council.
Parramatta Council says there are 15 fulltime staff, plus casuals employed at the pool.
Council administrator Amanda Chadwick said: “The employment of staff engaged prior to the issuing of the NSW Government’s amalgamation proclamation in May 2016 is protected until at least May 2019 and council will redeploy staff based on their skills, experience, qualifications and interests. Council is continuing to work with affected staff to assess their redeployment opportunities.”
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Ms Chadwick said Parramatta would need staff at Epping pool.
“There is also an opportunity for all pool staff with employment protection to transfer to Cumberland Council which will operate the Granville Swimming Centre from April 2017,” she said.
Council is in discussions about staff transfer arrangements with Cumberland Council and interested staff, she added.
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