Williamstown Swimming and Life Saving Club members’ plea to save pool in $14m redevelopment

A historic life saving club has begged a Melbourne council not to bulldoze its pool or take away its cafe that provides a vital revenue stream helping keep it afloat.

Many members from the Williamstown Swimming and Life Saving Club want to keep the pool where generations of volunteers have been trained. Picture: Supplied

A historic Melbourne life saving club could have its pool “recklessly” bulldozed by the council in a land grab that would also take over a vital revenue stream generated by a cafe used to support generations of volunteers.

Williamstown Swimming and Life Saving Club members have pleaded with Hobsons Bay Council to halt its redevelopment plans that would level its training pool, overtake its cafe and make the members’ lawn a public area.

Sources claim about $30,000 used to maintain life saving capabilities would be lost each year if the council absorbed the cafe.

Nippers training for WSLSC was held at the pool on Wednesday due to pollution across Port Phillip Bay. Picture: Supplied

A 1200-strong petition prepared by club member Sarah Vincenzini said that while funding was welcomed for the upgraded facilities, the council’s draft plan “significantly altered the capabilities and culture” of the beloved club that had relied on its pool for more than 60 years.

“We strongly oppose the plans to bulldoze the club pool, which has taught generations of local school kids how to swim, and provided an invaluable space for life savers and members to develop their water safety skills,” Ms Vincenzini said.

“We want the funding provided to include the original scope of saving the pool and retaining all land currently used by (the club) … help us show that member-based life saving clubs should not be recklessly and irreparably altered by local council.”

Williamstown Swimming and Life Saving Club member Sarah Vincenzini with her kids Audrey and Henry Isaacs who take part in nippers. Picture: Nilsson Jones

“This is not some social or elitist pool, it’s a life saving tool.”

The petition claimed the council would “incorrectly” classify the pool as an aquatic centre to justify demolition and handover the members’ lawn and relocate it to a spot without direct water visibility or access.

It comes as the Herald Sun exclusively revealed life savers at Altona and Williamstown begged the council for parking permits so volunteers could focus on community safety and not face parking fines or fees nearing $50 per shift.

The redevelopment plans followed state government funding, boosted by a council contribution, but the draft design was quickly rejected by members prompting a meeting with the club’s board.

Club president Claire Howell said the board was in a difficult position because it could not show members the plans prior to public exhibition but had hosted a meeting to help get everyone moving in the same direction and created a survey to allow members to list their priorities.

WSLSC president Claire Howell said members wanted to have their say about the proposed redevelopment. Picture: Supplied

She said there were more than 1800 members who were all emotionally attached to the site and the club, which hosted the largest bayside life saving program with about 450 nippers and almost a hundred active patrollers.

According to the council’s website, the project would retain the historic pavilion and include “core life saving functions” but the delivery of a new pool was not in its scope and the current budget was insufficient.

The state government committed $11.3m towards the upgrade while the council added an extra $3m.

Current plans include retaining the pavilion, improving storage, amenities and new public toilets.

A council spokesman said they had worked closely with the club, the state government, and Life Saving Victoria to develop plans which all stakeholders supported prior to public exhibition.

“Club members and the community are able to provide their feedback, all feedback will be reviewed and considered as part of finalising the design before the schematic design is developed early next year,” the spokesman said.

The council could not comment on petitions until it officially received them.