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Hundreds of swimmers in Brisbane’s inner-north are fighting to stop a university closing their local pool to build a specialist sporting facility.
The Queensland University of Technology announced this month it would permanently shut the 25-metre indoor swimming pool in its Kelvin Grove Urban Village.
The move shocked locals like 66-year-old Paddington local Mike Goodwin, who had frequented the indoor pool up to six time a week for about five years.
“I had both my hips replaced about 10 years ago and took my rehabilitation to the pool,” he said.
Goodwin said the pool was a valued resource for locals, used by seniors, people with disabilities, and families learning to swim.
“It’s a year-round facility, and that’s really why I started to go there – I swam in outdoor pools primarily before that [but] the trouble is a lot of them close over winter.”
Goodwin is part of a community push to stop the closure, which QUT said was expected on September 1 to make way for a new “purpose-built teaching, research and high-performance gym facility”.
None of the regular swimmers recalled being consulted ahead of the announcement, Goodwin said.
A petition launched in mid-June gathered more than 500 signatures within several weeks.
“We’d like the closure to be put on hold until we can find out if there was consultation done … we really want to try and get them to actively consider meeting their needs and keeping the pool open,” he said.
In an email to staff on Wednesday, QUT Vice-Chancellor Margaret Sheil said the closure aligned with the university’s master plan, which included extensive community consultation.
“The plan outlines the need to renew ageing facilities, develop fit-for-purpose spaces, further activate the Kelvin Grove Urban Village,” Sheil said.
A QUT spokesperson told this masthead was already planning to transition its aquatic programs – including classes and swim squads – to Gardens Point.
The university gave a list of alternative local swimming holes to members, including the 22.86-metre (25-yard) heritage Spring Hill Baths, Ithaca Pool next to Suncorp Stadium, and the busy Newmarket Pool – about an eight-kilometre drive up Enoggera Road.
The closest swimming facility, however, was not listed.
Nearby Centenary Pool – owned by Brisbane City Council – was due to close in late August, with the entire precinct closing on September 1.
Businesses leasing spaces within the Centenary Aquatics Centre precinct were notified of the date in mid-June, making way for redevelopment works around Victoria Park, including a National Aquatics Centre.
Goodwin said the twin closures would ultimately rule out regular swimming for some current users of QUT’s pool.
“The Gardens Point pool isn’t going to be a viable alternative for many of the different patrons because it’s in the CBD and there are costs associated with parking,” he said.
When asked if it had contacted members of Goodwin’s group, the university pointed to its early June email.
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