Mayfield Pool News

In recent times, there has been a strong groundswell of community action to save and support the Mayfield Swimming Pool.

Prompted by the revelation in August 2007 of council plans to close the pool in favour of upgrading Lambton Swimmming Centre, local pool lovers and the wider community have worked hard to ensure the survival of this essential public resource.

This page documents the ongoing story of the Save Mayfield Swimming Pool campaign. Articles are in reverse order with the most current news at the top.

News Articles

Media Release: SMSP Welcomes Candidate's Strong Support For Mayfield Swimming Pool

4-Sep-2008

With council elections just over a week away, the Save Mayfield Swimming Pool (SMSP) Campaign has produced a scorecard to show where Mayoral and lead Ward candidates stand on the future of Mayfield Swimming Pool.

Tim Connor, SMSP Campaign spokesperson said "We're happy to report that candidates' support for Mayfield Swimming Pool is close to unanimous. Candidates have welcomed the opportunity to commit to working together with the Mayfield community and to use the next four years to advocate for the future of the pool. In particular candidates have committed to support the implementation of solar heating at the pool in the next 12 months."

"We are pleased at the commitment candidates are showing to our community and we look forward to continuing to work constructively with our council. Concern about the future of the pool has generated incredible levels of community involvement in the pool campaign and it is heartening to see candidates responding positively."

Recent discussions with council officers indicate that shade structures and a new playground will be built at the the pool in the coming months. These welcome improvements are consistent with our community's vision for improving the pool. Current action bu council together with candidate's expressions of support bode well for the the future of the pool."

The scorecard appears in the current issue of the Leader community newspaper, delivered from today to 40,000 households acrooss Newcastle.

The SMSP campaign will also letterbox more than 10,000 households across Mayfield, Tighes Hill and Islington (all in Ward 1) with a summary scorecard indicating where candidates for Lord Mayor and Ward 1 stand on the future of the pool.

SMSP Campaign Reported in Mayfield Leader

3-Sep-2008

The Mayfield Leader has included a cover story on the Save Mayfield Swimming Pool group's campaign to survey Council candidates.

The survey has been distributed in the lead up the the council elections and questions the candidates on their commitment to retain and improve Mayfield Swimming Pool.

Candidates Visions for the Pool

3-Sep-2008

Several candidates for the upcoming Newcastle Council elections have provided a statement of their vision for the future of Mayfield Pool.

These can be viewed in detail here.

Survey Responses From Candidates

1-Sep-08

Most candidates for the upcoming Newcastle Council elections have responded to the survey prepared by the Save Mayfield Swimming Pool group.

The good news is that, with the exception of one Ward 2 candidate, there is strong consensus about supporting and improving Mayfield Swimming Pool!

For detailed responses, view the forms here and here.

Survey To Council Candidates: Where Do You Stand?

14-Aug-2008

The SMSP group has produced a questionnaire which it is sending to all candidates for Lord Mayor and all lead candidates in Wards 1 through 4 for the upcoming council election.

The questionnaire will help voters to know where candidates stand on future of our pool.

SMSP Campaign will collect candidates' responses and put them together in the form of a scorecard. The scorecard will be publicised widely in our community in the lead up to the election.

Meeting To Support Mayfield Pool

26-Jun-2008

A group of residents met on Saturday June 14 to plan the next stage of what began as the "Save Mayfield Pool" campaign.

The final resolution from Council last year read, in part: "The submission by the Save Mayfield Swimming Pool (SMSP) Community Group be received as a basis for further consultation to take place between Council and SMSP Community Group over a five year period to investigate the business case for the retention of, and future improvement program for, Mayfield Pool."

Based on this commitment, the meeting began planning:

1. Desirable improvements to Mafyield pool, linked to a vision of the sort of community we want to develop.
2. Community consultation for improvements to Mayfield pool.
3. Strategies for political pressure for the upcoming Council elections to ensure Council lives up to its commitment.
4. How to maintain campaign momentum, having moved from the "save" to "improve" side of our campaign.
5. Possible fund-raising activities that we could support for the pool.

Open Day Demonstrates Support For Mayfield Pool

9-Dec-2007

Hundreds of people enjoyed the free enty Open Day at Mayfield Pool yesterday.

At one point the organised soccer on the grassed area drew a response of around 30 a side; the circus workshops were very popular; and the pools were full of adults and kids enjoying the water.

The huge success of the day clearly demonstrates the popularity, the current value of the Pool to the community, and its potential as outlined in our submission to Council. It also adds weight to calls from some in the SMSP campaign to review entry fees / trial reduced or free entry, and assess the impact on attendance.

It would be useful if councillors, particularly those in this Ward, called in to witness the impact themselves, and if Council had asked the pool operators to record attendance on the Open Day. The increased numbers was striking to regular pool users.

Once the decision to keep the pool open is formalised on the SMSP group plans to begin to negotiate with Council for them to consider and systematically include and promote more of these sorts of activities for our Pool.

Council Recommends Keeping Mayfield Pool

7-Dec-2007

Following the clear, consistent and strong response of the Mayfield and surrounding communities - via petitions, input at public meetings, written submissions, etc - Council officers are now recommending that Mayfield Pool remain open.

It seems that Mayfield pool won't be removed (at least in the next 5 years), and might even be improved, as reported in the story in the Newcastle Herald.

Council have called for ongoing community input over the next five years to improve the Mayfield facility in line with local needs.

SMSP group are urging community members to attend Council on Tuesday at 7pm (with swimming gear, snorkels, flippers, signs etc) to witness and celebrate this important vote by Councillors, and to ensure that the vote aligns with community sentiment.

SMSP Floods Council with Submissions

28-Oct-2007

An enjoyable afternoon at the Pool on Sunday once again reinforced the level of community support for Mayfield Pool.

Pool users completed Council Feedback Forms, wrote hand-written submissions, signed petitions, and coloured in "poster-submission" for delivery to Council on the 31st. NBN News and the Newcastle Herald were there, with stories in the paper on on Sunday night's news.

Following the meeting, a 5 page submission was lodged with Council, in the name of the SMSP campaign, detailing the flaws in the proposal to close Mayfield Pool, and the health, community and social justice argument for keeping and improving the pool. This submission was accompanied with:

* a copy of Gionni Di Gravio's presentation of the history of Mayfield Swimming Pool;

* 91 pages of petitions with approximately 2150 signatures;

* 30 Council feedback forms;

* 25 individual, hand-written submissions; and

* 21 kids poster-submissions.

All of this is in addition to the large number of individual submissions have been emailed, posted and dropped in to Council to date. The SMSP group are now awaiting Council's response.

History Of Mayfield Swimming Pool

27-Sep-2007

Gionni di Gravio, Archivist at the University of Newcastle, has put together a slide show about the history of Mayfield Swimming Pool.

The presentation covers the history of the bequeathing and construction of the pool and its connection to Shelly Beach in Mayfield which was given to BHP.

The contents of this presentation can be seen here.

Wave Of Support Saves Pool

By Michael Blaxland
Published in Sun Herald, 23-Sep-2007

NEWCASTLE Council's plans for a multi-million dollar revamp of swimming facilities have been scuttled following a huge community outburst.

Conversion of Lambton Pool into an aquatic and leisure centre is likely to go back to the drawing board because a majority of councillors won't support a major plank of the proposal – the removal of Mayfield swimming pool. More than 200 people attended an, at times, heated public meeting on Thursday night which had to be moved from the pool to Mayfield East public school hall because council officers hadn't expected such a huge turn-out.

A poll of councillors last week by the Sun Herald has found the majority supports retention of the swimming pool, contrary to the council's draft pool services delivery plan. The plan, which was revealed exclusively in Hunter Extra on July 22, was devised by consultants after private meetings involving only a handful of community members. The proposed public exhibition of the plan was deferred at a subsequent council meeting, pending a series of public consultations which began last week. The four other pools, at Lambton, Wallsend, Stockton and Beresfield would be retained.

Support for the multi-million dollar proposal has dwindled to such an extent that seven of the 13 councillors contacted last week, said they now supported retention of the Mayfield pool. They are Lord Mayor John Tate and Councillors Ian McKenzie, Michael Osborne, Keith Parson, Aaron Buman, Paul Scobie and Sonia Hornery. Councillors Gwen Jackson and Cassandra Arnold said they were not in favour of retaining the pool and Marilyn Eade and Barry Scully said they were undecided.

Councillor Helene O'Neill, who had previously been vocal in her opposition to the retention, was unavailable for comment and Barbara Gaudry had been on an extended holiday overseas until late last week.

The retention of the pool should be seen as a chance to re-invigorate the Mayfield area, according to Councillor Tate.

"We need to upgrade our pools and there's no question that what the Mayfield community wants is an improved pool and one that can stay open. For instance we could see a 25-metre heated indoor pool at Lambton and a heated pool at Mayfield as well."

Mayfield community forum co-chair Bill Robinson said a plan which had been forced on the community had now become an opportunity to improve the area with community support.

"The public was unaware of the proposal until it was revealed in the Sun Herald, which caused a major outcry, but forced community consultation," he said. "We now have hundreds of families who are prepared to work with the council to build a fantastic swimming centre, which will benefit everyone and ensure its financial viability.

"Mayfield's pool was funded by BHP in compensation for the reclamation of Shelley Beach near the Tourle Street bridge. The proposal would have taken away our community waterhole."

Proposal For Heritage Listing

20-Sep-2007

A letter in support of heritage listing for the Mayfield Swimming Pool has been written by Colin Whelan and forwarded to Ms Janet Dore (General Manager of Newcastle City Council); Ms Sarah Cameron (Heritage Officer); and John Tate (Lord Mayor).

The letter presents several points to support the case for the pool's heritage significance:

1. It would be reasonably open for council to conclude that Mayfield Pool is of significant importance to Mayfield's and Newcastle's historical links to the Broken Hill Propriety (BHP) Company Limited. Conversely the Mayfield pool was given as gift to city on 11 November 1966 by BHP as an appreciation to the people that had provided their labour the the Company for the last 50 years.

Steel making and the people who were involved in the making of steel are an important part of Newcastle's history and Mayfield Pool was their recreational facility. Therefore the pool must be preserved in its current state as an historical memento to the people who worked also lost their lives making steel to Newcastle could prosper.

2. The Mayfield Pool has been in existence for the last Forty Years and in that time a large number of Mayfield people as well as residents from the surrounding suburbs have developed a strong and special association with this pool. And we are all of the same opinion: the Pool is of significant importance to the historical, social and cultural history of Mayfield and Newcastle.

3. It would be reasonably open for council to conclude that Mayfield Pool has become an integral part of the suburb. Moreover it was acknowledged at the September 16 public meeting unanimously that for the last forty years the pool has demonstrated and attributed to the principal characteristics of Mayfield and the surrounding subrubs by providing enjoyment and recreation for thousands of men, women and children.

BHP paid a total of $160,000 for the construction of two pools: an Olympic Size Swimming Pool and a children's swimming pool, it it was not for BHP, Mayfield Swimming Pool may never have been built.

The letter concludes that money must be found to preserve the pool for posterity and to honour the words of the Lord Mayor at the time, F.J.Purdue when he said "On behalf of the citizens of Newcastle I accept this magnificent gift with gratitude".

Consultation Sends Clear Message To Council

20-Sep-07

The community attendance at Thursday night's Consultation meeting with Council officers at Mayfield Pool was so well attended that it had to be moved to Mayfield East Primary School Hall (thanks to Warwick, the school Principal). Even there the Hall was overflowing!

Council officers had the difficult task of presenting the recommendations of the "Pool Service Delivery Model" report which had provoked our campaign. Following a presentation, members of the community expressed frustration, disbelief and anger at the proposal to close the pool, and put forward many arguments about why the Pool must be kept open and improved in the long term.

Arguments for keeping and improving Mayfield pool included: its historical and social importance; access by local schools; social and environmental benefits of large numbers walking to their local pool; equity impacts if forced to rely on public transport or cars to travel to Lambton to pay an increased admission cost ($5 a visit the projected fee); the potential to improve attendance with improvements; the value of decentralised community services; and many others.

It was noted that the proposed closure of the pool is directly linked to the proposed upgrade and future profitability of the Lambton facility (via Mayfield pool users going to the new centre, and savings helping to pay for the Lambton upgrade), and that this logic was both flawed and unacceptable. Many alternatives were put forward, rejecting the idea that there were only two options: to continue as is or close Mayfield and upgrade Lambton.

Common to these was the idea that Mayfield should be retained and improved for the long term, with things like solar heating / solar power generation for the whole Centre, and consideration of facilities like those in the Proposal, but in "addition" to the maintenance and upgrade of the swimming pool. It was made clear that these ideas do not necessarily mean plans for Lambton cannot go ahead, and that other things should be investigated like free admission as occurs in some other states.

Council officers and the Lord Mayor recorded our input and suggestions, and encouraged people to submit written submissions (due the end of October). Our presence and voice at last night's meeting ought to count for several hundred submissions with a clear message!

The Lord Mayor expressed his support to keep the Pool, and comitted to setting up a small committee of community representatives to work with Council to achieve that outcome, which was welcome news. This is no guarantee, but an important step in our campaign.

Lobbying Council To Save The Pool

20-Sep-2007

The Save Mayfield Swimming Pool group has prepared two documents to assist with lobbying Coucil (and State and Federal Government to maintain and improve our pool.

The first document presents ideas on what to do, while the other has full contact details of councillors and State and Federal members of parliament.

Four Point Position for Mayfield Pool

16-Sep-2007

The second public meeting to Save Mayfield Swimming Pool endorsed four key points as part of the community position on the Pool and its future.

This position was expressed as the basis for lobbying and any negotiating on the future of Mayfield Swimming Pool:

1. Mayfield Swimming Pool must remain in public ownership.

2. Council make a long term commitment to the Pool, at least until 2030.

3. Council commit to improving the Pool in this period.

4. Council support the establishment of an ongoing Pool management committee with community representation.

There is a logical order to these points, based on first ensuring that the proposal to close the pool is rejected by Council. Documents for lobbying councillors, including contact details for all councillors, have been prepared and the SMSP group are urging community members to make use of them and pass them around.

Second Public Meeting Builds Campaign

16-Sep-2007

Another large gathering of over 100 local residents met on Sunday afternoon to report back on the Save Mayfield Swimming Pool campaign, and discuss future campagin actions.

Achievements to date included: printing and delivery of 6000 leaflets; banner painting; protest at Newcastle Council; successful radio, newspaper and television media; petitions and posters in shop fronts; t-shirt enquiries; and a SMSP website at savemayfieldpool.blogspot.com.

Participants agreed to continue these activities, with the most immediate task being the need for large numbers at this week's public consultation meeting with Council at the Pool (Thursday 20th, 5:15pm).

In addition to strengthening public support for campaign, participants agreed to develop a written submission for Council making the case to retain and improve our pool. There was a strong sense that this campaign can and will be won through popular support, lobbying Council, and winning the argument...

Council Announces Consultation in Mayfield

10-Sep-2007

Newcastle Council has set dates for a series of Consultations with community members and other stakeholders about the the "Pool Services Delivery Model" that has recommended "removing existing 50m Swimming Pool" in Mayfield.

The Consultation Meeting between the Council and Mayfield Community is set for Thursday September 20, 5:15 - 7:00pm, at Mayfield Swimming Pool.

The Save Mayfield Swimming Pool group is urging community members to attend to send the clear message to Council that Mayfield Pool can and should be upgraded, with new facilities in addition to the 50 metre swimming pool and the kids pool ... "improve it don't remove it!"

The meeting will feature a presentation by Gionni di Gravio, Archivist at the University of Newcastle, honoring the history of the pool.

Council Move To Real Consultation

29-Aug-2007

The efforts of the Save Mayfield Swimming Pool group at the council meeting on Tuesday night have produced a commitment from the Lord Mayor for an extended period of meaningful consultation.

The ABC quotes the Lord Mayor as saying: "There is absolutely no decision until we have this full public consultation and that's what should have happened in the first place ... That's what we've achieved and I think that's a good result. We'll be able to work with the community rather than tell the community what should happen."

The SMSP group welcomes this announcement and will continue to work to ensure that local residents and users of the pool can have a genuine say, and exert some influence, over how this public facility can be improved for the good of the community.

SMSP Goes To Council

28-Aug-2007

Around 80-100 local residents and pool lovers under the banner of the Save Mayfield Swimming Pool group met at the Town Hall on Tuesday night, ready for a quick swim on the front steps, and with a clear message for Newcastle City Council: "Save Mayfield Swimming Pool, Improve it Don't Remove it!"

Once again several generations came together to highlight the breadth and depth of community support for this campaign. Regular shows of support were received from passers by, while a vocal chorus of "What do we want? Mayfield Pool; When do we want it? Always!" brought the meeting upstairs to a halt.

Another of our swimming team delivered a signed poster to the meeting. Television (NBN) and newspaper crews attended, so growing media interest is anticipated over the coming weeks and months.

Media Release: Save Mayfield Swimming Pool

28-Aug-2007

Community gathers to show support for Mayfield Swimming Pool: "Improve it don't remove it."

This evening (Tuesday 28th) residents of Mayfield, Tighes Hill, Islington and Carrington wearing goggles, snorkels, flippers and other swimming gear will gather at City Hall to show support for Mayfield Swimming Pool. The protest will coincide with the formal tabling of a recently leaked and controversial consultant's report proposing the closure of the much loved Pool.

"Mayfield Swimming Pool is an important part of our community life", said Brian Gaffney, spokesperson for Save Mayfield Swimming Pool. At a hastily organised meeting in Mayfield last Sunday week ago, more than 150 adults and children attended and unanimously condemned the proposal to close the pool. Also represented were numerous community organisations including Mayfield Mainstreet, Mayfield Community Forum and the Coaltion of Schools to Save Mayfield Pool, comprising all local schools as well as the unions representing teachers in public, Catholic and private schools.

"Many speakers shared stories of the importance of the pool in their lives, and the life of our community. Older residents remember the last time, 10 or so years ago, when Council tried to close the pool. Mayfield Swimming Pool needs Council to recognise its community value, not neglect it or close it."

"We want to ensure our treasured Mayfield Swimming Pool is retained and enhanced. We want to work with Council to improve both the facilities and swimmer numbers. We say'Improve it don't remove it'".

"Residents honour the pool's history, acknowledge the pool's current social value and anticipate the important role the pool will play in our community's future. The proposal before Council does none of these things." concluded Mr Gaffney.

Petition To Save Mayfield Pool

24-Aug-2007

The Save Mayfield Swimming Pool (SMSP) group has prepared a petition form to start the campaign.

These will be circulated throughout the community for signatures to demonstrate the broad level of public support for keeping the Mayfield Pool operating.

Teacher Union Support Mayfield Pool

21-Aug-2007

Local members of the Independent Education Union have called on Newcastle Council to keep Mayfield Swimming Pool Open.

They have raised the issue with Newcastle Trades Hall Council who have added their support for the campaign.

Mayfield Community Decides To Save Its Pool

19-Aug-2007

A public meeting held on Sunday August 19 launched a campaign to save Mayfield public swimming pool.

This follows a leaked report, commissioned by Newcastle City Council, recommending the pool be replaced with a water slide.

Around 150 people attended the meeting, made up of babies and shool-age children, their parents and grandparents. These local residents, and representatives of community groups, opposed the logic of "user pays" for community services like Mayfield's public swimming pool, and called on Council to enhance the pool with additional services rather than remove it.

Proposals included an upgrade of the cafe facilities, more shade covered areas, solar heating for the pool as part of a broader ecologically sustainable project, learn to swim classes, community involvement in the pool's management, and improved adjoining playground facilities for children.

An important outcome of the meeting was the formation of the Save Mayfield Swimming Pool (SMSP) group whose role is the coordination of the campaign activities to support and save the pool.