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5. What kind of improvements can we make to the existing Willoughby Leisure Centre? e.g. improve parking, create additional indoor dry fitness/gym space, upgrade the 25m pool.
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Comment 1 9 Feb 2010, 9:51 PM
Essentially more pool space is needed. The shallow toddler pool is too small, the play pool with the slide is also (a few kids having fun is all it really caters for) and usually there is not enough lane space in the main pool, learn to swim, squads and "serious' lappers take up the whole pool! No room for me to struggle along slowly doing a few laps!!
What about using the carpark for another 25m pool (it is only about 15 spaces) or do a 50m pool between the centre and the rarely used baseball field. (across ?1 netball court, which is only really fully used on saturdays.
Why should ratepayers have to travel to ANY of the surrounding council areas to get a 50m and a 25m pool and plenty of space to enjoy a swim???
Comment 1.1 20 Feb 2010, 8:51 PM
We must have a 50m pool in Willoughby. We have a lot of budding competitive swimmers in the area who are disadvantaged when they come up against their peers from surrounding municipalities in district, area and state competition. All competitive events are held over 50m and the kids used to swimming in full length pools have a signifcant advantage. Please Pat give us the pool we need to keep our kids in the hunt. Scott
Comment 1.2 22 Feb 2010, 11:36 AM
I agree - not just another 25m pool, but a full 50m pool. In addition to the need for a general refurbishment of the Lesisure Centre (I agree with the suggestions for a learn to swim pool and if needed a hydrotherapy pool), the key issue is the need for increased general water space for lap swimmers, squad, school swimming events and aqua aerobics, even also for water polo. This can only be achieved with a 50m pool over and above the 25m pool. That pool should have a boom, so that it can be divided as requried, into 2x25m spaces. It can be outdoors since at least some of the year it is very appealing doing laps outside (although ideally it would be indoors).
The Leisure Centre should have included a 50m pool when it was build 20 years ago. Why are we still waiting?
Comment 2 9 Feb 2010, 10:26 PM
The recommendations in the report around traffic changes for Small St are a good start. To encourage altenatives to driving off street bike paths along Marlborough St, Frenches Rd and High St should be established. Additionally, car parking should be charged during peak times (i.e. Saturday Netball) and to encourage car pooling, cars with three passengers could be free. Replacing the council taxi with a bus to the Leisure Centre would also be a good initiative.
Comment 2.1 13 Feb 2010, 8:35 PM
I bet you are 1 of the netball haters!! who live nearby. get over it, you have the benefits of a quiet area 90% of the time due to the limited residential development but you lot keep complaining about it being busy for a couple of hours on a fri night and a sat morning.
Comment 3 10 Feb 2010, 12:32 PM
A separate pool, preferably 50m, with a suitable temperature for lap swimming, training & competition.
Comment 4 12 Feb 2010, 9:34 PM
definite need for a 50m pool upgrade is a great idea
Comment 5 14 Feb 2010, 8:48 PM
I really like the cycle class and the range of activities and sports offered. A 50 m pool would definately get me there more often as I currently go to lane cove to swim and Willoughby for the gym.
Upgrade of the play equipment for the little kids would be good which is next to the netball courts, with more sun cover.
Comment 6 15 Feb 2010, 5:01 PM
A 50m pool is essential. Every other council area has one so why should we have to travel to swim in a lovely outdoor 50m pool. School carnivals currently go outside council area for a 50m pool. This is a unsatisfactory. Squads are knocking back swimmers because there not enough lane space. If council is serious about obesity and health issues then a 50m pool would be on the agenda.
Comment 7 15 Feb 2010, 11:30 PM
What draws people to a fitness establishment is quality facilities that are well managed and maintained.
Willoughby Leisure Centre is in desperate need for a larger pool, the twenty year old facilities is unable to cope with the growing demand in the area.
The centre is lucky in that it has lots of space to build a 50m pool and enlarge the gym. The infratructure is there already.
Comment 8 16 Feb 2010, 8:36 AM
We need a 50m pool NOW. Have you ever seen those kids trying to swim of an afternoon? The lanes are overflowing. I would like to go for a swim myself however there are less waves in the ocean. There is no reason why there is no 50m pool in our area. We have the space, the population to support it and WE NEED IT. It would be a super facility the council could be proud of.
Comment 9 18 Feb 2010, 9:02 AM
I use the Willoughby Leisure Centre along with my family. The pool often is just too overcrowded with various groups using it -- aqua aerobics, lessons and squad swimming. If the council would build an outdoor 50 meter pool, this would open up the indoor pool for more users. An outdoor facility would also be so nice during the warm months. It is so nice being able to exercise in an outdoor pool. I have to travel all the way to the North Sydney pool in order to enjoy an outdoor pool when one really should be provided in Willoughby. It has the population to support it, and it is only going to grow in the upcoming years!
Comment 10 19 Feb 2010, 9:42 AM
Those wanting a 50m pool please take the time to read the aquatic feasibility study. I was shocked at the reasons given for recommending against a 50m pool.
Comment 11 24 Feb 2010, 9:07 AM
We need a full 50m pool, in addition to the need for a general refurbishment of the Lesisure Centre. This should have happened when the Leisure Centre was build 20 years ago.
Comment 12 24 Feb 2010, 10:18 PM
The key issue in addressing the facility at Willoughby Leisure Centre is adequately catering for swimmers during daily peak usage times. There currently is a severe shortage of space both in the mornings and particularly in the afternoons between 4pm and 7pm weekdays. Surely a Council the size and status of Willoughby should recognise the importance of providing an Olympic standard swimming facility for their residents for the years to come. Willoughby Council must respond to the alarming drowning statistics by expanding the amount of water space available for the community to increase their swimming and life saving skills.
Comment 13 13 Mar 2010, 11:50 AM
a 50m pool, indoor and heated.
The needs of lap swimmers need to be balanced against the needs recreational swimmers and families. As a lap swimmer the current 25m pool is far to busy and full of understandable frustration.
A 50m pool would see me take out a yearly pool and gym membership. It is close to home, I can ride there.