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If you have visited the facility, do you think it meets the needs of the community?
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Comment 1 29 Nov 2008, 12:11 PM
The swimming facility meets the needs of a large section of the community. It is totally inadequate for people with disabilities such as paraplegia, knee replacements, polio, hip replacements, arthritis, muscular dystrophy, advanced age, cardiopulmonary disease, amputees, cerebral palsy, quadraplegia, obesity to name a few.
Comment 1.1 3 Dec 2008, 11:34 PM
Have been following your comments with interest both here and in BDT and while I understand your concern may I say that when the 25m pool is converted to ramp access in the hopefully not too distant future that this problem will be resolved. I remember the ramp issue was discussed and agreed on at previous public meetings on the 'proposed new pool' which I attended.
I really believe it will be adequate to have ramp access to one pool and feel that the 25m pool is the best option.
I recently made use of a wonderful swimming complex while holidaying more…
Comment 1.1.1 30 Dec 2008, 10:34 PM
Many people seem to have the idea that all people with disabilities need to be supervised. You might think that "most of the people with disabilities would probably not make use of it anyway". How will you ever know? Who should decide whether I am allowed to swim in the big pool? I would love to get in the 50 metre pool and have a swim. Yes I can swim 50 metres and yes I can manage out of my depth without supervision. People with disabilities are being discriminated against. I am almost over asking for handrails and ramps. Seems though that somebody has to do it. You may never fully understand this until you have a hip or knee replacement or one of your children or grandchildren is born with a disability. By then I hope structure such as swimming complexes are built for all citizens-not just the able bodied or members of swimming clubs.
Comment 1.1.1.1 2 Jan 2009, 9:49 PM
and furthermore......a friend recently visited the Waves pool in Mildura and the ramp was used by everybody. Hardly anybody climbed the ladder. How will you ever know the potential of people if you make ill informed and selfish decisions about where they should and shouldn't go? Ignorance is bliss to some.
Why aren't I allowed in the big pool?
Comment 1.1.2 31 Dec 2008, 12:40 AM
Objectively the resolutions to this situation are clear:
Finances are available through disability access services.
It is someone’s responsibility to apply for said funding through the established organizations.
There should be disabled access for the 50 meter pool.
The benefits of swimming to the physically impaired are clear and one could argue that their need for access to the 50 meter pool is greater than that of the general public.
One’s ability to traverse a ladder does not define their capacity to swim.
It is everyone’s right to be granted access to this public facility and to not even explore the options available for disabled access is simply discrimination.
If you take cost out of the equation I sincerely ask everyone who reads this: “why shouldn’t there be disabled access?”
Comment 1.2 31 Dec 2008, 9:13 PM
To the three people who disagree with my statement, tell me how this facility meets the needs of people with a disability.If you can't climb a ladder or the steps in the 25 metre pool then you are effectively excluded from swimming. The lifter that is there is not reliable and the pool attendants are reluctant to use it. You may be blissfully unaware of the daily indignities faced by those with physical challenges. I hope for your sake things remain the same and you do not age, lose a limb or need a hip replacement.
Comment 2 1 Dec 2008, 6:18 PM
I think that the additions to the facility are fantastic and I am very glad that we finally have a 50m swimming pool for the Broken Hill community and for visitors to our city. I am a member of the Alma Broken Hill Amateur Swimming Club and I am glad that our swimmers will now be able to train and race in a 50m pool.
I understand the difficulties and frustrations of people with disabilities and think that a ramp should be provided for easy access to the 25m pool.
I would like to see a community room built so that swimming clubs, schools, scouts, royal lifesaving, Austswim and other community groups can have access to a room for meetings, training and gatherings.
Comment 3 2 Dec 2008, 9:33 PM
Fantastic!
Comment 4 3 Dec 2008, 8:22 AM
Needs disability access.
Looking forward to stage 2!
Comment 5 3 Dec 2008, 12:16 PM
In a nutshell, no it doesn't.
This pool facility is in the wrong place. It needed to be centrally located, not at an extremity of the city, however, it's there now and it's the only one we are going to have. At present there is no public transport on weekends or of an evening (taxi's excepted).
Some of the money Kevin07 has handed out to council could go towards providing a small bus and driver. This would encourage people to use the pool facility. If the aquatic centre is to be used and not become a 'white elephant', people, particularly kids, need something to motivate them. A bus operating during periods when Murtons are out of action, for a nominal fee, and serving the whole of the city, is what council needs to implement.
Comment 5.1 9 Dec 2008, 3:36 PM
get over it,
the pool is in the ground.
Nowhere in Broken Hill is more than 5 minutes away.
Comment 6 3 Dec 2008, 11:06 PM
Wow.....it's just great to have a 50m pool at last - love it.
THANK YOU.
I think it's certainly meeting some of the needs of the community and I'm sure the next stages will be great as well.....bring it on!
Some personal observations (not criticisms) are that the loudspeakers were not understandable in the seating area on opening day but were quite good in the pool itself.
The lap lanes would be better on the 'slide' side of the pool so that supervisors (either parental or pool attendants) are closer to the public who are either poor or non swimmers and also so that the supervisors can sit in the shade of the tiered seating and still be close to those they are watching.
The shallow end of 50m pool has'nt any grip holes or bars for smaller inexperienced children who are still 'feeling their way' and its a big reach for small arms to the top of the pool wall.
Comment 7 16 Dec 2008, 10:44 PM
Not really, a hole in the ground with water in it will not inspire people, the pool needs to be programmed properly with activities and events running all year round. Maybe the pool could have a gym and fitness club built on site then people could become members and the membership benefits could include free pool events, learn to swim, school holiday programs, aqua aerobics, pool birthday parties, etc for free or cheaper as part of the monthly membership fee???
Comment 8 2 Jan 2009, 5:52 PM
I think that if there is a goal to offer year round access to the facility, then an indoor option for the 50m pool needs to be considered, eg somehow enclosing the large pool with cafe blinds or wome other temporary option for the winter months