Maleny aquatic centre

Maleny aquatic centre one step closer

By Lea Parkes

Many Maleny locals would know that an aquatic centre was a dream and passion … some may say obsession … of late Joyce Newton, and now Sunshine Coast Council has taken another step to making it a reality.

As reported in last week’s GC&M News, a report went to last Thursday’s council meeting (November 8) on the proposed Maleny aquatic centre, which Joyce had for many years worked tirelessly to make happen for the Maleny community.

Council unanimously approved the report’s recommendations, as well as a supplementary item proposed by Cr Jenny McKay, to finally bed down an endorsed location for the aquatic centre on the Maleny Sports Park, within the complex known as the Maleny Precinct.

For a number of years, the aquatic centre push has been rendered powerless due partly to a lack of certainty as to its final location.

This latest council decision sees the endorsed location of the future aquatic centre within the land leased and managed by the Maleny District Sports and Recreation Club (MDSRC), just below the Maleny Light Horse Museum.

As Maleny and surrounding districts does not currently meet the desired population level for the provision of a ‘District – minor aquatic centre’, council said it would not automatically fund any development in its short-term forward budgeting.

However, council did acknowledge that the decision opened the way for the community to focus on sourcing alternative funding streams.

Greg Williams, president of MDSRC, said that many years of hard work had been behind the momentous decision.

“This may only be the first step towards the realisation that Maleny will finally get the indoor aquatic centre we deserve, but a crucial one that opens the door to other levels of funding,” he said.

Now the site is secured, offers of help to fundraise have been flooding in.

“A community fund-raising effort, as was achieved under Joyce Newton and the community when the original pool was built in 1983, is on offer and will bolster the funds we source,” Greg said.

“The centre’s costs will again be staged.”

He explained that the original master plan for the precinct included an aquatic and fitness centre and several sites, including others on the precinct and in the district, had been investigated.

“None were suitable for a variety of reasons, but we always offered the land leased to MDSRC - the only remaining flat land owned by council in Maleny and zoned for sport - back to council to serve the community’s needs.

“An indoor aquatic centre, with hydro pool, gym and learn to swim pool, addresses the real needs of our hinterland population.

“Maleny deserves the same access to aquatic facilities as anyone else on the Sunshine Coast, particularly our elderly residents who find it difficult and expensive to travel to off range facilities.

“No-one should be disadvantaged by distance, time and cost,” Greg said.

Following the council’s decision last Thursday, Kim Easton, chair of the Maleny and District Indoor Aquatic and Fitness Centre Steering Committee, said it was fantastic that after such a long struggle the land had finally been set aside for the future aquatic centre.

“I am confident that the Maleny community will get behind the individual projects and I expect work to get under way for the gym and the hydrotherapy pool within the next couple of years,” Kim said.

Cr Jenny McKay said it is the same fierce determination and community spirit that built the first pool in Maleny 35 years ago on the Maleny State School grounds for the youth of Maleny district that would be driving this second facility.

“This facility will ensure that all the community will have equitable access to enjoy,” Cr McKay said.

“Flippers off to those who fundraised to build the school pool, continued the dream over the decades and fundraising to maintain the facility, who are now still there to drive into this new challenge,” she said.

Members of the Maleny and District Indoor Aquatic and Fitness Centre steering committee - April Adsett, Greg Williams and Donna Hayes with Cr Jenny McKay

The federal member for Fisher, Andrew Wallace, said he welcomed the renewed focus that was being placed on the possibility of a new aquatic centre for Maleny.

“Such a centre would be of great community benefit, not only for Maleny, but for the wider hinterland,” Mr Wallace said.

“I look forward to working closely with all of the local community groups who are so actively engaged in this project to see what possibilities might exist for funding from all three tiers of government,” he said.

The state Member for Glass House, Andrew Powell, said that after years of disappointments, setbacks and frustration the Sunshine Coast Council had made the right decision.

“It's testament to the tenacity of the members of the Maleny community who have fought so hard for this,” Mr Powell said.

“It saddens me to reflect that their champion, Joyce Newton, wasn't here to celebrate but I know she'll be celebrating in heaven and aside from screaming ‘about time’, she would also be expressing her heartfelt gratitude to Cr McKay.

“Now let's just get the jolly thing built," he said.