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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-11-01 Daily Xml
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BALYANA SWIMMING POOL

The Hon. M. PARNELL (14:51): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion a question about the Balyana Swimming Pool.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M. PARNELL: I have been contacted by members of the community concerned about the future of the much loved and well used Balyana swimming pool in Clapham in Adelaide's south. I understand that Bedford Industries, which owns and operates the complex, has just announced that it intends to close the pool permanently in April of next year. This pool is a vital part of the local community. It is used continuously for hydrotherapy and swimming training by a wide range of community groups, schools and clubs, including: Novita Children's Services, Anglicare Therapy Services, VACSWIM, scouts and nearby schools, and I will declare that my own children learnt to swim there.

The closure will have devastating consequences as Balyana is the only large pool in the Mitcham area. There is a significant shortfall in hydrotherapy and swim training facilities in that region. I understand, for example, that there are already large waiting lists of more than six months to access the hydro pool at the Repat Hospital. Hydrotherapy, as we know, is a vital service for those with disabilities and the elderly to maintain their health and recover from surgery. Equally, the announcement has coincided with a call from the Royal Life Saving Society for mandatory swim training for all primary school children.

I might add that one of the wonderful aspects of the Balyana facility is the integration of the Balyana residential supported accommodation with the swimming pool and the conference facility, which is a great example of integrating 90 people with a disability into the broader community. As there are no adequate alternative pools or hydro facilities in the area, a community campaign has now begun to keep the pool open until a long-term solution can be found. My questions of the minister are:

1. Have you had any discussions with Bedford Industries or any of the social or disability services that use the Balyana pool over the future of the facility?

2. Are you aware of any discussions between the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion and Bedford Industries over the future of the pool?

3. Has Bedford management attempted to source government funding to keep the Balyana pool open?

4. Do you agree that it would be appropriate for the pool to remain open until the long-term shortage of hydro facilities in the region is addressed?

5. Will you commit to investigating further and reporting back to this council what Bedford Industries intends to do and what possible alternative services could be provided?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (14:54): I thank the honourable member for his most important questions, which I number at five. My answers are: no; no; not to my knowledge; it is not my area of expertise; and, no.

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