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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-11-27 Daily Xml
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BALYANA SWIMMING POOL

The Hon. M. PARNELL (15:11): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Disabilities about the Balyana swimming pool.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M. PARNELL: Last week of sitting, I asked the minister a series of questions about the recently announced closure of the Balyana swimming pool in Clapham and his answers at that time were extremely dismissive. Since then, there has been significant coverage in the media of this issue. The media has focused on the considerable numbers of local residents living with disabilities who rely on the pool for exercise and amenity.

For example, I understand that the Ashford Special School has recently started using the pool, as the hydrotherapy pool at Minda is currently undergoing refurbishment. This school joins Novita and other disability services that regularly use the pool. Also, I understand that the pool is a preferred option for people with autism because of its enclosed and private nature. So, again I ask the minister:

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

2. Are you aware of any discussions between Bedford Industries and the state government over the future of the pool?

3. Since I raised this issue in parliament, have you spoken to your department about it, or have you received any briefings?

4. As Minister for Disabilities, are you willing to help broker a solution to keep the pool open until the long-term shortage of hydro facilities for people with disabilities in the region is addressed and, if not, why not?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (15:13): The honourable member has asked this question before. Not content with a concise answer, I will give him a little bit more detail. On 27 July 1971, the South Australian Housing Trust sold the Balyana site at Clapham to Bedford Industries Inc. for $51,575, which was 50 per cent of the market value, I am told, at the time.

The South Australian Housing Trust took an encumbrance, restricting the use of the land to accommodation, social and recreational uses for Bedford disabled employees—for Bedford disabled employees. As Minister for Social Housing and Minister for Disabilities, I have no role in determining the specific programs and activities that take place on the site.

The Hon. K.L. Vincent interjecting:

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: I have no role. It is a private pool. The Hon. Ms Vincent might not understand this: it is a private pool. Bedford has also canvassed various options—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: —to sell or redevelop the land but to date has not provided any plans or proposals to my department for that. The site may not be divided or sold without South Australian Housing Trust consent and offering a first option to purchase. I understand that, on 18 October this year, the CEO of Bedford Group, Ms Sally Powell, sent a letter to the users of the Balyana site to inform them of the decision of the Bedford board to close the pool on 30 April 2013.

I understand that Bedford had made this decision because the pool is in need of significant structural repair, estimated to cost round about $600,000. I am advised that, indeed, there are a large number of people who use the pool each week. The target group for the pool was originally for people with disability who live at Balyana and their residential services. However, these clients, I am advised, no longer use the pool. Bedford management has not attempted to source government funding to keep the Balyana pool open, to the best of my knowledge.

The board of Bedford has recognised that the organisation's primary business is around employment and training for people with disability and disadvantage; funds provided to Bedford are directed to these purposes. The pool is not part of that core business, and this has led to their decision. I am advised that the modern facilities and wheelchair access at the South Australian Aquatic and Leisure Centre at Marion and the Unley swimming pool are anticipated to meet the needs of local residents.

Discussions regarding the future of the swimming pool have taken place, I understand, between Disability SA, Housing SA and the Bedford Group. However, I can confirm that the department did not receive formal notification of the closure of the pool or the reasons for the closure before the public announcement was made. As I have said, Bedford Group is in the process of considering proposals for the future use of the site but, as yet, my department has not received any formal notification of Bedford's future strategic plans.

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