Newcastle City Council has received a large number of submissions in support of a reduction in the admission cost to Beresfield Swimming Pool from $5 to $2.80.
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The number of submissions could be the first victory in the campaign to keep the pool open, Cr Nuatali Nelmes said.
A report that calls for entry fees to be slashed – an amendment ward 4 councillor Jason Dunn introduced – will go before council on October 28.
Acceptance of public submissions closed at 5pm yesterday and Cr Nelmes said she alone had received many of them.
“I am really hopeful that with this number of submissions, council may not close Beresfield Swimming Pool now,” Ms Nelmes said.
“Just a couple of months ago, council came very close to shutting our pool.
“We managed to stop that happening, but it was very close.
“With a $5 single admission fee, many people here were driving to Maitland to use the pool there rather than the one nearer their homes.”
Cr Nelmes believed the Beresfield community was excited that their pool could soon become more affordable.
Baracudas Swimming Club chairman Greg Skinner said more than 400 people enjoyed themselves at the pool on Sunday.
“It was brilliant to see so many people at the pool,” Mr Skinner said. “Even though adults are still paying the single entry $5 fee and $3.50 for children, it was good that so many people turned up.
“If Newcastle City Council does vote soon to bring the costs down, the issue of entry fees will no longer be a barrier.”
Among other examples of expected reductions, spectators will be able to enter the pool area free of charge, compared to the present fee of $3.
A family day ticket will be $9.50 instead of the present $14.90, a family season pass will come down from $540 to $333 and an individual season pass will drop from $284 to $158.