In a dramatic week of community and union action residents of Sunshine may have forced the State Government and their local council to repair an existing 50-meter outdoor pool or build a new outdoor pool. Campaigners in the Save Sunshine Pool Community Committee are optimistic that as a result of a union supported community picket decent outdoor aquatic facilities are in finally coming to Sunshine.

The local Brimbank council have played hardball with the popular community demand that the existing outdoor pool at the Sunshine Leisure Centre be repaired. Instead the council promoted improving indoor aquatic facilities and filling in the outdoor pools.

On Tuesday 11 July the council tried to blackmail the community by refusing to improve any facilities and in fact directed that the Sunshine Leisure Centre close! After much furious lobbying between unions, local and the state government a way out of the impasse was negotiated. Stage 1 (improving the indoor facilities) would proceed, the community picket would be lifted and a mechanism to improve the outdoor facilities was outlined. On Thurs July 13 the motion to close the leisure centre was reversed.

more info: Save Sunshine Pool Website | motions at last Stand rally

Labels: Community Protest, Sunshine Pool