A real estate worker from Peregian Springs who lives with MS has been gaining support for her petition over pool access in the community.
Renee English uses the pool due to its shallow access, but changes to the pool’s access have affected many like her who relied on the facility.
Over 500 people are already supporting Renee’s call for fair access to the recreation club’s pool facility, amid rumours St Andrew’s Anglican College is converting the pool land “into a church, and the decline in the pool’s condition“.
The Rec Centre sale was achieved following a competitive expressions of interest campaign, after the Ridges Body Corporate voted against the transfer of the Rec Centre at the latter part of last year.
As part of the sale, St Andrew’s committed to opening the facility to the broader community to ensure it will once again become a hive of activity, welcoming locals back to their much-loved community hub.
“We hold profound concerns about the possible exclusion of future community pool access by St Andrew’s Anglican College at the Peregian Springs Recreation Club,“ the petition states.
“Their current commitment allows for only a two-year period of community access. We are worried that the cited low pool usage may be used as a justification for these restrictions, while in reality, it is primarily due to limited access and high costs.“
Renee said her motivation behind initiating the petition process for the Rec Club came from a genuine concern for her community.
“It deeply saddens me to witness the pool sitting idle under a cover, especially when so many local residents, particularly young families in our area, are impacted by the loss of access,“ she said.
“The response of receiving 500 signatures did take me by surprise in terms of the rapid support it garnered. However, it reaffirmed my belief that the sentiments of the community are strongly aligned with my own. Often, it can be challenging for individuals to find the time and energy to engage in such endeavours given our busy lives.“
This follows St Andrew’s Anglican College’s recent official opening of the next stage of its masterplan, with a new multi-purpose courts complex and underground parking facility, sitting beside the College’s world-class Aquatic Centre.
A spokesperson for St Andrew’s Anglican College said the fees and opening of the Rec Club have been determined by the feasibility of staffing and keeping the facility open for the stipulated two year period.
“To alter this would come at a cost to the College and our fee-paying parents. While open to the community, the facility is now private property, purchased in a public sale and owned by the College,“ a spokesperson said.
“Since 2003, we have been committed to developing a school of the highest quality, with the aim of educating and building personal capacity into young people, so they can find purpose and move confidently into their futures. Ultimately, the acquirement of this facility is part of our strategic planning to ensure this can continue into the future.“
From this petition, Renee aims to encourage the school to heed the unified voice of the community.
“Rather than solely focusing on financial gains, I hope they will adopt a more community-oriented approach, aligning with the principles of our Christian ethos,“ she said.
“The desired outcome is an extension of access hours and a shift from lap swimming only to inclusive recreational activities that cater to our community’s needs, making the membership fee more affordable for families.“
To view the petition visit change.org/PeregianSpringsRecClub
