Jennifer Pittorino
Williamstown swimmers have created a petition asking Hobsons Bay council to provide more public facilities in response to published concept plans for the redevelopment of the lifesaving club and west end of Williamstown Beach.
Open Water Swimmers coach Jason Bryce believes there is a strict divide between lifesavers and private members of the club which is causing delays to the redevelopment.
“This development has been stalled by the social membership who aren’t interested in life saving,” he said.
“The change rooms are out-of-date and in the wrong place yet the development is continuously stopped because the social members are obsessed with their members only fence and pool that never gets used.
“We just want to get the consultations done, and get on with fixing the west end of the beach.”
The change.org petition asks that Hobsons Bay council to allocate some of the $14.5 million in government funding for the project to improving public facilities.
“There are no extra toilets, showers or change rooms and the existing change rooms and showers are still around next to the street, not near the beach,” Mr Bryce said.
“Meaning you have to walk around the club to get to the showers and the change rooms and then line up for 40 minutes because on a busy day two change rooms isn’t enough.”
Williamstown Swimming and Life Saving Club (WSLSC) president Claire Howell said the development has been halted a number of times to incorporate evolving community consultation.
“The original timeline has been amended a number of times over the journey to reflect the changing inputs and drivers,” she said.
As discussed, WSLSC is working with council to incorporate the wider membership base input into the design brief for the lifesaving club itself, as a volunteer-run operational lifesaving facility and a community hub.”
Ms Howell said the public toilets, showers and change area parts of the redevelopment are not part of WSLSC brief.
“Any input directed to council on this matter is with our ‘members of the public’ hat on,” she said.
“I can’t speak on behalf of others but anyone who uses the beach during busy periods would advocate for more public toilets ,showers, change facilities.
“I believe this was relayed to council during the community engagement period.”
A Hobsons Bay council spokesperson said council has not accepted the petition because it does not meet council governance rules.
“Even though the submission was not accepted as a formal petition, it has been formally included as part of the consultation process that council has been undertaking with the residents of Williamstown and users of the Williamstown Swimming and Lifesaving Club,” council said.
