savesunshinepool.com

[Save Sunshine Pool]

Minister Marginal Seat feel good opportunity hijacked by Ned Kelly
3pm Tuesday 10th October 2006
It was a specially timed feel good announcement and photo opportunity.

A month before the election and accompanied by Nicole Livingstone, the Minister for Sports and Recreation Justin Madden was all smiles as he went into the marginal seat of Bentleigh with a boost for the local Labor Candidate and the sole Labor councillor.

Due to the Grand Prix Corporation forbidding the State Government from using the purposes built $104 million Melbourne Swimming and Aquatic Centre for the two weeks of the World Swimming Championships, Madden and Bracks are building two pools into the Rod Laver Arena at the cost of another $50 million. The two pools will only be required for two weeks and then must be relocated.

Residents from Sunshine had taken their picket down which had halted demolition of their three outdoor pools with talk going around at the time from State MP Bruce Mildenhall and Federal Labor newcomer Bill Shorten that one of the pools would be relocated to Sunshine. The problem was fixed, go home.

The Sunshine outdoors pools were then demolished.

The first Rod Laver pool was then awarded to the marginal seat of Frankston.

The Sunshine Mothers Group had hoped that the second pool would be relocated to Sunshine to end the long battle.

But one month in before an election the opportunity to make some ground in a marginal seat was all that it took to rob the 175000 residents of Brimbank of a free swimming pool and pump housing.

Derrimut requires a 27% swing. So why bother doing anything despite the evidence of disadvantage, record levels of obesity, diabetes and youth problems in the Sunshine area?

So the decision was made to award one of the temporary pools to the marginal seat of East Bentleigh, and that the safe seat could do without....again.

The announcement was schedule for 3.00pm Tuesday 10th October at East Bentleigh pool.

In full armour Ned Kelly walked up into the centre of the photo opportunity moments before Madden and Local MP Rob Hudson were to make their feel good photo opportunity and announcement.

Madden's eyes flashed as Ned traversed the crowd and stood beside him with camera's popping off.

The Minister then rambled quickly through his announcement as his minders tried to move on the man in armour holding two stark placards: In one hand "LABOR PARTY CLOSES POOLS IN SAFE SEATS" and in the other "UNFAIR VICTORIA"

Ned did not give any ground.

The Minister's minders then went out and came back with a massive cardboard poster "FUN IN THE SUN" and proceeded to squeeze in between the Minister and the protestor shielding out Ned from view of the cameras and the bulk of the audience.

Laughter erupted from the crowd and children in attendance as Ned held his placards high and above and to the side of the "FUN IN THE SUN" poster. "Not in the Western Suburbs" Ned bellowed.

Bentleigh requires a 4% swing

Derrimut/Footscray seats (Sunshine) requires a +20% swing.
_________________
Brimbank has a population of over 170,000 people and has only one outdoor pool. Most other councils have 5 - 12 outdoor pools. Brimbank also has close to the worst health status in Victoria. But the Council and the State Government demolished 3 outdoor pools in Sunshine.

A 25 Metre pool is now finally scheduled to be built at Sunshine and opened in November 2008

Join in the campaign to have the pools repaired or replaced properly now!

[Amanda-Sunshine Resident]

Way to go Ned! You're an absolute legend, that's a fact.

I'd like to thank you for supporting the WEST and all of the families that live here. It's people like you and your gang that will make a difference, it's been unfair for too long. Well done!!

[swimmer]

For show up that no good Justin Madden.

Madden has known about the Sunshine Pool plight and as Minister for Sport and Recreation has done NOTHING.

Folks, listen to Ned and don't vote in those Labor bastards who have neglected the west for so long.

[My Kids]

My teenage kids reckon Ned is terrific.

At last someone is standing up for them and their long lost summer swim.

Stick it up em Ned.

[Save Sunshine Pool]

Labor Announcement yesterday:
50 metre pool awarded to another, you guessed it, Marginal Seat...groan

Last week we sent a newsletter out about how we had missed out on another one of the 50m Rod Laver Pools because it had been awarded to a Marginal Seat in the middle of Melbourne's Public Pool zone. (see the green pins on the pinboard.)
http://www.savesunshinepool.com/pools_in_melbourne.jpg

News in this morning is that another 50m pool has been awarded to the City of Geelong.

Geelong has some beautiful Aquatic Centres comprising over 13 swimming pools, (including diving pools) open 364 days per year.

And you guessed it Geelong is another Marginal Seat...

Geelong's new pool will have:

- A free $2M 50M state of the art pool fit for professional swimming competitions
- A warm water exercise pool
- A learn to swim pool
- A leisure pool with a toddlers area
- A sauna and spa
- A gym
- Day care
- Three water play areas including water slides, splash park and a water adventure park

City of Greater Geelong Mayor Peter McMullin said the community's desire for a 50M pool had been quashed by council budget constraints in the initial plans. He said the State government had met that need by providing Geelong with the world - class pool. It is a truly magnificent outcome he said.

Geelong has also been awarded 3 pools under the 'pools for schools' idea.

Note: The City of Geelong has approximately the same population as the City of Brimbank....

A cynic on the savesunshinepool.com forum has posted that the message is clear: "Marginal electorates win big is the message."

After 5 years of writing letters, showing the statistics that show Brimbank has the highest level of obesity and diabetes in Victoria, least amount of aquatic facilities, highest youth population, etc etc, (how many times have we repeated these glaring facts over the years)

But our State Government representatives Justin Madden, Telmo Langueller, Bruce Mildenhall, and now Marsha Thompson, appear deaf to the needs out here. At Federal level our ALP candidates are just as quiet.

What else is there for us to understand about why we are being ignored despite the undeniable facts that show how desperate this area is for a decent pool?

I think it is now 100% conclusive, disadvantaged communities, health statistics, need, fairness are all irrelevant to our current Australian Labor Party representatives.

All that matters it appears is how you vote.

And crazy as it sounds, if you vote against the ALP you will get more from Bracks.

Most of us, and our parents, have voted Labor for decades, loyal working class families, the majority of who can't stand the Liberals, Fraser, Howard, Kennett.

But why are we being punished for being loyal?

It is very disillusioning and tragic for all of the teenagers and young familes out here.

Who would have ever thought that the people we are voting for are punishing us?

With the ALP strangle hold on this area at local, state and federal levels I now wonder why I ever get involved with trying to save the Sunshine Pool five years ago?

I really had no understanding of politics and factions and branchstacking etc.

Did I really need to find out about how all of this crap works?

So what do we do as a people who want our outdoor pools replaced in the face of this political monstering?

Do we just give in and accept what we get by being in the Labor Heartland?

Or do we push on, fight harder than ever, and highlight why we are getting shafted?

How hard and for how long should a community fight for a pool for their kids?

One thing is very clear on Sunshine Pool: You are either part of the problem or part of the solution.

Simon Bereux
Sunshine



Reminder: The Sunshine Mothers' Group public meeting about the Sunshine Pool is on Thursday 26th October at Mariana Hall. Free Sausage Sizzle starts at 6pm.

Let's hope that the Mothers Group has some good news for Sunshine and we can go home happy. If not we can talk about what we are doing next as a community.



Is this why Sunshine residents are being punished by the State Government:

Geelong requires an 8% swing. (awarded free Rod Laver 50 metre pool)
Bentleigh requires a 4% swing (awarded free Rod Laver 50 metre pool and pump housing)
Frankston requires a 5% swing (awarded free Rod Laver 50 metre pool)

Derrimut/Footscray seats (Sunshine) requires a greater than 20% swing. (awarded nothing...again)
Oakleigh and Footscray are also both Safe Labor Seats... (both pools closed - Footscray sold)
_________________
Brimbank has a population of over 170,000 people and has only one outdoor pool. Most other councils have 5 - 12 outdoor pools. Brimbank also has close to the worst health status in Victoria. But the Council and the State Government demolished 3 outdoor pools in Sunshine.

A 25 Metre pool is now finally scheduled to be built at Sunshine and opened in November 2008

Join in the campaign to have the pools repaired or replaced properly now!

[Guest]

ALP new slogan:

"Steve Bracks when it matters to families".


(But not western suburbs familes, they still vote for us so dont worry about it)

[Guest]

Well all you voting people in the west.

Welcome to the real world of 'ELECTIONEERING'.

Your vote is your only way of getting anything from Political parties or Governments, and they will not listen to you or do anything for you until it appears to them that it is going to cost them.

Why do you think that all your efforts over the last 12 or so years have amounted to nothing.

YOU ARE NOT A THREAT and they have nothing to gain by giving you anything.

Anybody who thinks that this is not true, please tell me where I have gone wrong.

If you want a pool and fittings, vote for someone who says that they will give it to you.

Wake up and smell the political stench in Brimbank.

Control is in your hands, exercise it, use your vote to send them a message.

From where I am sitting both the major political paties are cut from the same cloth, the Liberal party appears to do the same thing to thier safe seats.

They don't deserve your loyalty, they have shown you none.

The people of the west have been loyal for many years and been shat upon from a great height and been given no reward or shown no loyalty in return.

The political parties reward thier own people for controlling the voters and it is these party munchkins who get any rewards, usually by being bumped into parliament in a safe seat, only to end up with a pension at the end paid for out of the public purse.

Rock thier boat people, shake the ground they walk on.

ONLY YOU CAN DO IT!!!!

Bill

[Swimmer]

Before you get too carried away Cam can you show us what the Liberal Party OFFICIAL WRITTEN POLICY is for the Sunshine Pool disaster zone.

At the moment only the greens have anything 'real' on the table.

[Save Sunshine Pool]

Interesting Cam, but given our past experiences we won't be holding our breath. But like I say, interesting...
_________________
Brimbank has a population of over 170,000 people and has only one outdoor pool. Most other councils have 5 - 12 outdoor pools. Brimbank also has close to the worst health status in Victoria. But the Council and the State Government demolished 3 outdoor pools in Sunshine.

A 25 Metre pool is now finally scheduled to be built at Sunshine and opened in November 2008

Join in the campaign to have the pools repaired or replaced properly now!

[Greg Ferrington]

I agree with Cam you listen to the community and respond to their issues.

However, The Greens have been doing that for some months on the issue of the pool and that is why our position was released several months ago.

The Greens have been actively working on the issues that face this community for many months. The pool and the Albion Retirement Village development to name just two.

Where were the Liberals and every other party several months ago. thats right the election campaign hadn't started.

Greg Ferrington
Greens Candidate for Footscray
Mob 0433 857768

[United we Win]

The western suburbs community wins if the non ALP candidates work together to make it a marginal area. Preference deals are part of that. Why not do that in the west because it needs change so badly? Get together boys.

[Greg Ferrington]

It wasnt intended as an attack. The comment I was making is that the Greens have been involved all along. We have a common enemy and that is Labor.

Greg Ferrington
Greens Candidate for Footscray

[Resident Sunny Sunshine]

[Will Cam Ram Marsha?]

So Cam will you be ramming Marsha Thompson's no more pools policy with a new Stage 2 heated outdoor leisure pool promise for Sunshine and a promise for a feasibility study into the need / options for a new pool in South Maribyrnong?