- Target:
- Inner West Council
- Region:
- Australia
Inner West council owns and operates Ashfield Aquatic Centre, Dawn Fraser Baths, and Leichhardt Aquatic Centre. It also owns but has outsourced operations of Annette Kellerman (Marrickville) and Franny Durack (Petersham) aquatic centres. (1)
Council owned aquatic centres should have an equitable fee structure that ensures the facilities can be accessed by the entire community including families of different sizes, concessions (students and social welfare recipients), youth, pensioners and seniors.
There is only one rate for the premium 'lifestyle membership' that gives members access to all facilities in all aquatic centers owned and operated by IWC (no student rate, no pensioner rate etc). This is contrary to standard practice of progressive organizations. (2)
Similarly, prospective Ashfield Aquatic Centre members are unable to access student/ concession/ and youth rates for the yearly swim and gym memberships (and other periodic memberships) online. Discounted rates on expensive single use passes is not a feasible solution for regular users. (2)
Recently council has decided to review its aquatic center fee structure and consult the community in 'terms of affordability' - this is the perfect time advocate equitable membership rates across all of IWC aquatic centres! (3)
1. https://www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/explore/aquatic-centres
2. https://secure.activecarrot.com/public/membership/join/1318 and https://www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/explore/aquatic-centres/ashfield-aquatic-centre/prices-and-membership
3. https://innerwest.infocouncil.biz/Open/2020/11/C_10112020_MIN_3759_WEB.htm
December 2020 - We've had already had significant wins!!!
We call upon Inner West council to take action and ensure equity in all its aquatic centre memberships, including the new Ashfield pool. IWC must ensure its facilities are accessible to the entire community including families of different sizes, concessions (students and social welfare recipients), youth, pensioners and seniors. In particular we call upon IWC to swiftly ensure:
1. That there are discounted rates for the 'lifestyle membership' catering to groups including, but not limited to, concessions (students and social welfare recipients), young people, pensioners, seniors, and families of different sizes. (We've partially won this with a concession lifestyle rate being made available!!)
2. That Ashfield Aquatic Centre's periodic swimming and gym memberships include discounted options for students, young people, and other concession holders, and that these are available for online purchase. (We've already won this!)
3. That Ashfield Aquatic Centre has more flexible family options that account for families of different sizes (not just two adults and two children), and that these are available for online purchase. (Ashfield pool is considering our feedback)
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it
The Equitable membership fees - Ashfield and Inner West aquatic centres petition to Inner West Council was written by Dylan Griffiths and is in the category Local Government at GoPetition.