Greenwich Baths Sell Out

1,200 outraged community members failed to stop a Lane Cove Council decision made on the 4th of May to commercialise a community recreation area, Greenwich Baths

Sydney NSW, Australia (PRWEB) May 22, 2009 -- Last night 1,200 outraged community members failed to stop a Lane Cove Council decision made on the 4th of May to commercialise a community recreation area, Greenwich Baths.

Many Greenwich residents attended and spoke at yesterday's public council meeting at Lane Cove Council chambers to demonstrate their support for Tim and Fran Fowler, the husband and wife pair who have lived at and managed Greenwich Baths for the last six years. Unfortunately for them, the community's speeches and attempts to change the decision to hand the lease over to a corporate entity called 'BlueFit' fell on deaf ears.

Eight out of the nine councillors voted against a rescission motion to reinstate Tim and Fran Fowler as managers of Greenwich Baths for an additional twelve months so that Council could retender and conduct the process to include community consultation in the tender for an asset as unique as this one.

Lane Cove Mayor, Ian Longbottom, stated that "no tender requires community consultation and to do so would result in anarchy." Hence the Greenwich Baths tender was treated as any other asphalting or roadwork tender. Furthermore, 50% of the tender criteria was not on the importance of safety but financial return to Council. This decision begs the question, why would a local council risk a service that is so much a part of Greenwich's atmosphere and lifestyle?

Greenwich residents and concerned Sydney siders were offered no answers as the Council hid behind the protection of the Local Government Act and the closed and unaccounted for meeting in which the original tender decision was made.

I asked the Mayor and some of the responsible councillors after the decision last night if they had every visited Greenwich Baths over the last six years to witness the transformation under Tim and Fran Fowler's management. "Tidal pools aren't my thing." Stated Mayor Ian Longbottom. Had they done so then perhaps they would realise that Greenwich Baths is a unique family focussed facility and can only work when it is run by a dedicated family.

Tim and Fran Fowler, were shocked at the decision that uproots their children from their school and friends, forces them to leave their home and leaves them without employment in what we know are unquestionably difficult economic times.

"To remove the pair from the equation takes a lot of the heart and soul out of what the baths are to the regulars who have made it a part of their lives." States long time Greenwich Baths patron, Glenda Cameron-Strange.

It is an absolute shame that an entire family and community has to suffer because a corporation can pay Council more for the lease.

Mayor Longbottom stated after the decision, that in order for Councillors to be able to hear us "it is up to the younger generation to change the law", the Local Government Act to be specific. Even then would they listen?

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