Senior swimmers say new parking arrangements outside the Sans Souci Leisure Centre are making it difficult for them to access the pool for their regular swim.

Subscribe now for unlimited access.

or signup to continue reading

Ross Humphries, left, with fellow swimmers outside the Sans Souci Leisure Centre. Picture by Jim Gainsford.

Earlier this year Georges River Council made changes to parking outside the leisure centre.

These include:

• Two existing Mobility Parking spaces have been upgraded with new signage and linemarking to meet current Australian Standards.
• Two additional Mobility Parking spaces have been created to improve access for community members who need them.
• The eastern parking bay is now designated as a No Parking area, except for Sans Souci Leisure Centre vehicles and authorised Council vehicles.
• New sandstone barrier blocks placed along the shared access road.
• New hatched and yellow line markings clearly identify areas where parking is not permitted and prevent vehicles from stopping on the shared access road.

Parking is also available in the top carpark which has over 115 spaces available.

But seniors, many who are in their 80s and 90s and use the pool to stay healthy, say the parking changes are seeing some of them unable to access the pool for their regular swim.

Ross Humphries, 82, who has been coming to the pool for 20 years, said some seniors who struggle to find a parking spot outside the pool, turn around and go home without swimming.

"There were 10 parking spaces including two disabled spaces. Now we have four disabled spaces and no parking for anybody else," Ross said.

"The yellow markings mean you can drop someone off but what if you are driving yourself and have to park up the hill and walk down? One swimmer who is 97 said he won't be able to come swimming anymore because he can't walk that far.

"Why did they put no parking signs everywhere? They said it was too dangerous but I've been coming here all this time and I've never seen an accident," he said.

Ross said the solution would be to put in more parking spaces by extending the parking area out into the adjacent park.

Godwin Borg, 79, said it is not just the seniors who are complaining about parking but also mums with prams.

"Plenty of people are complaining that they can't get parking," he said. "Some of the older ladies have to park in the upper car park and come down with their walkers."

Another senior swimmer, Lee added, "There's over hundred spaces up the hill but that's out of range for a lot of people. Plus, we need a footpath along the road from the upper carpark."

Jan added, "Walking down the path from the upper carpark is dangerous. It's got bumps and there are a lot of people with walkers. If traffic comes, its difficult to get off the road because of the bollards.

"And what's wrong with putting more disabled parking in the upper carpark?"

Another regular swimmer, Joan, said that some of the pool users ignore the new parking arrangements.

"These yummy mummies are always running late and they come down the hill and bring their big cars and park wherever they like. I said to one of them that there's a $300 fine for parking in a disabled spot. She said, 'I don't care.'"

Georges River Council spokesperson said, "Council acknowledges community concerns that the new arrangements have inconvenienced some patrons.

"The project was undertaken to address unsafe and illegal parking and to improve safety for all users.

"The space at the front entry was not an authorised parking bay, and therefore no formal parking spaces were removed when the changes were made.

"The new accessible parking standards require these spaces to be level and larger than standard parking spaces. This additional space helps people get in and out of their vehicle, unload a wheelchair or mobility aid, and transfer safely without being forced into traffic or between parked cars.

"The larger size and stricter layout requirements provide safer, more practical and more dignified access for people who rely on accessible parking.

"Council also acknowledges that some ongoing non-compliance remains due to misunderstanding about vehicle access on the shared pathway. Council is working in partnership with Sans Souci Leisure Centre staff to further educate patrons. This includes supplying flyers to reinforce that the shared pathway is not a drop off or pick up zone and that vehicle access is restricted. Council will work with Sans Souci Leisure Centre to explore other high impact education opportunities through their patron communications and on-site interactions during their visit to the facility."