By VANESSA VALENZUELA
A SUNSHINE mum angered by limited opening hours at Sunshine Leisure Centre says there is a demand for more recreational activities in Brimbank.
Manda Beaton thought she would take her two children to the pool for a refreshing afternoon swim last weekend, but was left disappointed after she was forced to leave 30 minutes before closing time.
Ms Beaton said she was shocked to discover the outdoor pool closed early on the weekend, despite the warm weather.
“Especially now because it’s daylight savings, on a Friday and Saturday why isn’t the pool open later? On a perfectly good Saturday, kids could be swimming and getting fit instead of causing trouble,” she said.
Ms Beaton, who juggles two jobs, said she usually doesn’t have the time to take her children to the pool and believes the opening hours are unreasonable for working parents.
The Sunshine and St Albans leisure centres are currently open from 6am to 10pm Monday to Thursday, 6am to 9pm Fridays and 8am to 5pm on weekends.
The mother-of-two said extending the opening hours would help create more jobs for Brimbank residents and encourage kids to get outdoors and keep active.
“There are jobs for people, even young kids, so it’s a win-win situation if they have kids working and kids playing and getting fit and keeping them out of trouble on the weekend.”
“The outdoor pool is really nice now, and it’s a nice area, so why they are kicking us out is beyond me.”
Brimbank’s General Manager of Community Wellbeing Neil Whiteside said pools at Sunshine Leisure Centre close 30 minutes early for cleaning and maintenance.
He said council would consider extending the opening hours if weather permits but staffing at the leisure centre was also a consideration when deciding to keep the pools open for longer.
“Council will be conducting a review of the operating hours of both Sunshine and St Albans leisure centres in the future that will consider options which may include the introduction of winter and summer hours, and changes to opening or closing times.”
For more information about the pool’s opening hours visit www.brimbank.vic.gov.au/Parks_and_Activites
