📢 Voices of our community have spoken 💪

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Our community in solidarity

The fight to save the Olympic Leisure Centre (OLC) continues, and our voices are growing stronger.

Today was a critical junction with Cr Mary O’Kane’s emergency community meeting on the fate of the OLC. The West Heidelberg and OLC communities arose to the challenge.

It was standing room only, and only at a squeeze - residents were literally spilling into the foyer of Shop 48 at The Mall. At least 150 residents, OLC members, and supporters were in attendance, and more than 30 speakers shared their lived experiences with the OLC. The discussion was respectful, constructive, and on-point.

In addition to Cr Mary O’Kane (Olympia Ward), Deputy Mayor Cr Peter Castaldo (Griffin Ward), Cr Rick Garotti (Grimshaw Ward), Cr. Matt Wood (Hawdon), and Cr Alida McKern (Chelsworth Ward) attended to listen to our voices.

I was especially struck by the diversity of voices , spanning across ages (under-10 to more than 80 years), genders, cultures, socio-economics, and place of residence. We heard from residents with multi-generational connections to the OLC. We heard from those with physical and mental disabilities who depend on the centre. We heard from students building friendships, from children learning to swim, migrants finding their feet in Australia, and retirees staying fit.

It is near impossible to encapsule the breadth and depth of arguments made, but some recurrent and salient themes included:

• The warm, welcoming culture at OLC as a smaller, more community-focused space

• The feeling of not being judged at OLC, and how important that is in creating a safe environment, which is not universal across aquatic and fitness facilities

• The importance of the OLC in supporting local Aboriginal mob in partnership with Barrbunin Beek, and in honouring Banyule’s legal and policy commitments to the Close the Gap campaign

• The need to improve literacy with quality library facilities without sacrificing healthy and active living

• That the OLC is a social hub for the community, not just a pool and gym

• That the OLC has been long neglected for investment and revitalisation, along with other parts of West Heidelberg

• That active and growing swim schools are operating out of the OLC, which would be directly threatened by the centre’s closure without immediately available alternatives

• That the metrics presented as justification in Recommendation 4.1 are narrow and past-focused rather than future-focused; that they fail to account for growth potential in the centre and area

• That community has already repeatedly presented its voice to Council through years of effective consultation, which has seemingly been ignored

• That the women’s only sessions operating out of the facility are essential, and the Recommendation makes no plan for their transition or replacement

• That many active users of the facility are extremely vulnerable, and the implications of closure extend well beyond physical fitness

• That the proposal submitted to Council from the co-design is modest, and essentially a functional version of the existing services, rather than a wildly ambitious and infeasible plan

• That the community is ready to back Council to seek State and Federal funding for the OLC, but cannot do so without Council’s buy-in

• That the argument of poor use at the facility as jusitification for closure is flawed; with poorly maintained infrastructure, limited classes, and cumbersome opening hours, reduced attendance compared to other facilities is inevitable

• That demand for functional, accessible aquatic facilities is very high, with swim schools booked out and demand only increasing in our area

• That attendees come not only from West Heidelberg but other Wards in Banyule and beyond

This is a small fraction of the powerful arguments given. The passion and emotional intensity was palpable.

Marching to protect the OLC

After the meeting, a group of >30 attendees joined OVAN in a solidary march from The Mall to the OLC. It was a lively crowd despite the cold weather, and we got plenty of honks and cheers from passing cars. Thanks to all those who used the opportunity to exercise and share our passion!

What is the next step?

The next major step is Council’s vote on Recommendation 4.1 on Monday 23rd June. We strongly OPPOSE this recommendation. It is inadequate, unimaginative, and not fit for our needs. It does not honour the community consultation that has taken place over the past 4 years. It will not help revitalise the Olympic Village. We need and deserve more. We need high-quality aquatic facilities AND high-quality library facilities, much as we need to both learn and stay fit. This recommendation offers neither.

I am unsure how Council will respond on Monday. I strongly urge Councillors to listen to the voices of community and honour the co-design, which offers a thoughtful, fit-for-purpose facility that would have profound intergenerational benefits for our community. I ask Council to commit to rebuild the OLC including revitalised aquatic facilities.

I realise that financial contexts are difficult, and that Ivanhoe pool also badly needs maintenance work. We at OVAN strongly argue against an ‘us versus them’ mentality. There is no need nor benefit in pitting two Banyule wards against each other. It is not in the spirit of this Council or its residents. We should recognise that we have different needs and demographics, and that no single facility will be able to accommodate both adequately. We love the Olympic Leisure Centre and want to see it flourish. Both Ivanhoe and West Precinct residents deserve high quality, local infrastructure that is equitably distributed.

How do we stop the OLC closure?

1. Tell council to save the OLC! If you are a Banyule resident, call and email all councillors TODAY and tell them to vote AGAINST recommendation 4.1. The more voices we can gather, the stronger our message.

2. Join us to rally on Monday 23rd June from 6-7pm outside the Ivanhoe Library and Cultural Hub before the Council meeting. Make your voice heard! After the rally, join us to listen to deliberations before the vote. If you can’t make this in person, Banyule hosts a livestream of the session.

3. Register to speak at the council meeting on 23rd June AGAINST recommendation 4.1.

4. Let your friends, family, and neighbours know. Time is short and we need to spread the word ASAP. Share this newsletter and our social media channels below.

We would also love help with flyer distribution in our community and outside OLC and Ivanhoe Pool - please let us know if you are available!

How can I learn more about this?

1. Follow OVAN on social media:
   OVAN Facebook
   OVAN Instagram
   ovan.org.au

2. Join our Whatsapp community chat

3. Email us at [email protected]

4. Say hello on Monday 23rd June at the rally at 6pm outside Ivanhoe Library and Culture Centre (Council Chambers @ Ivanhoe Library and Cultural Hub, 275 Upper Heidelberg Road, Ivanhoe, 3079

If we don’t act, we will lose this resource forever.

Dr. Aiden Varan, MD, MPH, BSc(Hons)
Paediatric registrar &
President, Olympic Village Action Network
[email protected]
https://ovan.org.au

The initial publication of this article incorrectly omitted Cr. Matt Wood (Hawdon) as an attending councillor at the emergency community meeting. We apologise for this omission and have corrected in the web version.