INDEPENDENT lord mayoral candidate for Newcastle, John Church, has pledged to investigate the decision to put a concrete bottom on the Newcastle ocean baths.
Cr Church addressed a crowd of about 80 yesterday morning at a gathering organised by the Friends of Newcastle Ocean Baths community group, which is unhappy with Newcastle City Council's two-stage program of works for the iconic baths.
Spokesperson Tony Brown said baths users and supporters saw the council's plans as a de-facto privatisation that would irreversibly harm the "iconic" structure and its primary purpose of "bathing and recreation".
"They propose an unnecessary concrete base costing about $1.5 million to cap a natural rock shelf that has survived intact for more than 100 years," Mr Brown said.
"The council denies that the baths are being privatised but there are numerous statements on the public record that clearly talk about the bulk of the baths footprint being leased to private operators for up to 21 years at a time, with the council to lease back 'the required community facilities', as stated in the council's expression of interest document."
Mr Brown said council candidates were not specifically invited to speak yesterday but those who turned up were given a chance to talk briefly.
Socialist Alliance candidate Steve O'Brien, Liberal mayoral candidate Jennie Barrie, Cr Church and his running mate Kath Elliott all spoke. No Labor candidate spoke.
Cr Church said that if elected he would ask for an independent engineers' report into retaining the sandy bottom.
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"The sandy bottom is highly valued by pool users who walk on the soft surface, for fitness and rehabilitation, and I would like to test claims the sandy bottom reduces the impact of sea lice," Cr Church said,
Mr Brown said that while some suggestions have been taken on board in consultation, the council was determined to concrete the bottom of the pool against the wishes of its users.
He noted the council's approach to the NSW government and said the baths should be listed as "state significant" rather than "locally significant".
