Four years ago, our community lost more than just a pool—we lost a vital gathering place, a cornerstone of our shared identity, and a resource built by our own hands. Our local swim club, a cherished institution for decades, was abruptly closed by QLD Education due to changes in community-use policies.

This pool is not merely an amenity; it is a testament to our community’s dedication and resilience. Constructed and funded by locals and the CRL, for community and school use, it has long served as a community hub for health, social connection, and well-being. Although it was later placed under the sole management of QLD Education, it remained an integral part of our community—until its closure.

Our community is remote, with the nearest public pool located about an hour away. This distance makes it significantly harder and costly for residents—especially marginalized groups such as the elderly, first nation elders and disabled—to access swimming, water safety, and exercise opportunities. For years, our swim club operated smoothly and safely, demonstrating the community’s commitment to maintaining this valuable resource. Its closure has not only taken away an essential facility but has also disregarded the unique challenges faced by our geographically isolated community.

Other remote communities—such as the neighboring Bay Islands—have successfully retained access to their community-built pools through partnerships with QLD Education and Redland City Council, which provide support for qualified lifeguards during designated hours. This sets a clear precedent: reopening our pool is not only possible but entirely justified. Our community deserves the same recognition and support.

Increased community access would bring greater support and additional revenue opportunities to our community, helping to fund maintenance and improvements to the facility. This, in turn, would benefit both our children, our school and our community.

We are not proposing unsupervised or unregulated community use. Instead, access should be properly managed with a council-sponsored lifeguard on duty during designated hours outside of school time. This approach minimises costs for the council while maximising benefits for students during school hours. This model has been successfully implemented elsewhere and is not without precedent for Queensland Education or Redland City Council.

By signing this petition, you are taking a stand for fairness, for community rights, and for the reinstatement of a vital resource. We urge QLD Education and the Redland City Council to reconsider the terms that led to this closure and work with us to restore access. This is about more than just swimming—it is about revitalizing our community spirit and reclaiming what we built together.

Most importantly, this is in no way a critique of the incredible staff who dedicate themselves to our wonderful local school and its community. Unfortunately, this decision was made outside our community, without considering its impact, consequences, or the benefits that reopening the pool would bring to both the school and our community. It’s time for common sense to prevail.

Let’s make our voices heard. Sign the petition, support your community, and help us bring our pool back to life. Together, we can make waves and create lasting change.