Inner West Council,

We, the undersigned members of various underwater clubs and supporters of the diving community are deeply concerned about the proposed replacement of the deep diving pool at Leichhardt Aquatic Centre with a 25m pool that would not have the necessary depth for our activities.

We urge the Inner West Council to reconsider this decision and instead find alternative solutions that will incorporate diving and a deep pool into the proposal.

The deep diving pool is one of the last public pools suitable for us in the Greater Sydney basin that offers the necessary depth for underwater activities and diving in which to train and compete. Removing this facility would be devastating to all of our sports and the underwater community as a whole.

Several athletes from our community have represented Australia in the past and currently continue doing so in international competitions, including World Cups and the Clubs Champions Cup. Competing around the globe! Their development has been reliant upon access to regular training at Leichhardt pool.

The diving pool is not only important for the current members of our communities but also for future generations who would not have the opportunity to participate in our sports due to a lack of facilities.

We understand that the council may have various reasons for wanting to remove the deep pool, but we strongly believe that there are alternative solutions that can address these issues without eliminating the deep diving pool altogether.

We urge the council to work with the underwater and diving groups to find a solution that benefits all parties involved.

By signing this petition, we are showing our support for the underwater activities communities and for the inclusion of a deep diving pool at Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre in the proposed renovations. We believe that the diving pool is a unique and crucial facility that should not be removed without careful consideration of the impact it will have on the community.

We urge the Inner West Council to listen to our voices and to work with us to find a solution that will allow the deep diving pool to remain. We appreciate your time and consideration in this matter.

Sincerely,

Diving and Deep Water User Community