A local community campaign is calling for improved accessibility at the Boggabri Memorial Swimming Pool, with residents rallying behind a new online petition urging Narrabri Shire Council to take immediate action. The petition, launched on Change.org, highlights the difficulties faced by people with mobility issues in accessing the pool and its facilities.
The Boggabri pool, a vital hub for recreation, fitness, and community connection, lacks essential accessibility features like a lift or ramp, hindering patrons with mobility impairments. Petition organisers say that while the pool remains a cherished community space, its limited access prevents some residents, particularly those living with disability or reduced mobility, from safely enjoying it.
“Everyone deserves to enjoy our local pool,” the petition states. “It’s not just about swimming — it’s about inclusion, health, and community. The lack of proper access means some people are completely excluded, and that’s something we can fix.”
Stacie Hobden is the face of the Change campaign and the Facebook page Liam and Lokie’s Fight Against Friedrich’s Ataxia.
On the page, Ms Hobden shares the inspiring journey of her two sons who live with this rare and progressive neurological condition. She keeps followers updated on the boys’ daily lives, medical appointments, and milestones. Despite the physical and medical challenges, Ms Hobden highlights the boys’ resilience and positive spirits, describing them as “happy and healthy in a sense, full of charisma, cheekiness and loving beautiful souls,” capturing the community’s admiration for their courage and determination.
“I’m honestly still in disbelief that I have to advocate just for my kids to be able to use the local pool, but here we are,” said Ms Hobden.
Ms Hobden has worked at the Boggabri pool and is also a member of the Boggabri Swim Club. She has witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by the elderly and those with limited mobility when trying to enter the pool.
“We had to write to Narrabri Council last year just about the general condition of the pool and the fencing. We used to have a swing-out chair that people could use to get in, but that got rusty, and they’ve taken that away, so now there’s really nothing but an incredibly slippery and hard-to-access set of steps,” she said.
“Then they had to put a new entry fence in to stop people just coming in to the pool from off the street, which I very much understand from a safety standpoint, but the way they’ve designed it, if you’re in a wheelchair, you can’t open the gate. Most of the time, the only staff member working is the one lifeguard on duty, so if you don’t have someone to help you, you can’t get in.”
“The pool is used by the local school, by the elderly and by local physios– anyone who’s ever had an injury knows they always recommend water rehab, but the pool is just too hard for anyone with any kind of mobility issue to enter.”
Narrabri Shire Council’s most recent Aquatic Facilities Management Plan, available online, dates from 2020. The document outlines the principles for accessibility across its public pools including a commitment to developing disabled access, stating:
“Council will aim to develop disabled access to each facility.”
It also outlines staff responsibilities and limitations, noting that while “all reasonable assistance” should be provided to patrons with disabilities, there are restrictions on manual handling due to safety risks. Notably, the plan specifies that if a person with a disability cannot access the pool because staff are unable to provide necessary assistance, “a refund of pool entry is to be made.”
For many residents, however, this policy does not go far enough. Petitioners argue that the focus should not be on refunds but on ensuring that everyone can participate equally. The community’s push for upgrades aligns with a broader discussion about equitable access to public infrastructure across regional New South Wales, particularly in smaller towns where facilities are often older and less adaptable.
“We’re not expecting a full remodel of the pool – I know that’s not viable, but I’ve done the research for Council, there’s a company called Avant that makes a hydraulic platform that can easily be fitted to the side of the pool and it can be moved or stored away safely when the pool is closed for winter,” said Ms Hobden.
“I’ve even had the public say that they’re happy to do the fundraising for it, but my fear is that if we raise the money, Council is still going to have some reason that it can’t be installed and then it’s all for nothing.”
Ms Hobden has called Council several times in recent weeks to discuss potential solutions, but has yet to receive a response.
Residents have expressed strong support for the petition online, describing the issue as one of fairness and respect.
One commenter wrote, “In a small country town with little physical recreation options for the elderly and mobility impaired, this should be a high priority community investment that Narrabri Shire Council undertake as a matter of urgency.”
Others cited the recent improvements made by Mid Coast Council to the pool at Tea Gardens as an excellent example of how existing infrastructure can be upgraded.
As the debate continues, the people of Boggabri are uniting around a shared goal, ensuring that their much-loved pool is a place where all members of the community can dive in together.
To add your signature to the petition, visit the Change website, or find one of the paper forms that Ms Hobden has scattered throughout the town.
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