A residents group will stage a public rally on Sunday to have the Belmont baths restored to their former glory.
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Belmont & District Residents’ Action Group (B&DRAG) are calling on the Lake Macquarie community to come out in force for the rally, which they hope will show council that there is overwhelming support for the baths’ return.
B&DRAG president Robin Gordon said they want Lake Macquarie City Council to provide a safe, swimming area on the Belmont foreshore.
“The rally is in place on Sunday because we really want to demonstrate to the council the enthusiasm of the whole community of Belmont and surrounding suburbs … to show just how important these baths are and how much we miss them since they took them away,” Ms Gordon said.
“We’re particularly interested in the safety of our people for swimming because of the sharks.
“We believe there are sharks in the lake, and that’s the main reason we are now asking for the baths back. We want the baths for our people to be able to exercise, to have social activity and to reuse this lovely foreshore and swim in our clean lake.”
B&DRAG members remember the original baths as a hive of activity of families in and around the lake.
The original baths, which comprised two jetties and a connecting bridge, were demolished in the 1980s and replaced by what Ms Gordon described as “pseudo baths”, comprised of one jetty and two ropes with polystyrene balls as a baths border but with no netting.
The jetty was wiped out in the April storms last year.
“Council put up a sign saying, ‘Swim at your own risk, due to sharks’.” Ms Gordon said.
Ms Gordon said the action group have been “bleating and begging” for several years to have it brought before council.
The rally will be at 10.30am on Sunday, February 26, on the Belmont Foreshore.