Weds 27 February 2013

Media Release: For immediate release

Fight Not Over – Council Should Show Courage

“It’s far from over.”

That from the Save Centennial group after the release of a City Council report last week recommending the inner city pool complex be destroyed.

Simone Pearson, the spokesperson for Save Centennial which has been fighting for almost two years to have Centennial repaired and reopened, says she will address the city council on the matter this tomorrow.

“The information upon which the CCC staff’s recommendation has been based is flawed and in places factually incorrect,” she says.

Pearson adds that over 50% of all 2678 submissions received by the CCC on the Annual Plan, supported repairing and retaining the Centennial pool and the fact that the children’s playground (part of the Green Frame, a key CERA anchor project in the CBD) would share the space with Centennial makes the retention of the pool worth investigating using correct information.

Save Centennial says the repair of the Centennial pool will help address the needs of children, the elderly, the disabled, workers and families, and residents, as well as having an immediate impact of bringing new activity, trade and life back into central city in short order, not years in the future.

“Centennial Pool can only be demolished once, once it’s gone, it’s gone forever”, she says. “We must stand up for our community and demand transparent government. There is no doubt in our mind that the recommendation to destroy Centennial has been pre-determined and this is shameful,” she says.

Simone Pearson says when it comes to saving and restoring key community assets, a new attitude should be displayed.

“We must start looking at how we can achieve something rather than why we cannot,” she says.

Save Centennial believes the fact a temporary stadium can be built so quickly for millions of dollars, proves that what may seem insurmountable can be achieved, with the right approach and focus.

“Some of the reasons why Centennial can’t be saved are spurious” she says. “I will be addressing a number of these on Thursday at council.”

Simone will speak at the Christchurch City Council on Thursday 28 February between 9:30 and 10 am (approx.).

END

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