MCU170049 - Alana Harber - Submission

 

To Patrick Murphy, File No. MCU17/0049

My name is Alana Harber and I am writing in a submission of approval to Noosa
council for my home-based business to teach swimming to infants, toddlers and small
children. I ask Noosa Council to really look into and consider my application for
approval as I am making such a difference in so many children and families lives. I
have been teaching for 7 years now and have a real passion for it. My aim is to make
children safe and knowledgeable around water.

With so many unnecessary drownings every year it breaks my heart to know children
are still dying. 280 deaths occurred last year in Australia, 66 here in Queensland.

3 out of 5 children will leave primary school without being able to swim to basic
standards.

I have worked at larger swim schools, some in Noosa, others on the Sunshine Coast.
And as good as some of these are, I have found a lot of them to lack the care and
commitment. I take a lot of pride in my work, I care my for my children and their
families. I want to see them learn, grow, better themselves and have fun in the water.
I have had countless children of all ages come to me where they have been at other
swim schools, some larger, some small but they are not getting anywhere. I have
taken these children and had them go from being scared to look at the pool to swim
independently face in the water for 8metres. I have parents crying with happiness,
grandparents hugging me, kids absolutely joyous at their achievements.

I am not asking to run a huge operation from my home. It is a few hours in the
morning and a couple of the afternoon for only maximum 30 weeks a year. There are
only 3 children at most at a time if I get that. They are not causing anyone any harm.
It is splashing and laughing, the occasional teary moment. My daughter creates more
noise when she is swimming with her friends here.

I called Council last September to see and check if there was anything I needed to get
done and explained my business to them. I was told I met their guidelines to run my
business and went ahead. I am sorry that was not the case as this is affecting so many
peoples lives now, not only my daughters, and mine but it’s impacting on the
community.

I have approached my neighbours and had wonderful feedback. I have attached copies
of 6-signed letters from neighbours at the following addresses;

7 Fuller Court, Noosaville, QLD 4566

6 McKenna Court, Noosaville, QLD 4566

10 McKenna Court, Noosaville, QLD 4566

9 McKenna Court, Noosaville, QLD 4566

11 McKenna Court, Noosaville, QLD 4566

13 McKenna Court, Noosaville, QLD 4566

All these neighbours as you can see signed a letter to say they had no issue and
objection to me operating and had no issue with traffic and parking.

Thank you, and I hope Noosa Council can see how valuable my small home-based
business is.

Best Regards,
Alana Harber