Tamworth council commits to aquatic centre

Council original proposed to have the planning and design completed by December 2020. 

However, now it’s promised to have the project shovel ready by December 2018.

Mayor Col Murray said council reassessed its priorities, after “strong and robust lobbying” from the Tamworth Aquatic Group, which represents all the pool user groups in the city.

“It’s a classic example of democracy in action,” Cr Murray said.

“It certainly is some comfort to me that we have firmed up a timeline for how the project might be progressed.”

Tamworth Aquatic Group (TAG) spokeswoman Michelle Bolte was thrilled by the news.

“To put it in perspective, one of our members found newspaper clippings from 47 years ago, which said the club was consulting with council about an aquatic facility,” Ms Bolte said.

“The result today is not only our hard work, it’s the community respond to wanting this and the past committees who have been pushing for this for decades.

“Now it’s about getting the design right and making sure the timelines are stuck to.”

TAG want the aquatic centre to have two 50m pools – one indoor and one outdoor – which would be large enough to host state and national level competitions.

The group also wants a 25m indoor pool with a ramp, which could be used for rehabilitation, learn to swim groups and disability groups, along with an indoor recreation water park.

The proposed location for the facility is next to the Sports Dome.

Once the planning is complete, council will begin seeking government funding for the project.

“To attract funding support from both the state and federal governments requires robust propositions that are supported by detailed designs and strongly demonstrate community support,” Cr Murray said.

Council has indicated that the city’s two public pools will have to be sold for the aquatic centre to go ahead, which at early estimates could cost $30m. Ms Bolte said while many people had fond childhood memories of the pools, they were falling apart.

The revenue generated from their sale would form a major part of council’s contribution to the project.