Tamworth $67 million aquatic centre: council to consider private developer to bring project to life

The council would need to cough up $2.6 million just to get half of the design done by external contractors, but COVID-19 has put significant pressure on the budget.

Staff are in discussions with the councillors about the facility being designed, built and managed by a third party and an expression of interest is expected to be advertised this year.

The goal was always to advocate for a new aquatic centre, TRC sports and recreation manager Paul Kelly said.

"This included progressing the project to a "shovel ready" stage to increase funding opportunities," he said.

"The next step in this process was for the council to engage an external contractor for the design phase.

"Due to the level of investment required and the financial impacts of COVID, the project was put on hold.

"Recently, staff discussed with the councillors how the project could progress including the possibility of alternative delivery models."

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The aquatic centre was slated to have two 50 metre swimming pools, stands for 500 people and a 15 metre water slide with disabled access.

A new pool has been a topic of discussion between the council and the community for two decades.

Councillors voted to delay the project until 2021 in June, 2020.

A report is expected to be presented to the council in "due course".

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