Grafton News
Grafton pool reach ‘end of useful life’

Grafton pool reach ‘end of useful life’
By Tim Howard
The Grafton Olympic Swimming Pool will not re-open this summer because massive water losses over many years have undermined the pool and could cause a “catastrophic failure” of pool infrastructure.
A report to this week’s September Clarence Valley Council meeting contains a report from the general manager recommending the pool close and not re-open.
It said the 63-year-old pool has reached the end of its useful life.
“The Grafton Olympic Pool and associated infrastructure has reached the end of its useful life, is failing and requires urgent renewal. The renewal of some of the most deteriorated assets (pipes/gutters) is difficult as most of these areas are inaccessible without demolition of the concourse and some parts of the pool structures. Undertaking this work would also compromise the structural integrity of the surrounding pools.”
Since 2014-15 the costs of water consumption at the pool have risen from $80,714 to $187,234 a year and the amount of water consumed has nearly trebled.
The news will disappoint the 1814 Grafton residents who signed a petition to Save Grafton Olympic, tabled at the same council meeting.
The petitioners noted that “for many families, the pool is the social highlight of summertime”; it is a place for “water safety, training, social interaction, exercise, disability inclusion, stress relief, school competition, it serves the need for many people with medical conditions or a disability’s offering low impact exercise, a place of competition and camaraderie, brings divers groups together, opportunity to learn lifeguarding skills, work experience and to work summer jobs”.
In the longer term there was some good news in the report, with the report recommending the council allocate $3,839,545 towards building Stage 1 of its Grafton Pool Masterplan and seek State and Federal government funding for the remaining funding of stages 1 and 2 of the plan.
The report said officers were considering the feasibility of the waterslide facility remaining open as well as a community celebration to farewell the pool.
The report also noted there were other pools as well as the Clarence River and nearby beaches for people to use over the summer.
It said there were options for council to consider to facilitate this including:
- Provision of buses to alternate swimming locations;
- Temporary land based inflatable/water playground;
- Alternate entertainment avenues such as inflatable screen for movie nights;
- Activities/programs/events in the Grafton area;
- Inflatable water play experience on the river.
- Leaving the existing waterslide operational.
The Northern Rivers Times will report on the outcome of the meeting in its next edition.
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