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Race to get pool ready for first dip
Race to get pool ready for first dip
By Tim Howard
Clarence Valley swimmers will get their first chance for dip in the controversial new $30 million aquatic centre in Grafton later this month.
Delayed for two months because of wet weather, the Clarence Regional Aquatic Centre will be open “unofficially” to the public on Saturday, February 15, pending power connection by electricity suppliers.
It has been more than two years since the council announced it would shut the city’s main aquatic centre, the Grafton Olympic Pool.
The old pool included an iconic water slide, wading pool and a diving pool, which won’t be replaced in the new complex.
The closure came in September 2022, because of an extensive and long term water leak which had created instability which may have caused “infrastructure collapse”.
The loss of the pool sparked two years of bizarre events in the Clarence community.
From failed attempts to switch Bushfire Local Economic Recovery grants to the project, a ferocious council meeting which stunned the community when council agreed to borrow most of the money to fund the pool and a row over the naming of the pool, controversy has accompanied many stages of the centre’s progress.
But the pool builders, Bathurst-based company Hines Constructions, have been on target and on time for the majority of the project and hoped to have the 50m pool ready for use by December, until the weather intervened.
A Clarence Valley Council press release said the council would secure an occupancy certificate for the site once the power was on, the 50m pool was filled and the filter operational.
Then it would conduct water sampling to ensure public safety prior to opening.
If everything goes to plan, the region’s schools could get in first as the council said it was working closely with local schools to minimise disruptions and ensure school swimming carnivals could go ahead as planned from Wednesday, February 12.
Council’s general manager Laura Black said the site was all but ready to open with the amenities ready for use and the entrance foyer completed.
“We have been testing the IT and point of sale systems offsite to ensure smooth installation, once the electricity supply is available,” Ms Black said.
“We appreciate the community’s patience and look forward to welcoming everyone to the new aquatic centre soon.”
There has also been good news for the extended aquatic centre project with the Federal Government recently committing to $1.6 million in funding for two water slides.
The slide would complete the works for the facility, but would be subject to council endorsing the contract variation.
Council must co-contribute $1.6 million to complete the slides under the Growing Regions Program grant.
Ms Black said the grant application had been made possible through savings realised on the project to date.
“We’re absolutely thrilled about the recent announcement of funding for the slides, Ms Black said.
“Having slides at the facility has always been a key priority for our community, and it’s fantastic that we can now make them a reality in the coming months.
“And that fact that savings on the project over all, cover Council’s contribution to the slides is news that has been welcomed by councillors. We know how important it is to ratepayers that this project is delivered within budget.”
She said the council would commence the design phase for the slides, while the indoor centre and splash pad remained on track to open before the end of February.
The council has been working with the community toward a suitable official opening ceremony for the finished centre.
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