An updated plan for Corowa’s new pool will be presented to Federation Council on Tuesday with a key question: should it be 50m or 25m in length?
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Plans for $4.7 million in funding were carried over following the council’s amalgamation and included $1m from the NSW government.
Sports and leisure consultant Otium Planning put together a feasibility study with four different options.
The first, which would seem unlikely considering the money set aside for works, was to repair the existing 50m pool.
The next options were for a 25m and leisure pools, one with an open outdoor area and the other with a confined layout to accommodate future shelter or indoor pools.
An outdoor 50m pool and leisure pools formed the final option.
General manager Chris Gillard’s report said consultants recommended a 25m pool with the option to covert to an indoor facility at a later date.
“The significant capital costs and operational losses of all other options were considered to be outside of the capacity of a community of this size and profile,” he said.
“It is now time to change the mix of swimming pool components on site, to attract a broader market of users as well as to future proof the development for the option of expanding the pool to an indoor all year round facility in the future.”
The preferred option would cost $5.774m, and attract 35,000 to 40,000 visits per year, but a 50m pool could cost $8.814m and only attract an extra 5000 visits.
Corowa Swim Club treasurer Paul Schnelle said the town’s aging population meant a hydrotherapy pool was the first priority.
“From a community perspective, it’s really important that we get a heated pool,” he said.
Club swimmers would find it easier to train over 25m, but needed a 50m pool to compete in Central Division.
“When it comes to competitions, we really like having a 50m pool,” Mr Schnelle said.
“What we were trying to do was come up with an iconic attraction to service the community.”
He said there was a lot of support in the town for the longer pool, especially after 1000 people visited the existing pool over a hot Christmas/New Year period.
But the club recognised the bigger expense would have to be justified.
Mr Schnelle said he hoped the new pool would just be stage 1 and Corowa could attract more government funding in the future.
Federation Council was expected to put the plans out for public comment after Tuesday's meeting before administrator Mike Eden made a decision.
