Early gate entry for water polo carnival in Tamworth

A HOT, spring weekend will launch the new swimming pool season in Tamworth this weekend – but it’s not a standard kick-off either.

Over the past few weeks South and West Memorial – or Scully Park – pool manager Cameron McFarlane has been busily preparing for the gates to open for the first event, the annual Southgate Inn Invitational Water Polo Carnival.

It is on tomorrow and Sunday, but if the good weather continues into the first week of school holidays, decent crowds are expected to take to the water, too. 

Tamworth Regional Council pools technical officer Gary Johnson said the carnival would get the local swimming season off to a busy start.

“Council was happy to be able to work with Tamworth Water Polo Association to allow access to the Scully Park facilities early to be able to hold the carnival two days before the official start to the swimming season there,” he said.

“It’s a great event to kick off the season.”

Mr Johnson said a team of about 36 staff, including six pool supervisors, would work at council’s six pools during the 2012/2013 swimming season.

“We’re hoping for a better season, weather-wise, this year,” he said. 

“Last summer was so mild and wet, we had the lowest number of people in about 10 years through the gates. It would be great to have a warm October to encourage local residents to get into the swim of things for summer.”

The official swimming season will start at Scully on Monday morning. 

To nip the cool factor in the bud, the pool’s gas heating system will be running and the in-the-water temperature will be heated to a comfortable 25 degrees. 

Pools at Barraba, Manilla, Kootingal, Nundle and in the Tamworth CBD will open two weeks later, on Monday, 

October 8. This season the council will introduce Swim and Survive Learn-to-Swim sessions at Kootingal, Manilla and Barraba pools, as well as Tamworth Olympic Pool and Scully Park.