He’s part of a growing chorus calling for the new facility, with a number of Tamworth Regional councillors also throwing their support behind the development.

Tamworth City Swimming Club vice president Michelle Bolte has so far met with five of the city’s councillors, who all agreed the region had outgrown its current swimming facilities.

“Everyone was very positive about moving this forward,” Ms Bolte said.

“It’s great to see they are listening to the community. We want to create a facility that will be future proof, catering for the population of Tamworth in 30 years’ time.”

Ms Bolt said support was coming from all directions – the head of NSW Swimming, Mark Heathcote, has also offered to visit Tamworth to consult with council.

A number of ideas have been thrown around for what a Tamworth aquatic centre would look like.

Ideally a 50-metre indoor pool with plenty of seating would be the centre piece of the facility, Ms Bolte said.

Other possibilities include additional 25-metre warm up pools, a splash pool for kids and an outdoor pool.

“It would be purpose built, so we need to sit down with all pool user groups to determine what standards it needs to meet,” Ms Bolte said.

Mayor Col Murray said in February a workshop would be held to get all the councillors up to date, briefing them on proposals considered by previous councils.

“It will be an opportunity to understand the status quo and establish what might be the direction from there,” Cr Murray said.

With early estimates showing an aquatic centre would cost about $20m, Cr Murray said the Centre of Sporting Excellence was a good example of how the project would develop if it got the green light.

“The suggestion is that during this current council term, which goes to 2020, we have the design and all the plans done, so it’s a shovel-ready project, and we have a funding strategy in place,” he said.

“Everyone would love to have it much sooner, the shear magnitude of money and the effect that might have on future budgets, means we have to go through this process.”

TRC Sports Working Group chair and councillor Mark Rodda told The Leader people from all different pool user groups have said “we need this”.

“I’m definitely supportive of working towards a replacement facility,” Cr Rodda said.

“What we get will be determined by how much money we can glean from loans and particular with funding from other tiers of government.”