SWIMMING clubs from around the state have thrown their support behind a push for a Tamworth Aquatic centre.
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The Country Championships are held at Sydney’s SOPAC every year.
Last weekend more than a thousand swimmers converged on the centre, many travelling hundreds of kilometres to compete.
Tamworth Aquatic Group (TAG) chairman and president of the Tamworth Swim Club Grant Simm said he was blown away by the support that came, not only from the regional clubs, but also the sport’s governing body.
“Clubs from all over the state were holding up banners with #CountrytoCountry, #Tamworth2020 and #builditnow written on them – it was very surprising and really great to see,” Mr Simm said.
“We met with the CEO of Swimming NSW Mark Heathcote and he is a big supporter of the idea in a big way – he even said he would fly to Tamworth for meetings if necessary.”
Clubs from as far away as the South Coast, Griffith, and Sawtell are on board the Tamworth push, which continues to gather momentum.
“Everyone is sick of having to go to Sydney for everything, but at the moment that is the only facility in the state capable of holding the championships,” Mr Simm said.
“There was over 1000 swimmers there and their families. They all have to eat, have to travel, have to stay somewhere, have to spend money and everything is expensive in Sydney.”
“If we brought it all to Tamworth it would be better for the sport and better for the whole community.”
The group has submitted an application to get on TRC’s 10 year strategic plan, which will go on public display mid way through this year.
TRC has already said that it would like the centre “to be shovel ready by the end of the council term in 2020”, although TAG would like to see it sooner; with a major championships in their sights.
“We would like to be in the water by 2020,” Mr Simm said. “It is a long way off, but it will be NSW’s turn to host the National Swimming Championships in 2020 and that would be a great way to open the new centre.”
The group will meet with Member for New England Barnaby Joyce on March 10, to gauge his support.
