ADVOCATES and councillors have hit back over concerns aired about the fast-moving proposal for a year-round aquatic centre to be established in Tamworth.
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There has been growing concern in the community about the site of the proposed centre, which would sit in between and AELEC and the sports dome and come as a replacement for the Scully and city facilities.
“A lot of the people that are negative towards to the project, don’t see and understand what we’re trying to do,” Tamworth City Swimming Club president, Grant Simm, said.
“We’re not building identical pools out here, these will be state of the art like those ones were in the 1930s and the 60s.”
Mr Simm also believed the South Tamworth location would bring the aquatic centre closer to a greater percentage of the city’s population.
At this week’s meeting councillors gave the tick of approval to a $250,000 spend on consulting and design for a new aquatic centre.
Mr Simm said it was the “most significant step forward” since the aquatic centre debate was reignited in January this year.
The swim club president said a great deal of local sport has been moved towards to the sports dome over the years with “none of this angst”.
“Basketball was on Anne St, hockey and netball were on the river flats,” he said.
“There wasn’t any angst there about the upgrading of facilities.”
Councillors unanimously supported the move towards a new aquatic centre.
However, it wasn’t without some more concern being raised.
“It’s critical we keep our eye on the ball here,” Phil Betts said.
Cr Betts said if the project went to the level expected the final price tag could balloon towards $50 million.
Glenn Inglis said there could be a challenge to “keep people on the same page” and stressed that money would need to come from higher up.
“It’s only ever going to happen if higher tiers of government make substantial contributions,” he said.
Juanita Wilson welcomed the motion, which had been “a long time coming” and shot down concerns over declining usage rates at Tamworth’s current pools.
Cr Wilson pointed to the recent construction of the Adventure Playground and Tamworth Regional Playground, as examples of investment “creating its own momentum”.