STEVE May has been watching the Tamworth Aquatic Group’s crusade to get a new facility built in the city, and the story has been all too familiar for the man who headed up the last action group.
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Dr May was chairman of the Tamworth and District Aquatic Centre (TADAC), a forerunner of TAG, that campaigned for years to get a year-round indoor pool in Tamworth as part of a new aquatic facility.
That battle ended when 360 Gym opened its new facility a few years back, although TADAC had been lobbying council for almost 20 years before that.
Now, Dr May has joined the new group and hopes that the battle will not be as drawn-out as previous attempts.
“The community want something done and they (TRC) won’t do it,” he said.
“They need to be more transparent and just say they are not interested if that is the case.”
Recently TAG has been left frustrated after council postponed a presentation to the council’s Sports Working Group, delaying the meeting for more than three months.
Tamworth City Swim Club vice president Michelle Bolte said that a lot of taxpayer money has been spent on plans and proposals for 20 years.
“We have got all the pool and user groups together now and we are finalising a submission,” Mrs Bolte said.
“We can’t apply for grants or any funding until council commits to the concept and business plans, so the community can’t move ahead until that happens.”
Tamworth councillor and Sports Working Group chair Mark Rodda said he understands the frustrations and wants to see things move faster.
“I think it has easily been demonstrated that we need a new facility in Tamworth,” Cr Rodda said.
“The councillors are going to have a workshop on April 26 to gauge the opinions and concerns of councillors before the Working Group meet in early June. I would like to think that there would be no further delays after the workshop and the plan can go onto the footprint of the Sports Dome.”
I would like to think that there would be no further delays after the workshop and the plan can go onto the footprint of the Sports Dome.
- Mark Rodda