The Save The Pools have requested meetings with both Tamworth Council and the local swim clubs and Tamworth Aquatic Group to discuss the proposed new Aquatic Facility.
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The committee, which formed out of the Ratepayers Association (TRRRA) accused council of being “underhanded” earlier in the year, following the revelation that the new facility would only come at the cost of the two existing facilities in Scully Park and Tamworth City.
The TRRRA also accused council of running a misleading community consultation that they feel asked the public what they would like to see at the new facility, rather than if they wanted a new facility at the cost of the existing two.
At that time TRC general manager Paul Bennett hit back, suggesting that the association “risked being counter-productive” to the process, while also saying that the committee had not made contact with TRC.
On Monday TRRRA vice-president David McKinnon confirmed that a meeting had been sought.
“We were told that we had to take a slot in the community consultation time at the council meeting, so that is what we will do,” he said.
“We are also going to talk with the swim clubs to try and find something that suits us both.”
The Save The Pools committee agree Tamworth needs a new facility, but would prefer to see it built in affordable stages while keeping at least one of the central pools open to the public.
Earlier in the year The Leader ran a public poll asking residents if the city needed at least one existing pool to remain open with an overwhelming 81 per cent of respondents voting yes.
Meanwhile all six Tamworth regional pools have undergone minor maintenance works in preparation for the October 15 opening of the swim season, although that too has also been questioned.
All six pools will open on the exact day that school holidays end, with many stakeholders calling for that date to be reverted to the October long weekend, the start of school holidays. However a TRC spokesperson says the water would still be too cold.
“Due to the traditionally cool overnight temperatures still experienced in late September and early October, pool water temperature does not heat up to level that most leisure swimmers are comfortable to swim in. Attendance numbers support this,” the spokesperson said.
